The Best Lip Balm

Buying Guide for Lip Balm

Why should you buy lip balm?

Environmental conditions and dehydration can cause a host of problems with your body, but it’s hard to ignore the pain when your lips start to crack from intense heat or cold winds. Lip balm rehydrates your lips with moisturizing butter and oil, while beeswax and petroleum provide a layer to protect your lips from the weather. Whether you are already a lip balm devotee or are looking for a new solution to your dry lips, there’s a lip balm to suit your needs.

What should you consider when shopping for lip balm?

• Ingredients and Fragrance: To add moisture to your lips, look for conditioning oils, vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, or shea butter. Beeswax and petroleum help to seal in that moisture, ultimately protecting your lips from wind, cold, and heat. When a lip balm has a lot of fragrance, it could irritate those with sensitive skin. While low amounts of fragrance won’t cause damage to the average user, lip balms flavored with extracts are ideal.
• SPF: Lip balms formulated with SPF 15 or more are ideal for those spending time outdoors, so look for a lip balm that prioritizes sun protection. Your lips are delicate and need protection from the sun, just like the skin on your face and body.
• Packaging: Consider how and when you want to apply your lip balm. If you need to spot treat or need a dab, a small pot or jar is best for dipping your fingers in. A typical tube is great when you need a full layer and want to spread it over your lips.

What are some ingredients to avoid in lip balm?

While certain ingredients may seem beneficial, there are a few you should be careful to avoid. Salicylic acid is great for getting rid of acne and shedding dead skin; however, too much of this could make your lips even drier—not smooth. Camphor, menthol, and phenol are cooling ingredients that may feel soothing at the moment but are stripping your lips of natural oils and layers of skin, making them more susceptible to harm.

Our Picks for the Best Lip Balm

Pros: No matter your flavor, you can expect your lips to feel soft and nourished. Each lip balm has a matte finish, so even if you choose a berry flavor, you don’t have to get a tinted finish. The moisturizing balm is made with 100% natural beeswax, vitamin E, and other natural ingredients to create a balm without parabens, phthalates, petrolatum, or SLS. This natural lip balm comes in nine different flavors, depending on which size pack you get.

Cons: Not all flavors come in the same size packs. Also, this product does not have SPF.

Bottom Line: If natural ingredients are important to you, this is a favorite that has been around for years. Even though they’re now one of the most popular brands, their ingredients have stayed true to their purpose and will help you achieve nourished and hydrated lips.

 

Pros: Formulated with powerhouse ingredients, this lip balm can soothe and nourish irritated and chapped lips. The medicated formula glides on smoothly, so you don’t have to feel extra pain while applying your lip balm. This lip balm includes SPF 15, so you can keep your lips protected all year. These are available as value packs to save you money.

Cons: This lip balm has ingredients that may be too strong for children to use.

Bottom Line: For those who struggle with dry lips, cracking around the corners of their mouths, or chapping, this medicated lip balm can come to the rescue. While it doesn’t come in various flavors, the classic formula soothes even the driest lips, which matters most.

 

Pros: This variety pack features a tinted color that works well during any season. The color is noticeable but natural, and each fruity flavor smells delicious. The moisturizing lip balm not only conditions your lips but keeps the color from looking caked. Shea butter and jojoba oil add rich moisture, while each flavor features pure fruit extract for that authentic smell.

Cons: If you have dry lips, you’ll have to reapply often for them to feel moisturized.

Bottom Line: If you want a subtle but beautiful tint, try this line of lip balms. The smells added to the pleasant experience, and the formula is made with shea butter and jojoba oil, which makes the color go on smoothly.

 

Pros: While every other lip balm is in the shape of a cylinder, this brand’s innovative sphere design allows for smoother application on dry or sensitive lips. In addition to a pleasant experience while applying moisturizing balm, the formula is 100% natural and is paraben, phthalate, gluten, and cruelty-free. It comes in various flavors and can also be purchased in a variety pack.

Cons: The sphere design can be harder to fit in pockets or small purses.

Bottom Line: When lips are super dry, this sphere design is a gentler way to apply lip balm. With smooth edges all around, your lips can just let the moisturizing ingredients do their job instead of feeling pain during application.

 

Pros: This lip balm is made with extra-virgin coconut oil and vitamin E, as well as SPF 15, so no matter what season it is, you can keep your lips hydrated while protecting them from the sun or wind. Especially as a two-pack, this is an affordable option for those who want to give their lips serious moisture.

Cons: It’s strong on the coconut scent, which for some people, can be overpowering.

Bottom Line: This lip balm’s natural ingredients are powerhouses for moisturizing. Like the luxurious and effective ingredients, the coconut smell is strong. This lip balm can be used yearly thanks to its inclusion of SPF 15 to protect your lips from sun damage and windy weather.

Final Thoughts

Finding a lip balm isn’t necessarily a hard job, but narrowing the search to find one that actually moisturizes and delivers on other important factors is more difficult. This roundup includes the best finds for moisturizing lip balms, and you may find yourself hoarding a new favorite or trying them all.