18 Lip Balms That’ll Soothe Your Dry, Chapped Lips Stat

The brand-new OLEHENRIKSEN Pout Preserve Peptide Lip Treatment ($29) will keep my juicy pout in check for the whole of 2023. The balm is packed full of peptides which promise to strengthen the skin around your lips and smoothes even the finest of lines.

Pat McGrath Labs Lip Fetish Lip Balm ($62) is hands-down the most beautiful lip balm you’ll own being housed in the iconic (and divine) Pat McGrath Labs lipstick bullet. But of course, it doesn’t just looks great, it also instantly hydrates lips without being a single bit sticky.

The Drunk Elephant Lippe Balm ($30) is definitely more expensive than your typical drugstore till aisle item but damn, is it worth it. The top ingredient is coconut oil, which instantly soothes the lips, but the addition of avocado, mongogo, and marula oils is what really makes this balm extra special and hydrating.

We all know the iconic Sol De Janeiro Bum Bum Cream ($36) but surprisingly, their Brazilian Kiss Cupuaçu Lip Butter ($30) is also amazing. It’s smooth and creamy with a delicious scent leaving your lips soft and kissable. You can thank the Cupuaçu butter for that.

Sometimes there’s nothing better than the basics, and that’s exactly how I feel when it comes to the Nivea Hydro Care with SPF 15 Lip Balm ($5). It’s not heavily scented, coats my lips with a quick swipe, and really moisturises my lips. I’ll always have one of these in my bag, regardless how many other new balms I have on the go.

Smith’s Rosebud Salve Minted Rose Lip Balm ($15) is a classic (created in 1892!) that’s been used by many makeup artists for decades. It immediately softens and soothes flaky, dry lips, leaving behind a very faint pink tint and a delightful rose scent.

Dior Addict Lip Glow ($60) is one of the chicest handbag companions you’ll ever own and it’s also a total delight to use. The shea butter-packed balm provides day-long hydration to keep dry lips at bay. Even better, there are plenty of shades to choose from, including universal, which provides clear, glossy hydration to something with a little more pigment like plum or mahogany.

HUDA Beauty’s Silk Balm Hydra-Plumping Lip Balm ($32) immediately packs a punch of hydration complete with a smooth applicator and a subtle splash of colour. Its texture is full and plumping without the extra stickiness that some balms like this can give.

Yes, $115 is a ridiculous amount of money to spend on a lip balm. However, if you’re feeling bougie, just know that this spenny lip saver comes recommended by nearly every makeup artist working in Hollywood. So while La Mer The Lip Balm ($115) won’t give you lips like Angelina Jolie, it will make the lips you have soft, smooth, and perfectly prepped for any lipstick you layer on top.

Back in the day, when EoS Smooth Sphere Organic Strawberry Sorbet Lip Balm ($9) was only stocked in the US, I’d feel like the coolest gal in the UK walking around with my spherical, colourful lip balm that I’d pick up when visiting my dad in the States. Now that it’s more accessible, I still feel like the coolest gal walking around with my spherical, colourful lip balm. Aside from how fun they are, the EoS balms are packed with cocoa and shea butter to help make my sore lips feel nourished.

For those with severely dry lips, Carmex Original Lip Balm ($6) is a must have. It does exactly what it promises: soothes, relieves, and moisturises chapped lips and cold sores. However, if you aren’t a fan of tingly products, this one is not for you.

There’s a reason Aquaphor Lip Repair ($15) is a top-Amazon-rated choice and highly recommended by dermatologists. It’s often recommended by those taking Roaccutane (a vitamin A derivative that’s often used as acne treatment) as the medication causes severe dry lips. The formula contains shea butter and camomile, which work together to soothe sore lips.

Burt’s Bees Lip Balm ($8) is a classic. No, really. Every second, someone around the world is buying a tube of the stuff. Made with beeswax (unsurprisingly) and vitamin E, it’s incredibly hydrating without looking too shiny or feeling to slick on your lips. And because it also contains peppermint extract, it also leaves behind a slightly tingling sensation.

POPSUGAR editorial assistant Kara Kia has used the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask ($31) for the past two years and swears by it for curing her chapped lips. “I use it after exfoliating my lips with a sugar scrub; right now I’m using Barry M Lip Scrub ($13). I apply the mask every night, and sometimes in the morning before I head out into the dry Winter air. It definitely works,” she said.

POPSUGAR assistant editor Angela Law swears by Frank Body Lip Balm ($13) because it contains lanolin, a wool wax often from sheep that is the only thing that she’s found that really helps soothe her chapped lips. It also smells like coffee, a bonus if you aren’t keen on the sweeter lip scents.

My favourite Eau Thermale Avène lip cream was discontinued a few years ago and I’ve never quite recovered. Until the brand comes to their senses and relaunches the product, I’ve been using the Eau Thermale Avène Cold Cream Lip Balm ($24), which is an equally good formula because it contains lanolin extract without being thick and goopy.

The Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment Advanced Therapy ($39) is expensive but it’s so worth it. It’s thick enough to coat the entirety of your lips but still has a glossy, balm feel to it. It’s highly emollient and I feel like it really does lock in moisture.

Ameliorate Intensive Lip Treatment ($14) isn’t your typical lip balm, in the best kind of way. At first, it feels a little strange because it applies like a moisturiser with a thick white layer. But once rubbed in, it soaks into the lips creating an almost matte barrier. After applying a generous coat before bed, I wake up with hydrated, flake-free lips.