27 Best Lip Balms to Keep Dry, Chapped Lips Hydrated Year-Round

Dr. Shirazi’s other preferred drugstore staple? CeraVe Healing Ointment. “It’s a favorite as it’s formulated with hyaluronic acid to attract and hold onto water as well as ceramides to restore and maintain the moisture barrier,” she says. “The formula feels silky, giving lips a nice soft, shiny glow. It helps protect the delicate lip mucus and allow for repair.”

Silky, luxurious, and hydrating, this lip balm won a 2022 Glamour Beauty Award for a reason. “If you’re looking for a super-hydrating lip salve—or even something to replace slugging petroleum jelly or overnight lip mask—Mara’s Sea Silk Lip Balm might be it for you,” says Glamour associate beauty editor Danielle Sinay. “I know, because I was an ardent Aquaphor girlie until Sephora suggestions put this one on my radar, and I haven’t looked back since. I love it so much that I got two more so I could keep one by my bedside, one in my bag, and another for work. Formulated with algae plumping complex, hydrating seed butters, and vegan waxes (an alternative to beeswax), this vegan, gluten-free, and cruelty-free balm doesn’t just moisturize, but plumps, smooths, and soothes your lips too.”

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“I’ll admit this lip balm is fancy with a capital F,” says Glamour senior beauty editor Ariana Yaptangco. “While I don’t think you need to splurge for a good lip balm, Augustinus Bader’s super-nourishing formula is certainly a worthy expenditure. Fortified with the brand’s signature TFC8 complex (a combination of amino acids, vitamins, and synthesized molecules), my lips are pillowy soft and hydrated after one swipe and even appear plumper, thanks to the plant-derived collagen.”

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Both NYC-based board-certified dermatologist Brendan Camp, MD, and Glamour commerce writer Andrea Navarro point to this balm as one of their favorites. “Castor, jojoba, and shea oils are infused with thermal spring water to calm, hydrate and protect lips in a very water-resistant formula,” says Dr. Camp. Navarro likes using it as an overnight lip treatment: “The creamy texture is different from a traditional lip balm and really helps lock in moisture overnight so when I wake up in the morning, my lips are soft and smooth to the touch.”

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Glamour deputy editor Anna Moeslein slathers this True Botanicals glossy lip balm on every morning before she leaves the house. “I like that it’s made with organic ingredients like coconut oil and shea butter that help nourish; my lips have yet to chap this winter, if that’s any indication,” she says. “The glossy finish also adds a nice shine to my lip without feeling too sticky or gunky.”

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Dr. Garshick, Dr. Camp, 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. Camp and Dr. Garshick like that it helps reduce inflammation. “It’s also hypoallergenic, making it good even for those with sensitive skin,” says Dr. Garshick.

“I carry three things with me every single day: my keys, my wallet, and Burt’s Bees peppermint lip balm,” says Glamour commerce writer Jake 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 smoothes 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.

If you’ve struggled to find an SPF-spiked balm you like, the search stops now. “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,” says Glamour’s Sinay. “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 the Irie Rose color for a pop of lip color. Neither have left my bag since I bought them.”

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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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“I used to think Lanolips’ Ointment Multipurpose Superbalm was one of the best things ever—’til I tried it in stick form,” says Glamour contributor Talia Abbas. “I only ever used the lanolin-based balm for my lips, in honesty, so switching wasn’t a drawback. In fact, this comes through with all the hydration my dry, chapped lips need—without the sticky, frustrating goop that ended up all over my fingers.”

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EltaMD’s face sunscreen is a well-known cult-favorite, but did you know it came in a lip balm version too? Now you do—and it’s one of Dr. Camp’s favorites for dry lips. “To protect your lips from the sun, this broad-spectrum SPF 36 lip balm contains a proprietary ingredient called Hydromanil, which captures and retains water in the skin,” he says.

“Most lip balms that promise a natural flush and a slight plump are nonsense, in my opinion, but this one truly delivers,” says Glamour digital director Perrie Samotin. “I see a noticeable difference in the tone of my lips. They look much more…vibrant, I guess, is the word…without looking like I put on any type of tint or lipstick, which isn’t my thing. It’s also not terribly shiny, so I’m in no danger of blinding my colleagues on Zoom with over-shimmered lips.”

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Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment is really is worth the hype. “I tried it and loved it without even knowing what it was,” Glamour’s Sinay says. “A makeup artist applied it to my lips when I was getting my glam done, and it felt so good, I asked what it was. She pulled the Rhode Skin tube out of her kit, and that’s when 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.”

Dr. Camp also points to Paula’s Choice super-moisturizing Hyaluronic Acid + Peptide Lip Treatment Booster as a top balm for chapped lips. “Hyaluronic acid, peptides, and squalane are featured in this lip balm that prevents moisture loss and improves lines and flaking,” he says.

“For a lip balm to make its way to the top of my collection, one thing must be immediately apparent: an incomparable glide,” says Glamour contributing editor Shanna Shipin. “I love the silky smooth application this Big Mood balm delivers—it’s not slippery or greasy and leaves my lips feeling supple as hell. It’s also one of the very few lip balms in my repertoire that has SPF in it (without feeling like a thick, waxy sunscreen balm), which is why I use it so often. The oat milk tie-in is just the cherry on top of the whole experience. Yes, putting lip balm on is an experience with this product.”

Looking for a medicated lip balm? Try the EOS The Fixer Medicated Lip Ointment. “Designed to protect chapped lips while also offering a cooling, soothing sensation to alleviate discomfort, this contains a blend of camphor, menthol, and allantoin,” says Dr. Garshick. “It also uses the SuperShield Shea Complex to help support the lip barrier and reduce dryness.”

“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 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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This French drugstore lip balm is so good that Glamour’s Moeslein has had multiple people bring it back to her from their trips to Paris. It’s like Chapstick, with a little extra je ne sais quoi. “I can’t read the label; I just know that my lips always feel much more hydrated and smooth after using it,” she says.

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 and sunflower oil,” says Dr. Garshick. “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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“My Glamour colleagues and I have waxed poetic about Westman Atelier’s Squeaky Clean Liquid Lip Balm, but allow me to reiterate: This product is unlike any lip balm you’ve ever tried,” says Shippin. “It’s a cross between a balm, a gloss, and a lip oil—all in one ridiculously chic package. Seriously, I feel powerful just holding the product in my hands. I’m fully obsessed with the shade Garçonne. It’s billed as a ‘just bitten’ hue, which is a reference to the technique of biting your lips to give them a natural flush (shoutout to Glamour copy director Talley Sue Hohlfeld for the hat tip!). Leave it to Gucci Westman to make as ordinary a product as lip balm sexy. Need any more convincing? It took home the prize for the best clean lip gloss at the 2022 Glamour Beauty Awards.”

“I’ve been using Carmex medicated lip balm literally since birth—it’s my mom’s favorite lip balm, and I grew up seeing the iconic yellow tube and red cap all over my house,” says Glamour's Yaptangco. “It has nourishing ingredients like beeswax and cocoa butter that leave my lips super hydrated and smooth, while white petroleum protects my skin. I have one tube by my bedside table, one at my desk, and one in pretty much every bag I own. It’s not obsession—at this point, it’s a way of life.”

Dr. Murphy-Rose is especially fond of Farmacy’s Honey Butter Beeswax Lip Balm. “This is another favorite containing honey which has many skin benefits for this sensitive mucosa,” she says. “It’s hydrating and soothing; plus it contains anti-microbial properties. The occlusive nature of beeswax helps prevent water loss.”

“I think I have one of these in just about every purse I own for a quick on-the-go balm,” says Glamour’s Moeslein. “You can find them at just about any drugstore, and they’re really high quality for the price. I prefer the colorless Milk & Honey option, but you can also find tinted versions if you like a little midday color boost.”

If you have sensitive skin but like some fragrance in your products, consider Caudalie’s Lip Conditioner. “It's a deeply hydrating and protective with antioxidant grape polyphenols and nourishing grapeseed oil,” says Dr. Murphy-Rose. “Ideally a medicated lip balm will be fragrance-free, but for those who prefer a fragrance and are not very sensitive, the light vanilla orange scent is a winner.”

“Your lips haven’t lived until they’ve been enveloped in the buttery goodness that is Dior Lip Glow,” says Shippin. “Despite the early-aughts packaging, it’s a sheer, subtle balm (not gloss!) that leaves your lips with a very natural tint. If satin pillows for lips are what you’re going for, scoop this up.”

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