Despite their reputation as a winter affliction, chapped lips seem to strike year-round. Luckily, the best lip balm can soothe cracks and prevent future dryness with ease. But let’s be real, there are so many lip products on the market right now—from masks to salves to creams, and as we type this, we are sure, there are even more formulas in development as we speak. That said, you might want to find the best one for you without all the trial and error, which is where we come in. We tapped two dermatologists to weigh in on everything you need to know about lip balms, plus the ingredients best for healing and soothing everything from lip lickers’ dermatitis to minor splits and deep chaps.
Our Top Picks
First thing’s first: “Lip balms are products intended to nourish and moisturize the lips by preventing water loss and protecting the lip mucosa,” board-certified dermatologist Dr. Azadeh Shirazi tells Vogue, adding that they are mainly designed to relieved chapped lips. “A good lip balm should provide protection against environmental stressors such as cold, wind, low humidity, and irritating substances.”
What to Look for in a Lip Balm
In our opinion, the hallmarks of a good lip balm are texture and formula. Dr. Shirazi certainly agrees, elaborating on the importance and function of both: “The consistency should help lock in moisture by reducing water loss, while the formula should support the skin barrier, nourish the mucosa, and be free of irritating substances.” This might come to fruition as an occlusive petroleum layer like Vaseline and Aquaphor, a glossy sheen like Laneige, or a natural softness like Fresh’s lip balm. The texture you choose is entirely up to you, and likely varies to what’s on your agenda.
Onto the ingredients: “A good lip balm contains occlusive ingredients like oils, rich butters, waxes or petrolatum that lock in moisture, defend against drying, and protect lips from the external environment by providing a physical shield or barrier,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Blair Murphy-Rose, adding that skin-softening emollients and smoothers are excellent additions, too. Shirazi shares a bit of guidance for those with really dry lips: “Less is more when it comes to healing chapped lips,” she says. “Forget the fancy stuff with flavors, dyes, fragrances, etc. if you have chapped dry lips.” To avoid further irritation or cause sensitization, look for petroleum jelly, lanolin, propolis, and vitamin E to adequately nourish dryness. Plus, having SPF is a bonus, as the lip mucosa is thin and more prone to sun damage from UV rays; she’d recommend zinc oxide as it’s a “skin protectant [that] has anti-inflammatory properties.”
Ilia Lip Wrap Reviving Balm
- Why We Love It: When we think of the ultimate everyday lip balm, we look towards this Ilia option. The formula is led by hyaluronic acid, sea succulent, shea butter, and squalane (plus a few botanical oils) to replenish the skin barrier on the lips, moisturize, smooth, and soften over time. Not to mention, it pairs excellently with lip liners and lipsticks if that’s your vibe.
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, squalane, sea succulent, shea butter, castor oil, coconut oil
Aquaphor Lip Repair
- Why We Love It: “Aquaphor is often recommended by dermatologists to moisturize and protect dry lips,” says Murphy-Rose. “[It’s] excellent for all skin types including the most sensitive; the Aquaphor lip is highly occlusive to powerfully lock in moisture.” Shirazi is also a fan; That’s why we think of it as the ultimate chapped lip salve—relieving dryness and cracks instantly.
- Key Ingredients: Petrolatum, ahea butter, chamomile essence, castor oil
Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm
- Why We Love It: Murphy-Rose is a fan of this pick by Summer Fridays, describing it as “a glossy balm that smells delicious and is full of nourishing moisturizers like shea butter and murumuru seed butter.” The 100% vegan balm has developped quite a fanbase (so much so, it inspired the brand’s new Dream Lip Oil), perhaps in large part to its yummy flavors like vanilla, pink sugar, and brown sugar that leave a modern, sheer tint on the lips.
- Key Ingredients: Shea and murumuru seed butter, vegan waxes
Vaseline Blueseal Pure Petroleum Jelly Original
- Why We Love It: Vaseline, a product made with 100% pure pretroleum, is Shirazi’s top pick for lip care. “Petroleum jelly is one of the safest ingredients used in lip products as it has almost no potential to cause irritation or allergic reaction,” she explains. “It’s also very effective at holding moisture in, protecting the lips, and healing chapped lips.”
- Key Ingredients: 100% pure petroleum jelly
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
- Why We Love It: Easily one of the most sought-after lip treatments on the market, the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask is a wondrous find. Apt for moisturizing lips instantly through a blend of fruit complex, vitamin C, coconut oil, shea, and murumuru butter, this is best used as a overnight salve to promote smoother, softer lips come morning.
- Key Ingredients: Shea butter, murumuru butter, vitamin C, coconut oil, an antioxidant-rich fruit complex
Cay Skin Isle Lip Balm SPF 30
- Why We Love It: Remember, Shirazi emphasizes the importance of a lip balm with SPF to protect the lips from sunday damage. One of her favorites? Cay Skin Isle Lip Balm SPF 30. UVA/UVB protection aside, this vanilla brown sugar-flavored balm envelopes lips in a glossy shine perfect for daily wear.
- Key Ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, homosalate 10%, octisalate 5%, shea oil, aloe stem cells, vitamin E, sea moss
Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy Treatment Lip Balm
- Why We Love It: Many users of Fresh’s Sugar Lip Balm swear by not only its hydration properties, but its soothing of dry, cracked lips. These benefits arrive via sugar and hyaluronic acid filling spears which boost moisture and help lips look plumper, plus sea fennel to smooth fine lines on the lips.
- Key Ingredients: Sugar, hyaluronic acid filling spheres, sea fennel, beeswax, botanical oils (jojoba, castor, olive, grapeseed, meadowfoam, black current)
La Mer The Lip Balm
- Why We Love It: La Mer’s lip balm is yet another dreamy product Vogue editors can’t get enough on. Whether spotted on our way to market appointments or typing away at our desks, you’ll likely notice a few of us gliding the plush, satiny elixir to our lips—draping them in a nourishing, restorative sheen. Did we mention it’s refreshingly minty?
- Key Ingredients: La Mer’s Miracle Broth, petrolatum, aloe, algae extract, sesame seed oil eucalyptus leaf oil, alfalfa seed powder, castor seed oil, glycerin
Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment
- Why We Love It: Rhode’s Peptide Lip Treatment is one of those beauty products that feels too good to be true. It’s garnered what feels like rave reviews online and on social media because it manages to promote softer, plumper, hydrated lips while leaving an enviable glossy-finish sure to turn heads.
- Key Ingredients: Shea butter, peptides, cupuaçu, babassu, lactic acid
Dior Addict Lip Glow Balm
- Why We Love It: We like to think of the Dior Addict Lip Glow as the O.G. tinted lip balm. Just take your pick of 25 sheer-to-buildable hues for a comfortable, nourishing pop of color—perfect for on-the-go wear or even a night out. The choice is yours.
- Key Ingredients: Cherry oil, shea butter, sunflower and rice wax
Weleda Skin Food Lip Butter
- Why We Love It: Looking for a clean beauty product for you lips? Weleda’s Skin Food Lip Butter is just the ticket. Inside its memorable green tube is packed with conditioning agents like lanolin, beeswax, and plant-based oils to safeguard lips from harsh winter temps.
- Key Ingredients: Sunflower seed oil, lanolin, beeswax. glycerin, botanical extracts (viola tricolor, rosemary leaf, chamomile, calendula)
Sisley-Paris Nutritive Lip Balm
- Why We Love It: What’s not to love about the Sisley-Paris Nutritive Balm? Designed to protect lips for environmental stressors like cold winds and pollution, this enlists a blend of plant-based oils and butters to soothe and nourish your pout in just one use.
- Key Ingredients: Kokum butter, mango butter, botanical oils (shea, plum kernel, jojoba, sweet white lupin, wheat germ), padina pavonica extract, alpha bisabolol
Chanel N°1 de Chanel Lip and Cheek Balm
- Why We Love It: Whose to say your chosen lip balm can’t be a multitasker? Available in nine vibrant shades—from a rich berry to a classic Chanel red—this balm imparts a sheer, buttery tint to the lips and cheeks with ease.
- Key Ingredients: Red camellia oil, castor oil
Nudestix Hydra-Peptide Lip Butter
- Why We Love It: Thanks to avocado and shea butter, this Nudestix treatment delivers some much needed vitamins and antioxidants to your pout. Plus, 2% peptides are featured to lock in moisture and promote plumper lips. Our favorite part? There are four smell-good shades (three tinted, one not) to choose from.
- Key Ingredients: Avocado butter, shea butter, peptides
True Botanicals Moisture Lock Glossy Lip Balm
- Why We Love It: Anyone with a penchant for a high-octane shine will appreciate this balm by True Botanicals. Its hydrating, almost gel-like texture is packed with Bulgarian rose, spilanthes, and hyaluronic acid for softer, smoother lips.
- Key Ingredients: Bulgarian rose, spilanthes, hyaluronic acid, shea butter, mango seed butter, vanilla extract, botanical oils (coconut, jojoba, castor, avocado, moringa seed)
How often should you apply lip balm?
“The frequency varies from person to person and depends on the climate,” says Murphy-Rose. “During dry winters, applying a lip balm every hour or more may be best.” Otherwise, Shirazi suggests twice daily—once in the morning, and again at bedtime.
Can some lip balms actually make your lips dryer in the long run?
“Lip balms with ingredients that irritate the lips or cause a sensitivity reaction can cause more dryness, peeling in the long run,” Shirazi explains. Murphy-Rose agrees, citing potential skin irritants like menthol, cinnamon, capsaicin, phenol as ingredients to avoid. Also, you’ll want to avoid licking your lips as much as possible. “The problem is that the saliva is a skin irritant and this often worsens the problem and can cause ‘lip licker’s dermatitis,’ she continues.” Sometimes what looks and feels like dry skin is actually inflamed and irritated skin. It can be a true dermatitis.”
Meet The Experts
- Dr. Blair Murphy-Rose is a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist who specializes in facial rejuvenation techniques and non-invasive body contouring.
- Dr. Azadeh Shirazi is a California-based board-certified dermatologist specializing in medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology.
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