There’s nothing like cracked, chapped lips to take the joy out of a cozy winter meal, which is why I’m constantly in search of a lip balm that will actually leave my lips moisturized. But the unfortunate truth is that a lot of allegedly hydrating balms and ointments actually make your lips more dry, leading to an endless cycle of overuse. The TL;DR is: lip balm addiction is not just in your head.
The main thing to look for in a good lip balm for winter is an occlusive ingredient, like beeswax or shea butter, which will create a moisture-locking barrier that prevents your lips from immediately drying out. But much like how you take your morning coffee, lip balm preferences are highly personal. When you’re looking for the best lip balm to toss in your grocery tote, think about what you like in a balm. Things like flavors, tints and whether or not it has SPF can make a big impact on how much you enjoy a lip product, which will impact how often you use it.
Once you find a lip balm you love, I highly recommend buying them in bulk so you can keep one at your desk, in your bathroom, in coat pockets, and in tote bags. That way, when you’re faced with your favorite salty, spicy, citrus-y foods, you won’t have to worry about your lips stinging.
The Tried and True Classics
It seems like a new, “life-changing” lip balm shows up on my social media feeds every single day, but there are two that have stood the test of time. Aquaphor and Vaseline had a serious moment last year thanks to the slugging trend, but these old-school occlusives are not flash-in-the-pan trends. The reason these are some of the best lip balms for dry lips is that both use petrolatum to seal in moisture. This creates a strong, long-lasting barrier that can stand up to the kinds of cold, windy conditions that can cause severely chapped lips.
A Lanolin-Infused Lip Balm
Lanolips lip balms are made with lanolin, a naturally-occurring oil that’s derived from sheep’s wool. Lanolin is humanely sourced, so no sheep are harmed in the making of your lip balm, and it almost perfectly mimics the oils in human skin. I’ve been using Lanolips products for years, and the original 101 Multipurpose Ointment is my go-to whenever I’m spending a lot of time outside in the cold. The brand makes unflavored and unscented options as well as sheer flavored balms and lightly tinted ones, so there’s a good chance you’ll find something that ticks all your boxes.
A Fancy French All-Over Balm
There’s something about 1balm in a round tin that just makes it 100% more satisfying to use, and I keep a tin of Féret’s Le Baume on my desk at all times. In addition to having peak fancy French vibes, the thick, waxy formula is excellent for ultra-dry lips. I also use it on my cuticles and hands after I’ve been washing a few too many dishes. The solid, all-natural formula has occlusive, moisturizing ingredients like honey, shea butter, and seabuckthorn oil, and it has a light, pleasing scent from rose and rosemary extracts.
This Ultra-Moisturizing, Paraben-Free Lip Treatment
Hanalei’s nourishing lip treatments are Leaping Bunny-certified, and the primary ingredient is Hawaiian Kukui nut oil that’s rich in vitamins A, C, and E. Of all the lip balms I’ve tried over the years, this is definitely one of the best lip balms for dry lips. It comes in both clear and lightly tinted formulas, and the brand also makes an all-natural lip scrub for those times when you’re trying to recover from chapped lips rather than prevent them.
A Moisturizing Lip Balm with SPF
Yes, you should put SPF on your lips if you’re spending a lot of time outside—even in winter. If you’re into skiing, snowboarding, or other outdoorsy activities (and all of the cheesy, gooey Après-ski foods that come with them), you’ll definitely want to slather on thick layer of Supergoop’s Play lip balm before you hit the slopes. The SPF 30+++ broad spectrum balm will protect your lips from both sun and wind exposure, and the combination of shea butter, acai, and sunflower oil will keep them moisturized.
A Tinted Lip Balm That’s Actually Moisturizing
In my experience, a lot of tinted lip balms are just glorified lipsticks that still require a hydrating balm over them during the winter. Tower28’s Juicebalm is a rare exception to that rule. The stick formula offers buildable color that you can actually see (unlike some tinted balms that are super sheer), and the combination of shea butter and marula oil is actually very moisturizing.
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