The 10 Best Lip Balms for Soothing Dry, Chapped Lips, According to Dermatologists and Testing
Our editors swear by some of these hydrating formulas, too.
This editor-loved lip balm is specifically made for dry, flaky, or uncomfortable lips. The formula packs in the latest buzzy skincare ingredient, exosomes—tiny sacs or vesicles that send signals to other cells to repair damage, produce collagen and elastin, and strengthen the skin barrier—as well as hydrating squalane, proteins, peptides, and nourishing plant oils to leave lips feeling soft, smooth, and cushiony.
What an editor says: “No other lip balm I’ve tried has left my lips feeling as nourished as Exoceuticals’ does,” Deals & Trends Editor Sidney Lee shared in her in-depth review of the lip balm. “During testing, I noticed immediate improvement in the plumpness and overall hydration of my lips—after just one night of wear, they were soft and soothed... If you deal with dryness and fine lines on your lips, then this product is worth the investment.”
Full Exoceuticals Exo Lips Hydra Healing Lip Balm Review
| Key Ingredients | eXo³ exosomes, squalane |
| Shades/Flavors | N/A |
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Credit: Burt’s Bees
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly classic, you can’t go wrong with Burt’s Bees. Formulated with beeswax, vitamin E, and a hint of peppermint oil, this moisturizing lip balm is a long-time favorite of dermatologists and editors alike. “At work, I often get moisture buildup under my mask which paradoxically can dry out the lips. So here in this case, I use a beeswax lip balm made by Burt’s Bees,” says Dr. Amin. “It has peppermint in it so it tastes fresh but can only be used on intact skin. This stuff is really very natural so no preservatives.”
What an editor says: This is a go-to lip balm for Prevention’s Associate Commerce Editor, Hannah Jeon. “I always have several Burt’s Bees lip balms with me at all times—they never fail to moisturize and heal my dry, chapped lips,” she says. “I especially love the tinted version for a nice wash of color—the Red Dahlia shade is my go-to.”
| Key Ingredients | Beeswax, vitamin E, peppermint oil |
| Shades/Flavors | 9 options |
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Summer Fridays’ Lip Butter Balm is a popular cult-favorite—for good reason. This nourishing, vegan lip treatment conditions and softens dry, parched lips with shea butter, murumuru seed butter, and a blend of vegan waxes, delivering instant moisture and shine. Coming in a wide range of beautiful shades (from a clear Vanilla to a bright Poppy), it can be used whenever your lips need extra hydration during the day—or as an overnight lip mask.
What an editor says: “I was totally skeptical when it went viral, but since I've started wearing it I have had multiple people ask what lip gloss I’m wearing when it’s just the untinted balm,” shares Senior Commerce Editor Charlotte Finigan. “It’s so smoothing, I feel like it smooths out any sort of fine lines I’ve accumulated and softens my lips so they just glide against each other. It does have a strong(ish) vanilla scent, but I find it pretty pleasant, too. Reminiscent of my elementary school Lip Smackers but the grown-up version.”
| Key Ingredients | Shea butter, murumuru seed butter, vegan waxes |
| Shades/Flavors | 13 options |
This lip balm from one of our favorite beauty brands—Bobbi Brown’s Jones Road Beauty—helps lock in moisture and protect against the elements to leave lips feeling soft and nourished. Available in 11 tinted shades for a light wash of color (as well as a clear option), it’s formulated with plant-based oils like jojoba oil and cocoa butter, as well as a blend of orange, spearmint, and lavender essential oils. “I’ve got a Lippie Stick in every square inch of my house... They’re so versatile and great for every day,” Bobbi Brown herself told Prevention.
What an editor says: “Though I’m a fan of basically anything Jones Road Beauty, I am obsessed with the Lippie Stick. Bobbi Brown herself touts the benefits of the chapstick-meets-lipstick for travel (it’s a multipurpose product that serves as both),” Emily Goldman, former deputy director, previously shared. “I love that it brings back some of the color in my lips that I’ve lost with age (and sun) while simultaneously hydrating them.”
| Key Ingredients | Jojoba oil, cocoa butter, orange, spearmint, and lavender essential oils |
| Shades/Flavors | 12 options |
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This best-selling lip treatment from Olehenriksen goes beyond just hydrating lips—it visibly plumps lips for a fuller, more defined look with skin-supporting peptides, while also conditioning, soothing, and nourishing lips with ingredients like acai sterols, cloudberry oil, and kokum and mango seed butter. Not to mention: It comes in a variety of yummy scents and shades like Crème Brûlée and Peach Glaze.
What an editor says: This lip balm is another favorite of Finigan’s. “It’s a glossy balm that looks like an extremely subtle lip color while actively moisturizing any kind of dryness or chapping,” she says. “It has a slight plumping effect that makes my lips look better overall and the color is shiny so it looks like I've put it a lot more effort than just swiping some balm on. But best of all, it feels soooo good on my lips. Hydrating and balmy, never sticky. I personally love this tinted pink one—I've gone through two tubes.”
| Key Ingredients | Peptides, kokum and mango seed butter, cloudberry oil, acai sterols |
| Shades/Flavors | 10 options |
Credit: RMS Beauty
“This is like a love child of a lipstick and a lip balm,” says Jessica Morse, clean beauty expert and founder of Bare Beauty. “The color is beautiful and lasts for hours, and it is truly moisturizing.” Choose the untinted version for a classic balm or one of the three natural shades for a nice pop of color—all of them contain jojoba oil and cocoa seed butter for lasting hydration.
| Key Ingredients | Organic jojoba oil, organic cocoa seed butter, candelilla wax |
| Shades/Flavors | 9 options |
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Credit: LANEIGE
This overnight leave-on lip mask from Laneige is a cult-classic—and a celebrity favorite—for a reason. It hydrates and protects lips while you sleep, with a moisturizing formula that’s packed with antioxidants like vitamin C and nourishing ingredients such as coconut oil, murumuru butter, and shea butter. Apply a moisturizing layer at bedtime to wake up to visibly smoother, softer lips in the morning.
What an editor says: “For someone with perpetually chapped lips (and used to reapplying moisturizer regularly), I really enjoyed that only one slick of this mask made my lips feel silky and plush, and immediately relieved any dryness,” Senior Beauty & Style Director April Franzino shared in her review of the lip balm. “The formula created a cushiony coating on my lip skin that made it feel protected. My lips also instantly appeared glowy, healthier and even a bit fuller.”
Full Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask Review
| Key Ingredients | Coconut oil, murumuru butter, shea butter, vitamin C |
| Shades/Flavors | 15 options |
Credit: Fix My Skin
“Fix My Skin lip balm (or the larger balm) is ideal for irritated chapped lips because it contains 1% hydrocortisone, a mild steroid, to reduce inflammation,” says Dr. Waldorf. The fragrance-free formula also contains occlusive agents like shea butter and beeswax, and can also be used to soothe skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, or even annoying insect bites.
| Key Ingredients | Hydrocortisone, beeswax, shea butter |
| Shades/Flavors | N/A |
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Credit: Amazon
A cult favorite, this hydrating lip treatment from Fresh earns a stamp of approval from Shari Marchbein, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at NYU School of Medicine. Packed with a blend of plant oils, including grapeseed and cranberry, as well as activated sugar, this tinted lip balm is available in a range of shades, offering sheer-to-buildable color and a buttery texture for soft, smooth, and hydrated lips.
| Key Ingredients | Cranberry seed oil, grapeseed oil, vitamins c & e, activated sugar |
| Shades/Flavors | 12 options |
Credit: Sun Bum
If you’re looking for sun protection for your lips, this is our pick for the best lip balm with SPF. The affordable pick comes recommended by Dr. Amin, who likes that it’s fragrance-free, oxybenzone-free, hypoallergenic, offers broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection, and more. The formula is lightweight and non-greasy, and it has SPF 30—meaning your lips will be covered from drying elements and the sun.
| Key Ingredients | Zinc oxide (8%), beeswax, jojoba oil, shea butter |
| Shades/Flavors | N/A |
Alisa Hrustic is a health writer and editor. She was previously the executive editor at SELF and deputy editor at Prevention.com. Her work has been featured in Women’s Health, Men’s Health, Oprah Daily, National Geographic, and other national publications.
Hannah Jeon is an Associate Commerce Editor at Prevention, where she covers expert-driven commerce content for all things health, beauty, and wellness. Previously the Editorial Assistant at Good Housekeeping, she earned her bachelor’s degree in creative writing and psychology from Johns Hopkins University. When she’s not on the hunt for all the best products online, you can often find her trying out new food spots in New York City or clicking away behind a camera.
Originally published by prevention.com. Syndicated material does not necessarily reflect the views of Vogue British.
