...your lip balm! (Keep up, we went over this last week…) And after Anna published her science-backed treatise on why everyone is so obsessed with their own particular lip balm, you all reacted in the best way possible—with comments! Loads and loads of them, most written in an effort to explain why this balm or that balm is the very best balm. There were so many hot takes happening down in Disqus that patterns began to emerge—and you know what happens after that...a follow-up post! So here we are; thank you for stopping by. The seven best lip balms you can’t stop praising are...
The pot that’s a French pharmacy staple. Even germaphobes are on board.
“Nuxe in the tub for night time, and yes I do risk buying from shady websites because I need it.” —KathS
“Nuxe pot is the best hard-worker (ever!!) for winter and extreme dryness.” —Diana Anisimova
“Pot version of Rêve de Miel from Nuxe is the only lip balm that works.” —Kingusia Żak
“Nothing beats the French favorite: Nuxe Rêve De Miel (in the pot). You can find it at Cult Beauty. It lasted six months or longer. But it is annoying to travel with. I'll just depot in a clean contact lens case.” —Nuraimi Ibrahim
Not to be confused with Bite's Agave Lip Balm, which encountered a tough crowd in the ITG comments (the consensus: balm, bad; mask, good!).
“The tube lasts an eternity, (though it does have an expiration of 24 months) and has incredibly clean ingredients. I love using it especially in brutal Chicago winters where the wind really kills my skin. But honestly, I use this any time, any season.” —Julyssa Nateras
“Bite's Agave Lip Mask is the BEST overnight lip balm especially in the dry winter weather. It actually moisturizes (it doesn't just create a barrier like petroleum jelly) and it means that I barely use lip balm throughout the day now because I don't need it. While it's a bit pricier than others, you only need the tiniest amount... I have been using the same tube daily for the past year and it's going strong!” —Colette G
“Bite Agave Lip Mask in the pinky tinted shade is objectively the best all-around lip product and here's why:
1. It’s supremely moisturizing, and while thick and occlusive, it doesn't feel oily or gross. I find it comforting, like the way your favorite oversized sweater feels.
2. The bit of pink is the perfect tint to give you a bit of flush, but isn't super bright (something my tan/olive complexion struggles with).
3. It’'s the best amount of shine (now that the pendulum has swung the other way and we're over matte) without being too slick.
4. The smell isn't overpowering, though slightly sweet (unless you're eyeing the maple one, the only one I don't own because the taste was a bit too much).
5. It just frickin works!!! Let this sit for a few hours (ideally overnight) and your chapped lips will be TRANSFORMED.
Thank you for coming to my TED talk.” —ViHuynhy
Another great Australian import. Most Lanolips fans preferred the original formula over the tinted versions.
“After being a hardcore Carmex addict for 30+ years, I quit cold turkey and have since fallen in love with Lanolips. It's the best and lasts forever.” —T
“Lanolips is the only thing that has actually moisturized my lips, but I do like Balm Dotcom in Birthday on top to make it last alllll day.” —Emily Michaelis
“Lanolips and Everon are great for an ass-cold day.” —Meg Tripp
[In reply to whether or not the perfect lip balm exists] “She does and her name is Lanolips 101.” —whatnotlike
Hey, we know her! A reverse scenario to Lanolips. You all not only seemed to prefer Balm Dotcom's flavored options over the original formula, but you also asked our colleagues to pony up some more.
“Coconut Balm Dotcom every day all day.” —Brianne Duverger
“I have a thousand lip balms but find myself reaching for Balm Dotcom most. The texture and feel is pretty perfect. My fave was Coconut until Birthday came along.” —TheShowgirl
“Number one is Balm Dotcom OG. I think the original is more moisturizing than my two preferred flavors, Rose and Cherry, though I love all of them. When is Glossier going to make Papaya happen?” —psd3194
“I love Balm Dotcom (Mint & Cherry are my favs).” —Carly
“Glossier Coconut Balm Dotcom. I also have the OG, but damn, I love smelling like coconut.” —AJ
The workhorse lip balm. No flavors, no frills. Even your dermatologist loves it.
“Aquaphor forever. This is a reliable standby and I love the little tubes. I have them everywhere even though I prefer to stay away from petroleum.” —LolaNYC
“Aquaphor, my ride or die.” —Gully M
“Aquaphor as my night lip product. It's amazing. Spend the money!” —Cat
“The best ‘lip balm’ is Aquaphor. This is a hard truth!” —imposterinterrupted
“I have a tiny travel Aquaphor tub that I mixed some bergamot, ylang ylang and ho wood essential oil into. Aquaphor is my boo, but it didn't smell interesting enough.” —Bella
For fancy lips.
“Dior glow during the day, any color.” —KathS
“Dior Lip Glow looks like a flamingo decided to roost on my lips.” —Kimberely B Stone
“My ‘going out’ lip balm is Dior Lip Glow in Berry. Way overpriced and the tip tends to crumble, but I love the feel and color and the packaging is chic.” —TheShowgirl
“Dior Lip Glow. Been using it for years and have used up countless tubes.” —Abby
The one and only. Light on price, but not on performance.
“Carmex in a tube. Slight SPF, doesn’t dry your lips out (some do, which is bananas) and pleasantly tingly. Slightly matte, works well under lipstick.” —HelveticaTheBold
“The least glamorous of all the lip balms, my ride or die, one I absolutely CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT is Carmex. It's so thick and waxy with that oddly satisfying camphor tingle. Slather some on at night and your lips are still soft and smooth 8 hours later. Sure you could get the ‘flavored’ Carmex, but we all know that it isn't the same. Never the pot (ew germs) or the squeezy tube. Always the stick with SPF. Feel a cold sore coming on? Slap some Carmex on it. Weird dry patch appear on your face? Carmex will clear that up over night.” —Starryhye
“My lip balm of choice is Carmex, and it has been for a good...five years...maybe? Now I can't remember why I used anything else before lol. I used to use Chapstick in high school and college, and until Carmex, it didn't dawn on me that I was always re-applying Chapstick after a few hours. Similarly, I was always reapplying Burt's Bees when I moved onto that after Chapstick. With Carmex, I don't have to re-apply,* and that to me means success!
*I'm speaking specifically on a day where I might not be wearing any lip color—just Carmex. Like, say, a Sunday.” —Ess da 5'6"
“Carmex forever. It's cheap and it works better than anything else I've tried.” —Jackie
Some comments have been edited for clarity. Photo via ITG.
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.
Skip straight to shopping for lip balms:
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, citrusy foods, you won’t have to worry about your lips stinging.
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.
Vaseline Lip Therapy Original .25 Ounce Pack of 4
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.
Lanolips 101 Ointment Multi-Balm Duo
There’s something about balm 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 ultradry 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.
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.
Hanalei Sugar Lip Scrub Exfoliator
Yes, you should put SPF on your lips when 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.
Supergoop! PLAY Lip Balm with Acai
In my experience, a lot of tinted lip balms are just glorified lipsticks that still require a hydrating balm over them during the winter. Tower 28’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.
Tower 28 Beauty JuiceBalm Vegan Tinted Lip Balm