Lip balm: It's almost impossible for us to walk out of the drugstore without one. Not only are we convinced the best formulas soothe our lips with an incomparable hit of hydration, but we also just appreciate the cathartic nature of the stuff. And in many cases, we've been using the same one (tube or tin'pick your poison) for years. Whether it's what got us through that first kiss (a tragic combination of braces, popcorn, and Bring It On playing accomplice), or it was simply the first tube that struck our fancy, we're pretty devoted to our go-to picks.
After comparing notes, we rounded up a list of drugstore lip balms we deem the best of the best with ingredients that keep our lips happy and formulas that wear like butter. Though Dr Pepper and Bubble Gum Lip Smackers didn't make the cut, they'll always hold a special place in our hearts'right next to Bop It, JT with ramen hair, and HitClips.
In addition to our own editor's research, we chatted with celebrity esthetician Susan Ciminelli to get her recommendation on what to look for when shopping for lip balms. Keep reading for the best drugstore lip balms in every category, according to our editors.
Our Top Picks
Rosebud Perfume Co. Strawberry Lip Balm
What We Like
What We Don't Like
Multiple things are working in this pretty pot's favor. One, the smell alone makes us feel one part Katy Perry, one part kid again. And two, the smooth, non-sticky formula is one of the few that actually helps keep lips hydrated (thanks to a formula with surgical-grade petroleum jelly, lanolin, beeswax, and the brand's top-secret strawberry flavor). Plus, we never have a problem with charming vintage packaging.
Active Ingredients: Surgical-grade petroleum jelly, lanolin, beeswax | Size: 0.8 oz. | Flavors: 8
Burt's Bees Original Beeswax Lip Balm
Amazon
What We Like
What We Don't Like
Going strong since , this beloved yellow tube has a devoted following and an ever-expanding array of flavors and formulations (from blueberry and dark chocolate to wild cherry). We're partial to the original, pictured here, and appreciate the 100% natural formula with buzzy notes of peppermint, coconut oil, vitamin E, and beeswax.
Active Ingredients: Beeswax, vitamin E, peppermint oil | Size: 0.15 oz. | Flavors: 28 | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Nivea Moisture Essential Lip Care
What We Like
What We Don't Like
Infused with jojoba oil and shea butter in the formula, this lip balm takes it back to basics, which we can appreciate from time to time. By prioritizing moisture and a simplistic ingredient list, this one by Nivea always helps gets the job done.
Active Ingredients: Shea butter, jojoba oil, avocado oil | Size: 0.17 oz. | Flavors: 1 | Cruelty-Free: No
Maybelline Baby Lips Moisturizing Lip Balm
Walgreens
What We Like
What We Don't Like
Whipping out this adorable lip balm never gets old. With SPF 20, an exclusive lip renewal formula, and plenty of pretty tints, it's essentially Lip Smackers for adults'sans the saccharine frost finish.
Size: 0.15 oz. | Flavors: 6 | Cruelty-Free: No
Aquaphor Immediate Relief Lip Repair
Walmart
What We Like
What We Don't Like
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Doriff.
If we had to make a comparison, we'd say this lip balm is not dissimilar to Mary Poppins's magical carpetbag: outwardly small but loaded with potential. A true multipurpose gem, this O.G. lip balm is one the best drugstore finds period. In a pinch, you can also use it to take off makeup, tame frizz, cure a bad cuticle or two, and even deliver an impeccable glossy lid.
Active Ingredients: Nourishing vitamins, shea butter, chamomile essence | Size: 0.35 oz. | Flavors: 1 | Cruelty-Free: No
What Our Testers Say
"At night, I apply a generous coat before bed, since this is usually when my lips dry out the most if left untreated. I've never minded the feeling of a thick coat of balm, so I basically make my lips feel like two salve-slicked pillows before I sleep. It works; in the morning, my lips remain miraculously smooth and hydrated." 'Sarah Y. Wu, Product Tester
What to Look for in a Lip Balm
FAQ
Do lip balms dry out lips?
The evidence is circumstantial, but in some cases, yes. Certain lip balms can dry out your lips after time leading you to apply more consistently. Avoid ingredients like phenol, salicylic acid, and menthol, as all can make your lips drier. These ingredients can also be irritating and cause the skin on the lips to peel.
What ingredients should you look for in a lip balm?
In a lip balm, you want ingredients that hold moisture. Note that some moisturizing ingredients like vitamin E and beeswax can be irritating to sensitive skin. Ingredients such as glycerin, aloe, lactic acid, and mineral oil all hold moisture and generally are not irritants.
Should lip balm have SPF?
Yes. Your lips are often the forgotten area of the skin, and just like the rest of your face, SPF is just as important on the lips.
How We Researched & Tested
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features'like ingredients, shade range, or design'in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. Our team also incorporated their own personal experiences testing products in their own lives. We then used these insights from our research and testing to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.
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.
Aquaphor Lip Repair Ointmen
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.
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