Chapped lips can happen any time of year, but winter is especially tough. The skin on your lips is thinner and more sensitive than elsewhere on your body. Lacking oil glands, your lips don’t stand a chance exposed to the elements. Hence: lip balms tucked away in coat pockets, makeup bags, purses, totes, briefcases, diaper bags, and desk drawers.
Many of us have dozens of sticks and tubes and tubs: some add a hint of color, SPF, anti-aging ingredients, a dab or flavor, a drop of medicine, viral internet cachet. But which one do you turn to the most? What is the one that really does the job of keeping you moisturized and preventing (or treating) chapping and cracking lips?
That is what we tasked 29 different testers with finding out. Unlike a blender, which can objectively grind up carrots better or worse than the next one, the beauty of a top-rated lip balm is definitely on the lips of the beholder (or wearer). What some people call glossy, others call it gloppy. Some people hate a flavored balm; some are ready to eat it with a spoon. The reactions were all over the map. So we relied on lots of opinions, and lots of categories, to help find the lip balm that’s best for you.
Why you should trust me
As a beauty and wellness writer and editor for decades, I have reported stories with dermatologists, cosmetic chemists, researchers, influencers, makeup artists, estheticians and “real people.” I have worked on beauty awards and “best of” lists for Self, Health, Cosmopolitan and InStyle, among other publications.
At this point in my life, it feels like I’ve tried almost every product under the sun. I have been a frequent lip balm user since I was a child. I started with ChapStick and am old enough to remember Bonne Bell Lip Smackers, followed by matte-brown lipsticks, glassy-looking lip glosses (with or without obvious lip liner), “nude” makeup, the natural look, contouring, and the total beauty lie that there is a flattering red lipstick out there for everyone.
How I tested
To test the full range of options, I scoured retail shelves for old standbys, consulted data on consumer behavior for bestsellers, and plumbed the depths of TikTok and Instagram to uncover viral hits and up-and-comers. Most companies provided samples for evaluation, but we also bought others.
I asked 29 testers ranging in age from 20s to 90s to test our samples for up to a week – they could stop immediately if they hated a product or if it caused irritation. Each tester sampled no more than four balms, except for me – I tried every one. After trying each sample, testers filled out a survey asking them to evaluate flavor, tint, smell, SPF, dryness, extreme chapping, whether they would buy it, and how it ranked overall. While we ordinarily return or donate review samples, for lip balms, testers were allowed to keep them.
I also consulted two professors of dermatology to help break down the claims of different lip balms and answer common questions, which you will find at the bottom of this article.
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Best overall lip balm:
Kiehl’s Lip Balm #1
Why we love it
This balm got multiple perfect or near-perfect scores when measuring hydration, overall satisfaction, and willingness to repurchase. Our testers liked that it lived up to its fragrance-free claims with no obvious smell or taste. One person said it “felt thick on first application, but then absorbed into lips, as advertised”.
Our testers found this combo of squalane, shea butter, and vitamin E very effective. Squalane is a hydrating ingredient similar to our natural oils, shea butter is a fat that is solid at room temperature and liquifies on contact with skin, and vitamin E is an antioxidant nutrient used in skincare to hydrate and protect skin from sun damage.
A “longtime fan of this lip product” called it “moisturizing without being gloppy and it’s not medicinal-feeling. I like that it’s basically neutral and, because it’s liquidy, it even gives lips a little gloss.”
It’s a shame that … At $14 a tube, some testers found it a little pricey compared with the lip balms they currently rely on. Another tester preferred a solid balm over this liquid formulation and thought that the applicator tip was “not ergonomic”. Someone else said: “I felt my lips basically needed reapplication within 20 minutes.”
The brand reformulated in 2024 (with the removal of petrolatum), leading to some negative reviews on the brand’s site from longtime users. “The change stemmed from reformulating the product into a ‘vegan-friendly version and to reflect changes in ingredient availability and technology’,” a Kiehl’s spokesperson told us.
$14 at Kiehl’s $14 at NordstromKey components: Squalane, shea butter, vitamin E
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Best budget lip balm:
Vaseline Lip Therapy Original Mini
Why we love it
Vaseline is – pure and simple – petroleum jelly, also known as petrolatum or white petrolatum. Manufacturers refine hydrocarbons (the main components of petroleum and natural gas) into an odorless, semi-solid product, called Vaseline by chemist Robert Chesebrough, who patented a method of making it in 1872.
Testers with chapped lips found that it worked especially well to seal in moisture, without clogging pores. “Occlusives like petrolatum and beeswax help keep moisture in the lips by forming a protective barrier on top, which helps reduce moisture loss,” says Dr Corey L Hartman, a board-certified dermatologist and adjunct associate professor of dermatology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Heersink School of Medicine.
No one is mistaking this for a fun, viral or cosmetic lip balm; it’s a workhorse that feels almost medicinal, but without the “medicated” ingredients such as camphor or menthol that can cause irritation. It also has no taste or smell (except the cocoa butter version) – a plus for many of our testers who loathe flavored balms. It’s also readily available and inexpensive at drugstores, convenience stores and supermarkets.
Don’t let the petroleum base deter you, say dermatologists. “People think it’s like putting gas on your face – that’s not what’s happening,” says Dr Oyetewa Asempa, an assistant professor of dermatology, specialist in hair and scalp disorders, and the director of the Skin of Color Clinic at Baylor Medicine’s Department of Dermatology in Houston, Texas. “It’s not allergenic. I’ve never had a single patient have a problem with it.”
It can also be helpful after minimally invasive lip enhancement procedures, which are increasingly popular, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Asempa recommends that those who undergo lip filler injectables or “lip flips” (where a neurotoxin such as Botox is injected to push out the lips) use petrolatum after procedures.
It’s a shame that … Some testers said it can slide outside the lip line, especially in warmer conditions. And there’s an eco concern: “It is derived from petroleum, which is a nonrenewable carbon product,” says Asempa. An alternative and sustainable occlusive is beeswax, which, according to Hartman, “also helps keep moisture in the lips by forming a protective barrier on top, which helps reduce moisture loss”.
Some testers described the pot-finger delivery system as messy. Hartman advises tossing any lip product – in whatever format – if you’ve had it longer than six to eight months. “That being said, you should always wash your hands before dipping them into any product, including a lip balm,” he says. “This will help lessen the risk of cross-contamination of things you don’t want on your lips, like bacteria.”
$3.77 at Walmart $11.96 for pack of four at AmazonKey components: Odorless, skin protectant, non-comedogenic
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Best tinted lip balm:
Burt’s Bees Tinted Balm
Why we love it
This tinted balm makes marketing claims of “eight-hour moisturization” and a “hint of color” in eight different shades. Multiple testers liked that the product didn’t dry out lips, which is a win in the tinted category. These balms offered good hydration, with a tester saying she didn’t have to reapply for two hours. “It was the most hydrating tinted balm I tried,” another tester said, “long-lasting and very comfortable to wear.” The 100% petrolatum-free product includes a botanical wax blend (various flower waxes) and olive, coconut and canola oil, plus shea butter – and, of course, beeswax. One tester found the rose tint a “very pretty color and not at all drying”.
If you need extra moisture, try Burt’s Tinted Boosted Balm, which claims 24-hour protection. The “boost” is a center core containing vitamins C and E, plus vitamin F (which, if you’ve never heard of it, is actually made of two essential fatty acids). Around that is a ring of balm in one of four tints. “I liked that it didn’t have scent or flavor and the color was subtle but present,” one tester said. “It’s not smeary.” Another said: “It was the most hydrating tinted balm I tried, long-lasting and very comfortable to wear.”
The price is right and the brand is easily available in supermarkets and pharmacies, and TerraCycle will recycle the packaging for free by mail.
It’s a shame that … The hint of tint was too subtle for some testers, who felt it was barely noticeable. Another tester said that “it bled noticeably outside my lips … I reapplied it on my way out of the office and caught a glance of myself later looking mildly clownish.”
This one “sat on the lips” in a good way, but didn’t feel like it would repair already chapped lips, said one tester. “I would use this balm more for looks than to aid in chapped lips,” another concurred. “It didn’t dry my lips out it; just kind of sat there and looked pretty.”
$4.99 at Burt’s Bees $5.79 at CVSBurt’s Bees Tinted Boosted Balm
$5.60 at Amazon $7.99 at Burt’s BeesKey components: Petroleum-free, botanical ingredients, long-lasting
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Best flavored lip balm:
Starface Star Balm
Why we love it
“It’s so cute, how could you not buy it?” beamed one tester. What’s so darling about it? The little smiley face imprinted on the balm, the bright hues of the chunky applicators, subtle tints, and a multitude of fruit-bowl flavors such as guava, starfruit, watermelon and mango. “It’s worth the money for the little happy pop you get looking at this while you use it,” one tester said.
Our testers consistently gave it top scores for taste, describing the taste as fun and pleasant, “nice and light”, “juicy”, “tangy”, and in the case of the coconut flavor, “beachy”. Reviewers also liked the texture – a vegan mix of shea butter, coconut oil, and cocoa butter – and found it protective and comfortable to wear. One of the most-liked features was that the balm seemed to sit as “a nice, protective layer” that “didn’t absorb too quickly”. Another liked the minimal tint, making it “nice for applying over lipstick for a nice shine.” One tester concurred with the “cushion-y” feeling described on the package.
For our flavor haters, never fear: it’s also available unscented. It’s worth noting that if a flavored balm causes you to lick your lips often, the saliva can irritate the area, according to Asempa. “Our lips just want to be left alone.”
It’s a shame that … not everyone loved the texture. “It felt kind of cakey/chalky on application, or heavy on the lips,” one tester said. Another felt this prevented it from moisturizing. “I wore it to exercise, and it lasted through the class, but after it wore off, my lips didn’t feel particularly hydrated.”
The “cute” and “hard to resist” packaging was also polarizing, with some testers feeling the overall vibe was too young for them, and not loving the wide-diameter tube: “It’s larger than one lip, but not big enough to cover both at the same time.”
$6.99 at Ulta Beauty $6.99 at StarfaceKey components: Shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil
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Best tinted and flavored lip balm:
Nivea Fruity Cuties
Why we love it
In general, both tinted and flavored lip balms were the most polarizing, but Nivea struck a balance in this challenging category. One tester liked that the tint left lips a little bit shiny. She also praised the “comfortable” applicator and called the balm “the best one I tried in terms of being moisturizing”. Another tester found that neither the tint nor the taste were over-the-top. The twisting, lipstick-like applicator was also a hit: “The top clicked in place so it wouldn’t likely fall off in your purse.”
Another tester appreciated both the watermelon tint and taste, calling it “very pretty and very moisturizing. This is really great balm for a pop of color and to keep your lips moisturized. Definitely a good choice for winter.”
Nivea uses a combination of sunflower seed and castor oil, waxes, and shea butter sourced according to the ethical standards of the Global Shea Alliance. Some of the tints (not all!) contained titanium dioxide, a pigment that works as a sunscreen – though SPF is not advertised on the packaging.
It’s a shame that … Tinted lip products are known for leaving lips feeling dry due to ingredients, such as alcohol, that affix the pigments to the lips and fewer hydrating ingredients like oils. One tester felt the Nivea “demonstrated the quintessential issues with tinted balms. Totally drying [and the] color is pretty, but not competitive with lipsticks, glosses, oils, stains in terms of color payoff and longevity.” Another found the tint “faint” and said it “didn’t last”.
$8.52 for pack of four at Amazon $17.99 for pack of four at WalmartKey components: Vegan formula, ethically sourced shea butter, vitamins C and E
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Best for super dry, chapped, cracked lips:
Dr Dan’s Cortibalm
Why we love it
Dr Dan’s Cortibalm contains 1% hydrocortisone, which is a mild topical steroid used to relieve itching, redness and swelling. This is the highest concentration of topical steroid you can get without a prescription in the US, and our testers found it effective.
“There’s a nice sheen to it, it doesn’t dry me,” said a tester with cracked lips. “Other hydrocortisone over-the-counter products are not a texture or taste I would use on lips,” echoed another. “It felt a little medicated in a way I like.” Also: “I like the simple no-nonsense packaging, it looks very medical.” One said: “The feel was smooth, not waxy.” A user of Accutane (a retinoid that can dry lips) liked the no-frills packaging and the combo of petroleum jelly, beeswax and mineral oil.
What makes a lip balm “medicated”? If the labeling claims to “soothe”, “heal” or “protect” lips, it is classified as a medicine. Look for “active ingredients” on the label; those are the medicated ones – they often include camphor, menthol or phenol that give a cooling or numbing sensation (Asempa points out that they can also be irritating). There may also be ingredients to numb the pain of cracks or cold sores.
It’s a shame that … We can’t use this balm indefinitely. If products contain hydrocortisone, “they should not be used long-term,” says Asempa, who recommends using them twice daily for up to two weeks only, then switching to petrolatum alone.
Dr Dan’s also makes a “maintenance balm” for longer-term use: the Maintain Lip Balm contains petroleum jelly, beeswax, mineral oil and vitamin E. Our testers found Maintain similar to “classic ChapStick”. Another noted the “slight beeswax flavor. I didn’t mind that because it was very subtle and not overly sweet.” However, he said, “it definitely did not apply great, and felt kind of thick on my lips. But it lasted a while and moisturized chapped lips.”
$8.25 at Amazon $13.50 for two at WalmartKey components: Beeswax, petroleum jelly, 1% hydrocortisone
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Best lip balm with SPF:
Supergoop Glow Gloss
Why we love it
“Sunburn on the lips happens frequently, and it can be quite painful,” says Hartman.
“If you spend a lot of time outside, a lip balm with a mineral filter like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide would be beneficial to protect your lips.”
This product offers a rare combination of nice texture, pleasant flavor, unobtrusive tint, and – tada! – broad-spectrum SPF 40 sun protection. “Lighter-skinned patients with a high risk for skin cancer or people who are in the sun a lot should look for SPF 30 or greater,” says Asempa.
“A tiny bit oily but normal for a gloss I think!” wrote a tester. Another found it “neither chalky nor oily. Didn’t seem that different from a non-SPF balm.” One raved about the “very nice light feel and no obvious taste” and said she would buy it despite finding it pricey, due to the importance of SPF.
The gloss, which comes in three tinted flavors (Vanilla Soft Serve, Strawberry Spritz, and Pink Peppermint) seems to be slight variations on sheer pink and isn’t too shiny. Ingredients include shea butter, and a peptide complex (though Asempa cautions there are no large studies about peptides’ anti-aging efficacy).
It’s a shame that … “Once you add SPF into lip balm, you definitely end up increasing the risk of irritation,” says Asempa. It’s a balancing act: this brand uses chemical sunblock (oxybenzone and padimate) rather than mineral sunscreens (zinc or titanium dioxide), which can have a white-ish tone. Testers voted down another option, Sun Bum SPF 30 Coconut Lip Balm, because of a strong, chemical tang, but the taste here was not strong or off-putting. If you prefer mineral sunscreens, we liked CoverGirl Clean Fresh Tinted Lip Balm SPF 15.
The tint didn’t register with our testers, who found it “glossy but no real visible tint”. Another wrote: “Maybe a slight pink tint? But not very obvious once on.” Others found fault with the “sweet but kinda soapy” flavor and scent, which another found “kind of childish”.
$22 at Dermstore $22 at RevolveKey components: Shea butter, peptide complex, subtle gloss
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The best of the rest
Best viral lip balm:
Eadem Le Chouchou Lip Softening Balm
What makes a lip balm go viral? Pretty packaging, a celebrity creator, a cool applicator, some sometimes even a gadget like a special phone case with a lip balm slot.
We tried several of these more gimmicky viral brands before arriving at Eadem, which is branded as a multi-use lip “treatment”, offering exfoliation, moisture and shiny gloss. It comes in eight “buildable” shades, meaning none are too obvious. We tried the Croissant au Beurre, which is clear with a slight gold shimmer.
One tester wrote: “I liked the applicator – it went on smooth and spread easily. It lasted quite a while – very surprising for a balm that has this viscous texture.” She added: “The flavor was subtle, so I liked that I didn’t really notice it.” Another said: “[I like that] the metallic applicator head feels cool on contact.”
The exfoliating ingredients are hibiscus enzymes, lactic acid (which helps remove dead skin cells), and pyruvic acid (the brand claims it will diminish ashiness). Moisturizers include the humectant Brazilian açaí butter and African mongongo butter and moringa oil emollients. The brand claims that hexapeptide boosts collagen, but Asempa again cautions that those claims have not been proven in large studies. A trademarked polymer offers a gloss that our testers found stays put. The website mentions that it will not mask dual-toned lips, common to many women of color.
It didn’t make the final cut because … Virality seemed beside the point for most of our testers, who were more concerned with functionality. One said: “I just didn’t like how shiny/glossy it is. I would prefer something that doesn’t have so much shine, but some people may like the balm-gloss combo.”
$24 at Eadem $24 at Sephora***
Best eco-friendly lip balm:
Sustain Yourself Lip Balm
When almost every competitor comes in plastic, Sustain Yourself stands out with a cardboard tube that’s biodegradable, compostable and FSC-certified (one of the green badges that actually means something). The certified organic and fair trade balm is made of just three main ingredients: coconut oil, beeswax and golden jojoba oil. The peppermint flavor adds one more: peppermint essential oil. The unscented version is free of essential oils, which can cause allergic reactions according to Asempa. The large size of the tube offers a good amount of product for the price.
It didn’t make the final cut because … The cardboard tube could be hard to figure out, according to some testers – you have to push up the product from the bottom. I found that you had to sort of stuff the product back with your finger if you pushed it out too far, which defeats the hands-free purpose of having a stick of product.
$12 at Sustain Yourself***
Best premium lip balm:
Prada Balm Lip Optimizing Care
Our testers mostly liked this designer product, saying the lack of flavor or tint were “the best”. It comes in five colors; we tried “Universal,” which looks green in the tube but goes on clear. The formulation relies on hydrating jojoba oil and touts a probiotic (bifidus extract) as a barrier repair ingredient. Testers also loved that the logo-forward “satisfying” magnetic-closure case can be re-used with refills ($40).
It didn’t make the final cut because … Label-mania only went so far. Even the testers who liked it balked at the price. “Much too expensive,” said one, “but the best of the ones that I tried – by far. Still not worth $50!” Another tester said: “I could never justify spending that much on a lip balm.”
$50 at Sephora $50 at Nordstrom***
Best giftable lip balm:
Eos 100% Natural & Organic Lip Balm
With Amazon currently selling a package of four flavored balms for $10, this is a fun balm you can afford to share. I have given the sets as stocking stuffers or birthday gifts several times.
Ingredients include USDA certified organic shea butter, sunflower seed oil, organic beeswax, coconut oil, and jojoba seed oil. The tube has a cover that clicks in place – no accidental purse messes here. One tester wrote: “I like the lipstick-style applicator. It is very easy to use and the various bright colors make this easy to find in your purse. It’s my favorite of the ones I tried.” Another noted that the low price means you won’t freak out if it falls out of a pocket and gets lost.
Our testers found that the flavors they tried weren’t “too strong” and several called them “pleasant”. Another called the vanilla “pretty subtle, so I didn’t mind”. He added: “This applied very lightly and felt like a thin film. While there was a little runoff or [it] felt a little wet on the lips, I never felt the need to reapply after applying it once.” One gave a thumbs up to the “nondescript” (not too teenybopper) tube.
It didn’t make the final cut because … Flavored balms were really divisive. One tester thought the product was “light but still fake-smelling” and the feel was “waxy”. Another tester called the flavor “really bad” and “artificial”.
$9.97 for pack of four at Amazon $10.99 for pack of four at Eos***
Best lip balm packaging:
Get Balmy Lip Balm Jewelry
Get Balmy comes packaged in a cute ring, bracelet or pendant … with a secret. We tried the ring. You scoop off the top of a lip balm stick into the compartment. Each piece of jewelry (in this case a 14-karat gold-plated steel ring with a round of black onyx on the front) comes with a tube of the brand’s own balm, but you could sub in your fave product – the provided balm is nothing special. The dozens of jewelry styles offered are attractive – from simple and clean styles to more ornate and colorful designs.
It didn’t make the final cut because … Not everyone is willing to wear their lip balm on their wrist (or finger or neck). The ring was also a bit heavy, and I found it hard to open the “locket” full of balm while I was wearing it. My usual ring size was a bit too large for my finger and slid around, but the brand sells a four-pack of silicone ring size adjusters for $6.
$57 at Get Balmy***
What else did I test?
Burt’s Bees Mineral Sunscreen Lip Balm, $12.99 for pack of three
Chapstick in Cotton Candy, $5.28
CoverGirl Clean Fresh Tinted Lip Balm in Orange You a Cutie, $7.99
eos Super Balm, $4.97
Jones Road Miracle Balm – Flushed, Dusty Rose, Miami Beach, Au Naturel, $40
Marin Lip Treatment – unscented, Campfire S’Mores, Blueberry French Toast, Strawberry Rhubarb, $19.99
MCo Beauty Peptide Lip Treatment – Caramel, Buttercream, Fairy Floss, $8.49
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Lip Balm – Sheer Berry, Sheer Ice (Fragrance Free), $10
Sun Bum Coconut Lip Balm, $3.97
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What you need to know about lip balm
We spoke with two experts to find out about how lip balms work, how long they last, and whether lip balm “addiction” is myth or reality.
Dr Oyetewa Asempa, an assistant professor of dermatology, specialist in hair and scalp disorders, and the director of the Skin of Color Clinic at Baylor Medicine Department of Dermatology in Houston
Dr Corey L Hartman, a dermatologist and adjunct associate professor of dermatology at University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Heersink School of Medicine
How do lip balms work?
When you’re using lip balm, you are usually looking for moisturization. Balms address that need with three different classes of ingredients – humectants, occlusives and emollients – according to Asempa.
Humectants such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin draw water to the skin’s surface from the atmosphere or from deeper layers of skin.
Emollients including ceramides, squalane oil and dimethicone work by filling in gaps between skin cells, which otherwise cause skin to look rough, dry or flaky.
Occlusives such as petrolatum and beeswax don’t add hydration to skin; instead, they form a barrier on top of skin to keep existing moisture from evaporating.
Can I develop an allergy to my lip balm?
Absolutely. “You can develop an allergy to anything at any time,” says Asempa. She is seeing a lot more contact allergies from lip tints with colors or fragrances, which can contain dyes or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are potentially irritating.
Asempa recommends that people with sensitive skin steer clear of lanolin (found in the popular Lanolips multipurpose ointment), as it may trigger a reaction. She also counsels against most “plumping” balms. “They are almost always going to be a little irritating,” she says. “They contain vasodilators such as capsaicin, vitamin B3, menthol or cinnamon oil. They are basically causing a contact dermatitis. You’re irritating your lips, so the body sends blood full of different types of inflammatory cells to the site of irritation.”
How long should I keep a lip balm?
“All cosmetics have an expiry date 12 to 24 months after being opened, especially if they’re in a tub,” says Asempa, “even if you wash your hands before using. They can become contaminated faster than stick products, which have a lower risk of bacteria growth.”
Signs that a product is past its prime include “changes in smell, color, or texture; it feels gritty”. She also says to look for the “period after opening” date, which is the number in a circle on the bottom of a cosmetic product.
Hartman suggests replacing lip balms every six to eight months after opening. “Many people who use lip balms frequently will find that they use the entire product before six months,” he says, “so they replace as needed. If a lip balm changes color or texture or looks or feels ‘off’ sooner, it’s a sign that the formula has degraded and should be thrown away.”
Can I get addicted to using lip balm?
Lip balms themselves are not addictive, says Asempa, but there’s a reason we all know someone who seems as if they can’t live without them. “It doesn’t cause true dependence like nicotine, but you can develop a behavioral habit.” She finds that some ingredients, such as camphor and menthol, can dry lips out and create a cycle of re-applying.
As for the idea that frequently applying lip balms will stop your skin from producing oil and make them dependent on added hydration, that’s not true, says Hartman. “It’s a myth that if you apply lip balms frequently your skin will become ‘addicted’ and you’ll need to keep applying lip balms to soothe your lips. Most patients like the feel of a lip balm on their lips and they apply when they feel they need to. It’s more of a psychological desire versus a need.”
