Lips are ripe for chapping, according to board-certified dermatologist Dendy Engelman in Manhattan. Lips suffer damage from the sun, cold weather, wind, and heat because they are constantly exposed to saliva, including alpha-amylase, a digestive enzyme that can degrade skin. They are prone to drying out, flaking, chapping, and cracking. A quality lip balm might be beneficial.
Because of this, the Home Accessories Beauty Lab evaluated 175 lip products from over 70 brands to find the best balms that aid in sealing moisture and replenishing it as needed. We’ve got hydrating, tinted, budget-friendly, and SPF-containing balms on this list. These are the top lip balms available, chosen after comprehensive testing in the lab and expert recommendations from our Beauty Lab specialists who use them daily.
Top choices:
4
BEST DERMATOLOGIST-RECOMMENDED
LIP BALM
Lano The Original 101 Ointment Multipurpose Superbalm
16
BEST DERMATOLOGIST-RECOMMENDED LIP BALM
Lano The Original 101 Ointment Multipurpose Superbalm
But let’s start with the basics: What are blackheads? Mona Gohara, M.D., Associate Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Yale School of Medicine, explains that blackheads, one type of acne, are a buildup of sebum (oil), keratin, and dirt that become trapped inside pores and are oxidized by air, giving them a darker appearance. Hence the term “blackheads.” Although they can appear anywhere on the body, they frequently form on the chin, forehead, and nose.
There are many ways to get rid of blackheads, from instruments that physically remove them from the skin and unclog pores to skincare solutions that work gradually to do just that. Dr. Gohara likes comedone extractors, a little spoon-shaped device with a hole in the middle or a metal rod with loops that force dirt and sebum out of pores. According to Chiara Butler, a product reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute, “Other tools include skin spatulas that vibrate to scrape the surface of the skin and pore vacuums that use suction to pull sebum from the pore.” She dislikes both of these because they can result in bruising and bursting blood vessels.
Many alternatives are available in the skincare industry, including chemical peels, retinol treatments, and exfoliators that typically contain salicylic and glycolic acids, among other ingredients. According to Butler and Dr. Gohara, pore strips are not recommended as they “are a quick fix and do nothing to help the process of the blackheads forming.” You may see our top selections for blackhead removers, including editor and dermatologist favorites, Beauty Award winners, and more when you’ve mastered the various categories.
Check out our top acne face washes and acne-fighting skincare routine if removing blackheads isn’t your only problem.
1
PROS
- Softens lips
- Makes lips appear fuller
- Not sticky
CONS
- Expensive
Size
0.34 fl. oz.
Key ingredients
Resveratrol, grapeseed oil
Although pricey, this GH Beauty Lab test winner offers softening and anti-aging properties in one product courtesy of peptides, antioxidants, and hydration. The VenEffect lip treatment product improved the appearance of lips in lab tests after four weeks of use, and testers praised it for its non-tacky feel and speedy absorption.
2
PROS
- Shine-free finish
- Hydrating occlusives and emollients
CONS
- May not feel hydrating enough for some
Size
0.15 oz.
Key ingredients
Beeswax, shea butter, coconut oil, sunflower oil
This detangling brush, another GH Beauty Lab favourite, combines boar and nylon bristles for more shine and smoothness. The meeting gently cuts through tangles and knots thanks to its flexible paddle and ionic bristles, preventing breakage. Birnur Aral, director of the GH Beauty Lab, says of the adjustable brush head, “I like the soft and sturdy handle, and the brush head that moves and separates as needed when detangling.”
• Shape: Paddle
• Bristles: Boar and nylon, ball-tipped
• Hair type: All
3
PROS
- Clinically proven to heal skin
- Smooth, non-sticky formulation
- Multi-purpose balm
CONS
- Unscented
Size
7 oz.
Key ingredients
Petrolatum
This Beauty Lab standard ointment is a miracle worker that can treat anything from diaper rash to cracked knuckles, so it is no surprise that it works wonders on chapped, dry lips. It seals in moisture and forms a healthy barrier on the skin to keep out irritation on even severely chapped, peeling lips, as demonstrated by clinical studies to restore smooth, healthy skin. Additionally, this balm contains panthenol and glycerin for a less sticky finish, in contrast to heavier petroleum jelly versions.
4
BEST DERMATOLOGIST-RECOMMENDED LIP BALM
Lano The Original 101 Ointment Multipurpose Superbalm
PROS
- Made of natural lanolin
- Extremely hydrating and efficacious
CONS
- No scent or flavor
Size
0.52 oz
Key ingredients
Lanolin, lanolin oil
Dr. Engelman cites Lano’s 101 Ointment as one of his favorites. “It works for many skin care concerns – from dry, chapped lips and cuticles to burns, eczema, and beyond.” The rich balm is manufactured naturally from lanolin and lanolin oil, which resemble the oils on your skin. According to the manufacturer, “this balm holds 200% of its weight in moisture,” according to Dr. Engelman, “It really is a wonder ingredient for hydration and healing alike.” You are okay with a no-frills balm without scent, fragrance, or color! It’s an editor’s favorite for nighttime and everyday use, even if we have yet to test it in the lab.
5
PROS
- Mineral SPF 15
- Tinted and colorless options
CONS
- SPF could be higher
Size
0.14 oz
Key ingredients
Castor seed oil, carrot seed oil, avocado oil
In addition to having vitamins C and E, this choice has SPF 15 to protect the sensitive skin on your lips from the sun’s damaging rays. Although our Beauty Lab typically advises applying at least SPF 30, we appreciate that this broad-spectrum balm doesn’t have the unpleasant taste that some chemical SPF creams can because of the mineral sunscreen titanium dioxide. Additionally, it contains antioxidants and is available in six coloured formulas for a hint of colour or a colourless option for no colour at all.
6
PROS
- K-Beauty favorite
- Overnight formula
CONS
- Texture is a bit thin
Size
0.7 oz
Key ingredients
Vitamin C, murumuru seed, shea butter
Due to the antioxidants in this K-beauty cult favorite, such as vitamin C, sore lips are moisturized and protected while you sleep. When you apply a moisturizing layer before going to sleep, your pout won’t flake when you wake up. Although some of our beauty experts wish the overnight formula was a little thicker to remain put during the entire night, it has over 15,000 raving reviews on Sephora, with reviewers claiming, “I always, always wake up to smooth moisturized lips.”
7
PROS
- Balm hydration; gloss finish
- Hydrating formula plumps lips
CONS
Size
0.24 fl. oz.
Key ingredients
Castor seed oil, vitamin C, vitamin E,
This lip oil, a winner of our 2020 Beauty Awards, has a gloss-like appearance and a calming balm-like texture. A combination of six plant oils and colors ranging from sheer to rich berry full lips. According to one tester, the product left “no stickiness,” yet “lips felt hydrated, not parched.”
8
PROS
- Thick, healing ointment texture
- Scented and unscented options
CONS
- Contains gluten
Size
0.5 fl. oz.
Key ingredients
Squalane, aloe vera, vitamin E
With the help of vitamin E, aloe, and squalene, a plant-based lipid easily absorbed by the skin and helps maintain its barrier for soft, healthy skin, the Beauty Lab’s favorite product soothes hurting lips. This balm has an ointment-like texture that imparts some shine but no flavor or aroma. It also comes in mint, mango, and cherry flavors if you want a scent on your lip cream. For gluten intolerant, be aware that this choice contains wheat germ oil.
9
PROS
- Tinted yet hydrating formula
- Easy-to-apply crayon
CONS
Size
0.1 oz
Key ingredients
Shea butter, mango butter, coconut butter
Beauty Lab testers discovered this glossy lip balm was moisturizing and colorful, unlike how tinted balms can be overly transparent, and lipsticks can be too drying. It receives an average rating of 4.5 stars on Amazon, with customers appreciating its “fresh peppermint feeling” and moisturizing finish. One reviewer adds, “The color is good and [it] does not dry out my lips as so many others do.”
10
PROS
- Formulated with hydrocortisone
- Calms lips quickly
CONS
- Unscented and unflavored
Size
0.14 oz
Key ingredients
Beeswax, petroleum jelly, mineral oil, hydrocortisone
This lip balm, made with 1% hydrocortisone, does more than make lips feel better; with only a few applications, it reduces inflammation and irritation. Beeswax, petroleum jelly, mineral oil, and hydrocortisone are the only components used in its formulation, which soothe irritated, chapped lips and stop further moisture loss.
11
PROS
- Thick stick for all-over hydrating
- Cocoa butter formula smells great
CONS
- Large; can be tricky to apply
Size
0.5 oz
Key ingredients
Cocoa butter, vitamin E
The recipe with cocoa butter and vitamin E instantly heals chapped lips. The chubby swivel stick, which is made with moisturizing cocoa butter, does more than relieve dry lips: Although the vast surface area can make it challenging to apply cleanly to lips, it is also perfect for on-the-go moisturization for dry spots on the face and body, from cracked cuticles to eczema on the front and beyond.
12
PROS
- Stick formula is less messy than ointment
- GH Beauty Award-winner
CONS
- May be less hydrating than traditional ointment
Size
0.17 oz
Key ingredients
Shea butter, jojoba oil, vitamins C, E and B5
The cult-favourite healing salve’s stick form, which contains shea, vitamins B5 and E, and sunflower seed wax, provides even more hydration for lips. Although some people may find the conventional ointment more moisturizing, one tester stated, “My lips felt soothed instantly and throughout the day,” providing soft lips without any stickiness.
13
PROS
- Hydrating plant oils
- Biodegradable packaging
CONS
Size
0.2 oz
Key ingredients
Coconut oil, beeswax, shea butter
This organic balm is moisturizing thanks to a potent combination of coconut oil, beeswax, shea butter, and vitamin E oil (and flavoring with actual fruit! ). The balm’s natural sheen and great lip hydration were praised by testers. Bonus eco-friendly feature: The package is made entirely of compostable, unbleached cardboard.
14
PROS
- Multipurpose balm
- Uncomplicated ingredients
CONS
Size
0.6 oz
Key ingredients
Petrolatum, shea butter
The balm can benefit by being more necessary. Shea butter, petrolatum, and vitamin E are the only three components in Vaseline’s cream, an easy remedy for dry, chapped lips that won’t make them sticky. It has various scents and flavours, including moisturizing cocoa butter, soothing aloe, and rose.
15
PROS
- Hydrating ingredients soften lips overnight
- GH Beauty Award-winner
CONS
Size
0.25 oz
Key ingredients
Glycerin, jojoba seed oil, ceramides
This overnight balm, a winner of our 2018 Beauty Awards, contains jojoba seed oil, castor oil, and skin-healthy ceramides to repair dry lips as you sleep. Since they build up a healthy skin barrier and stop moisture loss, ceramides are crucial for moisturizing skin, particularly lips. After a few nights, one test subject even noticed an improvement in her cracked lips.
16
BEST DERMATOLOGIST-RECOMMENDED LIP BALM
Lano The Original 101 Ointment Multipurpose Superbalm
PROS
- Made of natural lanolin
- Extremely hydrating and efficacious
CONS
- No scent or flavor
Size
0.52 oz
Key ingredients
Lanolin, lanolin oil
Dr. Engelman cites Lano’s 101 Ointment as one of his favourites. “It works for so many different skin care concerns – from dry, chapped lips and cuticles to burns, eczema, and beyond.” The rich balm is manufactured naturally from lanolin and lanolin oil, which resemble the oils on your skin. According to the manufacturer, “this balm holds 200% of its weight in moisture,” according to Dr. Engelman, “it really is a wonder ingredient for hydration and healing alike.” You are okay with a no-frills balm without scent, fragrance, or colour! It’s an editor’s favourite for nighttime and everyday use, even if we have yet to test it in the lab.
17
PROS
- Smooths lip wrinkles
- Colorless and tinted options
CONS
Size
0.15 oz
Key ingredients
Hyaluronic acid and nourishing jojoba oil, grapeseed oil
Because of its calming, softening nature, this balm was selected as a winner in our Anti-Aging Awards. After four weeks, wrinkles on testers’ lips were noticeably smoothed thanks to a combination of hyaluronic acid, which plumps lines, and the nourishing oils jojoba and grapeseed. It is offered in colorless and transparent pink varieties.
How we test lip balms
More than 175 items in four different general forms—stick, lipstick, tube, and jar—from more than 70 companies were submitted for our most recent Beauty Lab lip balm study. Our experts examined the balms, documented the contents and claims of each product, and then narrowed the field down to 20 finalists. These 20 candidates were then further assessed to determine a final range of options across formats, gloss levels, color, scent, and other factors. The lip balms we suggested are ideal for daily or nightly usage because they have been shown to moisturize and repair lips.
What to look for when shopping for the best lip balm
According to Aral, “a lip balm should be designed to deliver a film of moisturizers onto the delicate skin of the lips,” with emollients to replenish lost moisture and occlusives to prevent future moisture loss. When looking for the ideal product to hydrate your lips, have the following in mind:
✔️ Hydrators: Emollients like squalene and triglycerides, as well as plant oils like castor and sunflower, aid in hydrating and softening dry lips, making them potent lip-healing agents. Dr. Engelman advises formulas prepared with vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, or lanolin for maximum moisturization.
✔️ Protectants: A superb balm also includes occlusives to seal in all that hydration and nourishment. “Look for balms or formulations containing petroleum or beeswax to seal in moisture,” advises Dr. Engelman. This grants the balm “the ability to enhance the barrier function by forming an occlusive film over the lips,” she continues. Plant waxes, shea and cocoa butter, and other occlusives for stars are also available.
✔️ SPF: Sunburned lips are highly unpleasant and common. Dr. Engelman advises using lip balms with SPF 30 or higher to preserve sensitive skin on your lips. Just be sure to avoid chemical sunscreen, which can aggravate lips more than salicylic acid, alcohol, and fragrance.
✔️ Extras: No excellent lip balm is complete without extra bells and whistles, such as antioxidants that protect the skin and stabilize the formula (such as vitamins A and E) and flavor derived from fruit oils and extracts.
