Compare Top 5 Lip Balms
honorable mentions
Photograph: Boutaina Chokran
EOS 24H Moisture Super Balm for $6: I’ve been a fan of Eos’ egg-shaped balms since middle school. 24H Moisture Super Balm feels like an evolved version. It contains some solid ingredients like shea butter, avocado oil and castor seed oil. It is also free from parabens, phthalates, silicones and synthetic colors. It’s shiny, cushy, and comes in delicious scents like Coconut Milk, Mango Melonade, and Watermelon Frose. One problem is that it is not fragrance free, so those with sensitive lips may not like it. there is also texture stickyWhich means your hair will blow up to your mouth on a windy day. And despite claims of 24-hour moisture, expect to reapply every hour or two.
Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm for $4: If you’re conscious of ingredients, Burt’s Bees has probably stuck with you at some point. The original formula blends beeswax, coconut oil, sunflower seed oil and peppermint oil. It doesn’t contain any petroleum or parabens, and you can find it almost everywhere. That said, beeswax makes a solid barrier but isn’t the most hydrating, especially during the winter. The balm goes on but doesn’t penetrate, which means it won’t do much to already chapped lips. Peppermint oil may be a little too spicy for sensitive lips. Still, if you’re in a pinch and standing in front of a CVS self-checkout, it’s a better buy than Blistex (more on that later).
Glossier Balm Dotcom for $16: Glossier Balm.com Moved So Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask Could Run. It is a multipurpose ointment that blends lanolin, castor oil, and beeswax to lock in moisture. Plus, it comes in some lighter shades that look great on no-makeup makeup days. But the thick, waxy texture can feel a little sticky, especially if you’re applying the layer on chapped lips.
Photograph: Boutaina Chokran
Goop Beauty Nourishing Lip Repair Mask for $30: This buttery lip mask from Goop is loaded with ceramides to help restore your lip barrier, as well as fig seed oil and açaí fruit that smells as tropical as it sounds. Although it is free of silicones, parabens, and synthetic fragrances, these vegetable oils and fruit extracts may trigger a reaction. Do a patch test first. Plus, at just $30 for 0.3 fluid ounces, it’s not the most cost-effective balm on my list.
Omorovicza Budapest Perfecting Lip Balm for $46: The texture of Omorovicza’s Perfecting Lip Balm goes on almost as gritty as a lip polish or micro-exfoliator. There are some goodies in here, like hyaluronic acid and omega fatty acids. But, there are also some unnecessary (potentially irritating) additional ingredients – eucalyptus oil, perfume, and phenyl alcohol.
Avoid these lip balms
Nivea Dewy Lip Care with Hyaluronic Acid: Nivea’s Dewy Lip Care with Hyaluronic Acid is packed with emollients, humectants and antioxidants like shea butter, glycerin and vitamin E (to name a few) – which sounds promising. Unfortunately, it also contains some unnecessary additives, particularly geranoyl fragrances and “flavors,” which can include any mixture of synthetic or natural compounds. Nivea’s tinted balms aren’t much better; They leave a sticky film and rely on synthetic pigments for shine and color. There are many better balms available that provide lasting hydration without excessive shine.
Blistex Lip Madex: It gives you an immediate tingle due to the cocktail of menthol and camphor as well as synthetic flavors and fragrances, but that tingle is a danger signal. A general note: “Medicated” lip balms often cause more harm than good.
Carmex Classic Lip Balm: Skip Carmex, for the same reasons as Blistex. It contains camphor and benzocaine, which are ingredients that can irritate the skin and make chapped lips worse over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes chapped lips?
There are many reasons for this, and here are some of the most common causes of chapped lips:
- Cold weather and dry air: Cold and dry air both strip moisture from your skin and harden keratin, which is the protein that keeps your lips moisturized.
- Licking Lips: The more you lick, the drier they will become. Licking your lips breaks down the natural barrier of your lips, leading to irritation and even hyperpigmentation.
- Allergic reactions: Some lip balms contain ingredients that trigger allergic reactions, making dryness and peeling worse. The usual suspects include castor oil, fragrances, colors, and preservatives.
- Sun exposure: Your lips are thinner and have less pigment than the rest of your skin, which means less protection from UV rays. Unsafe contact can lead to painful dryness or precancerous spots called actinic cheilitis.
- Tobacco smoke: If you smoke, your lips are at greater risk of getting a condition called glandular cheilitis, which causes inflammation, rough texture and cracking. It can also increase the risk of infection and lip cancer.
- Medicines: Some medications come with dry mouth as a side effect, including, but not limited to, retinoids, antihistamines, antidepressants, and benzodiazepines.
- Underlying conditions: Autoimmune conditions like lupus, eczema, or lichen planus may first appear on your lips. If your symptoms don’t subside after trying the usual suspects, talk to your dermatologist.
What ingredients should you look for (and avoid) in lip balm?
Here’s what to look for on the label:
- Emollients: These are moisturizing ingredients that help repair and soften flaky, chapped lips. Some common ones include:
1. castor oil: Thick, nutritious and rich in ricinoleic acid that helps smooth rough textures. It is sometimes slightly comedogenic, meaning it can clog pores.
2. Cocoa Butter or Shea Butter: These rich butters walk the line between emollient and repellent. They hydrate and help rebuild the natural barrier of the lips without clogging the pores.
3. Coconut Oil: Naturally anti-inflammatory, but if you’re acne-prone, it may be too much for the skin around your lips.
4. jojoba oil: Mimics the skin’s natural sebum. Extremely lightweight, not greasy, and unlikely to clog pores. - conclusion: These elements form a protective barrier to seal out moisture and block out environmental aggressors. look for Petroleum jelly (aka petrolatum), a tried-and-true moisture sealant, or wax For a natural alternative.
- Humectants: These ingredients attract water to keep lips plump and hydrated; They work best when paired with emollients and occlusives to trap moisture. is extraordinary hyaluronic acidThat hydrates without leaving a greasy residue, but you’ll also benefit from glycerine, aloe veraOr Honey,
- Antioxidant: material like Vitamin E, vitamin C, niacinamideAnd polyphenols Helps protect against free radicals and aid in the repair of skin cells damaged over time.
- SPF Protection: Lips are especially sensitive to sun damage, so choose a mineral sunscreen that uses zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. They’re effective, gentle enough for sensitive skin, and don’t leave white spots.
Here’s what to avoid:
- Synthetic Fragrances and Flavors: Delicious scents, including but not limited to mint, cinnamon, and citrus, may irritate your lips, especially if you have sensitive skin.
- Menthol, camphor, and other cooling agents: These make dryness worse over time.
When to see a dermatologist
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, if your lips are chapping even after applying balm continuously for two to three weeks, you should consult your dermatologist. A professional can help you figure out if something more serious is going on — such as an allergic reaction or fungal infection — and treat it before it progresses.
My lip balm obsession started around 2006 with Fanta Lip Smacker, but for the sake of this story, I went more systematic. Over the past eight months, I put 30 balms to the test in a variety of climates and conditions: dry Chicago winters, Florida heat, airplane air, etc. I judged each based on a checklist of factors:
- Material: I scanned each balm for moisturizing ingredients and flagged substances that may irritate lips instead of helping them, like synthetic fragrances, menthol, and camphor. I preferred clean or vegetarian diets whenever possible.
- Texture: I evaluated how each formula worked, how it lasted throughout the day, and how buildable it was under lipstick and other lip products. Anything that’s too waxy, too sticky, or that disappears within five minutes is hard to pass up.
- Packaging and Application: I tried squeeze tubes, tins, and twist-up sticks. I rated each on portability, neatness, and overall user-friendliness.
- Category:This guide includes drugstore staples and luxury lip treatments, tinted and high-shine options, and SPF picks.
What are we testing next?
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