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While two people might not be able to agree on what the best lip balm really is, it’s safe to say this humble beauty product is adored by all. A reliable formula lip balm—whether it’s tinted, formulated with SPF, or a hydrating wonder that borders on lip gloss—is a skin-care essential. Struggling to find the best lip balm for your skin? Here’s everything you need to know, according to dermatologists. Plus, Glamour editors and dermatologists share their top lip balm products of all time, from hydrating salves to medicated balm to subtle lip tints. Get ready to pucker up.
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Original photo courtesy of Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle
Laneige is the cream of the crop when it comes to lip hydration. Just look how much everyone loves their overnight lip mask. Given their reputation, I guess it’s no surprise that so many Glamour editors are equally obsessed with the Lip Glowy Balm.
It took me a little longer to get into it, though: I knew I loved the mask, but thought I didn’t need the balm. Well, I thought wrong: It wasn’t until my best friend Chyna got it for me as a gift (thanks, girl!) that I finally tried it, and I haven’t taken it out of my rotation since.
To put it simply: This is everything most people want out of a lip balm. Obviously, it’s super hydrating thanks to its nourishing formulation of murumuru butter and shea butter, but not at all heavy, sticky, or runny, and lasts all day long. It also smells delicious and leaves a light, sheer tint atop the lips for a no-makeup makeup finish. We like that it doesn’t look overdone or like you’re necessarily wearing anything. It just makes you, and your lips, look luscious, healthy, and hydrated, and who doesn’t want that?! Exactly. That’s why, as a beauty editor, this is my most-recommended lip balm.
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Original photo courtesy of Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle
Glossier’s Balm Dotcom has been a cult favorite for over a decade, which is why Glamour senior beauty editor Ariana Yaptangco was shocked when she heard they were reformulating the product. But she was pleasantly surprised with the new-and-improved cult classic: “The original Balm Dotcom seemed to be heavier and pastelike, while Balm Dotcom 2.0 goes on smoother and feels buttery,” she writes in her Glossier balm review. “Balm Dotcom devotees will find that the formula is more or less the same or, in my personal opinion, even better.”
Glamour senior editor Stephanie McNeal has been a longtime fan, too. “I’ve stayed loyal to Glossier through their initial viral success and ups and downs ever since for one simple fact: when their product works, it really works,” she says. “One of those products is their Balm Dot Calm, a lip balm that actually serves as a multiuse product for any dry skin. The balms without color (I’m partial to the mango) are some of the only ones out there that cure my chapped lips in the windy NYC winter; and tinted versions provide the perfect everyday pop of color. I’ve been known to slather it on my cheeks and cuticles as well, and it never leads me astray.”
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Original photo courtesy of Glamour associate beauty editor Danielle Sinay
Board-certified dermatologist Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, FAAD, points to Farmacy’s Honey Butter Beeswax Lip Balm as one of her top picks. “This is a favorite containing honey, which has many skin benefits for this sensitive mucosa,” she says. “It’s hydrating and soothing; plus it contains antimicrobial properties. The occlusive nature of beeswax helps prevent water loss.”
FWIW, so do I: This lip balm never leaves my makeup bag or pocket, and is the only lip balm stick that I actually like. I quite literally keep one in my workout fanny pack (because, yes, I have one of those) 24/7. I can’t live without it!
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Original photo courtesy of Glamour associate beauty editor Danielle Sinay
Glamour commerce editor Jenifer Calle is a major Tower 28 LipSoftie stan (as am I; but I’m sure you’re sick of hearing that). “I tried all five of Tower 28’s new lip balms, and the Ube Vanilla was by far my favorite,” Calle says. “It smells like, you guessed it, vanilla and has an incredible shine. My upper lip is slightly darker than my bottom so I like a lip balm with a bit of tint to it, and this burgundy hue is gorgeous. Unlike sticky lip glosses, it doesn’t feel heavy at all. I take this everywhere I go now.” It also leaves a subtle-yet-show-stopping glossy finish on your lips, so it’s perfect for elevating your everyday look, with or without glam.
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Original photo courtesy of Glamour associate beauty editor Danielle Sinay
Hailey Bieber’s Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment and Tint really are worth the hype—so much so that I tried it and loved the former without even knowing what it was.
Yes, really! A makeup artist applied it to my lips when I was getting my glam done before my dad’s wedding, and it felt and smelled so good I asked what product it was to get myself. When she pulled the Rhode Skin tube out of her kit, I knew I was a forever fan. It’s super hydrating, smells amazing, and has a high-shine finish similar to a Y2K-era gloss. It’s the best of both worlds!
Original photo courtesy of Glamour associate beauty editor Danielle Sinay
If you’ve struggled to find an SPF-spiked balm you like, the search stops now. Because the truth is: I didn’t know it was possible for an SPF-infused lip balm to not leave that weird, sunscreen-y aftertaste until I tried Cay Skin’s Isle Lip Balm. It’s SPF 30, so it’s perfect for protecting your lips from UV rays but feels exactly like regular luscious lip balm that doesn’t smell or taste like chemicals.
It’s amazing as a stand-alone lip balm too: Formulated with sea moss, aloe stem cells, and vitamin E, it hydrates, soothes, and protects the lips without a sticky finish. I love the clear option for when I’m going barefaced and opt for Irie Rose for a pop of lip color. Neither have left my bag since I bought them, and I actually have so many tubes that I’ve lost a few to the laundry cycle and still have enough left over that it’s okay.
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Original photo courtesy of Glamour contributor Brigitt Earley
Coola’s organic mineral formula blocks UV rays with zinc oxide but also boasts emollients like shea butter, coconut oil, and avocado oil. But it’s not at all heavy or sticky; in fact, our testers say it’s nice and lightweight. According to Glamour contributor Brigitt Earley, “it’s not at all waxy like your average lip balm, but it’s not greasy either.”
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Original photo courtesy of Glamour associate beauty editor Danielle Sinay
Obviously, I’m a fan of lip products with SPF, but finding ones that work and look and feel good can be a challenge. Fortunately, I found my match made in heaven with Supergoop’s Mineral Lipshade, which has SPF 30 and substantial—and downright impressive—color payoff that doesn’t budge or run no matter how sweaty I get (which can be very). It’s perfect for anyone who wants to look cute but is spending substantial amounts of time outdoors in the sun—think: a beach day, a long walk, or lounging by the pool. That said, I’m such an SPF stan I wear it almost any time I’m outdoors in the sun, and I even used it at an international black-tie wedding. It looks and feels so good, you’d never know it has SPF!
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Original photo courtesy of Glamour associate beauty editor Danielle Sinay
“I carry three things with me every single day: my keys, my wallet, and Burt’s Bees peppermint lip balm,” says Glamour commerce editor Jake Henry Smith. “It has been this way for years; it will continue as long as I can still get my hands on the stuff. Why? The colorless balm is the perfect consistency, offering lasting coverage without making my lips feel sticky. It instantly smooths over cracks and dry skin on my lips, face, and hands. Although I use it constantly, the stuff lasts forever (I probably only go through two tubes a year), and it’s so readily available that I don’t have to be precious about it.”
Original photo courtesy of Glamour contributor Brigitt Earley
While Aquaphor isn’t technically medicated, Dr. Murphy-Rose notes that it might as well be given how often it’s recommended by derms. “Excellent for all skin types including the most sensitive, the Aquaphor lip balm is highly occlusive to powerfully lock in moisture,” she says. It contains shea butter and beeswax to replenish and lock in moisture, but also vitamin E and chamomile to repair and soothe cracked dry lips.
Earley loves it, too. “I’ve been using this lip balm for as long as I can remember,” she says. “Sure, it’s a little bit greasy upon application, but it’s not at all sticky, and there’s really nothing that compares when it comes to hydration.”
Original photo courtesy of Glamour commerce director Brie Schwartz
Fresh’s Sugar Lip Balm Hydrating Treatment has been Glamour commerce director Brie Schwartz’s longtime go-to lip balm. “This treatment leaves my lips feeling utterly nourished for hours,” she says. “Unlike the countless other products I’ve tried, this one doesn’t need to be reapplied every 20 minutes in order for your lips to keep feeling hydrated. A word of caution, though: It will melt in the sun, so if you’re toting it along to the beach, pop it in the cooler.”
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Original photo courtesy of Glamour contributor Brigitt Earley
Another SPF-spiked option that derms love? Supergoop’s Play Lip Balm. “Also incorporating SPF, this balm is made of plant-based ingredients like shea butter and sunflower oil,” says Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York. “Doubling as a lip balm and an SPF, this is a great option for daily use to help protect the lips from sun damage.”
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Original photo courtesy of Glamour associate beauty editor Danielle Sinay
“I usually opt for affordable products when it comes to lip balm, but the splurge-worthy Sisley Nutritive Lip Balm was the beauty upgrade I didn’t know I needed,” says Glamour art director Allie Folino. “With ingredients like mango butter, shea oil, and jojoba oil, it’s nourishing and regenerative. It has a nonsticky finish, making it a go-to for me both in the morning, before I apply makeup, and in the evening, as a part of my nightly skin-care routine.”
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Silky, luxurious, and hydrating, this lip balm won a 2023 Glamour Beauty Award for a reason. “I have high standards for my lip balms, and this one from Mara met them all,” Glamour’s McNeal writes in her review. “It’s thick, which is key, but didn’t feel sticky and left my lips feeling perfectly hydrated. I never had to reapply, which is one of my pet peeves.”
If you’re looking for a super-hydrating lip salve—or even something to replace slugging petroleum jelly—Mara’s Sea Silk Lip Balm might be it for you. Formulated with Algae Plumping Complex, hydrating seed butters, and vegan waxes (an alternative to beeswax), this balm is vegan, gluten-free, and cruelty-free. It doesn’t just moisturize, but it plumps, smooths, and soothes your lips too.
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Dr. Garshick and Dr. Murphy-Rose all point to Dr. Dan’s Cortibalm as a medicated treatment for severely chapped, cracked, and dry lips. “Dr. Dan’s Cortibalm has rescued my lips and those of many patients,” says Dr. Murphy-Rose. “It contains 1% cortisone in beeswax, petrolatum, and mineral oil to impressively calm irritation while locking in moisture. It also has a delicious natural beeswax aroma.” Dr. Garshick also likes that it helps reduce inflammation. “It’s also hypoallergenic, making it good even for those with sensitive skin,” she says.
If you’re wondering whether lip balm really is a necessity, you should think of it like daily moisturizer for your lips. Because much like the skin on your face, lips are prone to dehydration—but significantly more so than other parts of the body.
“Lips dry out faster than other parts of the skin since they don’t have the same oil glands that are present on the rest of the face,” Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York, explains. “Lips are also thinner than the rest of the skin and as a result can be more susceptible to external trauma or injury.” Translation? Your lips are extra sensitive, and so they require TLC (read: hydration), especially in cold and dry climates and when exposed to sunlight.
If you’re struggling with chapped lips, Dr. Garshick suggests using products with emollients, such as shea butter, as these help soften and smooth the skin. She also recommends humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, which help draw moisture in, and occlusives like petroleum jelly, which will provide a protective barrier to lock moisture in. “It is also important to look for lip products with SPF as an extra layer of protection from UV exposure,” says Dr. Garschick.
Heat Pack Reusable If you’re seeking medicated balms for chapped lips, however, the guidelines are a bit more specific. “Beware when lip balms are marketed as medicated and contain ingredients such as menthol or camphor,” Stacey Tull, MD, MPH, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of St. Charles County Dermatologic Surgery in Cottleville, Missouri, tells Glamour. “Although they can initially feel soothing, they actually dry out the skin and can make chapped lips much worse.” That’s why her favorite for the job is a drugstore staple.