Not to sound dramatic, but think I have a bit of an obsession when it comes to lip balms. Seriously, I have a special rota going on: a tinted lip balm for office days, a rich lip mask before bed and a good ol’ nourishing formula for my workouts and makeup-free days.
They’ve stuck with me through my tweens, my late teens and now my twenties, helping me keep my lips pillow-y soft at all times. And as someone who’s always had notoriously dry skin, I’m also way too familiar with chapped lips and dry patches around my mouth, so naturally, hydration has always been my number one skincare priority.
Think about it: similar to how you’d use your go-to face moisturiser on the daily, it’s only reasonable that our lips also deserve some regular TLC. Not to mention, excessive dryness could result in cracks and fine lines, which also doesn’t help when it comes to applying your favourite lipstick or a lip liner. So yes, skin and lip prep is everything.
Long story short, if you’re not already a lip balm gal, you’re about to become one and will find yourself re-applying it wherever you go (be it on the tube, at the office or right before bed).
Best lip balms at a glance – our top picks:
- Best lip balm overall: Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm
- Best runner-up: Ole Henriksen Exclusive Pout Preserve Peptide Lip Treatment
- Best for the summer months: Glossier Strawberry Balm Dot Com
- Best for a glossy finish: Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment
Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm
Ole Henriksen Exclusive Pout Preserve Peptide Lip Treatment
Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment
Glossier Strawberry Balm Dotcom
A good lip balm will offer up nourishing emollients like plant oils such as shea butter, coconut oil, peppermint oil and various seed oils, as well as glycerin, waxy lanolin and hydrating hyaluronic acid to re-plump lips that feel a little prune-like and deflated.
Tinted lip balms can add a subtle wash of colour to your lips for that effortless “off-duty model” look. Less sticky than a lip gloss or a lip scrub, but supercharged with more hydration than your average lipstick or chapstick, they’re a clever hybrid that makes lips feel softer and silkier while offering a hit of pretty, or vivid colour. Of course, if you opt for a clear multi-purpose balm (such as the CeraVe Advanced Repair Ointment), they can double up as a salve around sore noses and dry patches as well.
So, whether you’ve reached the final twist of your favourite lip balm or you’re looking for a new formula that puts chapped lips to bed, it’s time to treat your lips to some proper nourishment. To help you decide, we’ve curated a list of the best lip balms out there to fit every budget and preference, featuring products from top brands such as Rhode, YSL and Dior, as well as some more sensible purchases from Burt’s Bees, Carmex, Weleda and more.
How we tested the best lip balms:
The GLAMOUR team has collectively reviewed hundreds of lip balms – from tinted iterations to more nourishing lip masks and even hybrid ointment formulas – coming from a variety of beauty brands. When it comes to testing, we make sure to keep in mind various skin types and conditions such or eczema. We’ve assessed the formulas based on their efficacy and whether they deliver lasting moisturise, as well as value for money and packaging.
For more beauty content from our Commerce Writer Denise Primbet, follow her on Instagram @deniseprimbet.
Scroll to view the best lip balms to treat your lips properly…
Best lip balm overallSummer Fridays Lip Butter BalmWhy we love it: Thanks to a vegan formula that’s saturated with shea butter, murumuru and plant waxes, this conditioning lip balm has a creamy texture that helps deal with dryness and soreness. Available in several different hues that you’re bound to fall in love with. We hiiighly recommend checking out the Pink and Brown Sugar options (thank us later).Save big when shopping for lip balms using these Cult Beauty discount codes.£23 AT CULT BEAUTY£23 AT SPACE NK
Best lip balm: runner-upOle Henriksen Exclusive Pout Preserve Peptide Lip TreatmentWhy we love it: Fuelled by peptides and natural plant butter, this berry-scented lip repair treatment is particularly great for anyone with dry skin. It’s formulated to help leave behind a gorgeous, dewy finish, along with a plumper and healthier-looking pout.£17 AT LOOKFANTASTIC£17 AT SEPHORA
Best sleeping lip maskLaneige Lip Sleeping MaskWhy we love it: Meet this A flavoured overnight lip mask that that intensely nourishes and smooths the lips while you sleep. Available in five mouth-watering flavours, it plumps the lips with intense moisture, helping to minimise roughness and cracking due to dryness. Just apply before bedtime and you’re grand.£21 AT LOOKFANTASTIC
Best tinted lip balmNaturium Phyto-Glow Lip BalmWhy we love it: Available in both clear and tinted versions, this vegan, cruelty-free and deeply hydrating lip balm from Naturium also doubles as an overnight mask. This dermatologist-approved product can help restore your lips’ natural skin barrier too, thanks to a blend of ingredients such as phyto-derived esters, shea, cupuacu butter and plant squalane.£12 AT SPACE NK
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Best lip balm for glossy lipsRhode Peptide Lip TreatmentWhy we love it: This trending bestseller comes from none other than Hailey Bieber herself. It’s expertly made with shea butter and peptides, as well as cupuacu and babassu, which help maintain skin elasticity and replenish moisture.£16 AT RHODE SKIN
Best lip balm/lip oil hybridYves Saint Laurent Loveshine LipstickWhy we love it: This nourishing, oil-based lip balm is enriched with a blend of oils and fig extract, which help keep your lips feel silky smooth after every application. It’s suitable for all skin types and even comes in variety of versatile shades that provide buildable coverage.£36£30.60 AT LOOKFANTASTIC£36 AT BOOTS
Best antioxidant-rich lip balmGlossier Balm DotcomWhy we love it: Filled to the brim with castor jelly, antioxidants and natural emollients, this bestselling formula from Glossier is perfect for nourishing dry, chapped lips and keeping them quenched for hours at a time. Plus, there are loooads of different flavours to choose from.£14 AT GLOSSIER£14 AT SEPHORA
Best premium lip balmDior Addict Lip GlowWhy we love it: Not only does this balm leave lips feeling beautifully silky and comfortable, the formula reacts with the pH on your lips delivering a personalised rose tint in the colour your lips would naturally flush. One of the best lip products around.Looking to save some money at checkout with the help of exclusive offers? Check out our Boots discount codes.£29.50 AT BOOTS£32 AT JOHN LEWIS
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Best lip balm with SPFUltra Violette Sheen Screen Hydrating Lip Balm SPF 50Why we love it: Summer is here, which means it’s time to slather on your sunscreen and sun cream and give your lips the protective boost they deserve. This SPF 50 lip balm is perfect – and on top of that, it leaves your lips feeling soft and smooth and gives them just a hint of shine. And yes, your lips absolutely need sun care too.£17 AT CULT BEAUTY
Best smoothing lip balmDr. PAWPAW Over Night Lip MaskWhy we love it: This nourishing overnight mask is formulated with 99% natural ingredients to reduce the appearance of fine lines and create a fuller more refined illusion of plumped lips.Save when you shop for the best lip balm with these LookFantastic discount codes.£9.25 AT LOOKFANTASTIC£9.25£7.27 AT AMAZON
Best lip balm with a berry tintGlossier Strawberry Balm Dot ComWhy we love it: This lip balm is perfect for anyone who’s still not over the“strawberry girl” aesthetic. Featuring a playful red tint, this nourishing lip balm is the latest addition to Glossier’s iconic Balm Dot Com line-up. Wear it on its own or as part of your go-to lip combo. Seriously, just think of all the ways you can wear this shade all throughout summer.£14 AT GLOSSIER
Best OG lip balmVaseline Lip Therapy Aloe Vera Lip TinWhy we love it: Sometimes simpler is better – at least, that’s certainly the case with Vaseline petroleum jelly. This product has all the healing and protective benefits your lips need, providing long-lasting moisturisation to the top protective layer of your lips while also penetrating deeper into the skin to moisturise and instantly soften and soothe chapped, dry lips.Save when you shop for the best lip balm with these Boots discount codes.£2.45 AT BOOTS£3.69 AT AMAZON
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Best lip balm under £5Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Cocoa Butter Lip BalmWhy we love it: This lip balm is enriched with vitamin E and also formulated with SPF 15 to help protect cracked, chapped, or wind-burned lips. To top it off, it won’t break the bank.Save when you shop for the best lip balm with these Boots discount codes.£2.25 AT BOOTS£3.43£3.34 AT AMAZON
Best replenishing lip balmWeleda Skin Food Lip BalmWhy we love it: This replenishing lip balm is charged with chamomile, calendula, and beeswax and offers instant relief for dry and chapped lips, by moisturising and shielding the lips from harsh environmental aggressors.£7.75£5.56 AT AMAZON£7.75 AT LOOKFANTASTIC
Best lip balm with a glossy finishNARS Afterglow Lip BalmWhy we love it: Available in a series of beautiful, delicate shades (our favourites are Dolce Vita and Deep Throat), NARS’ Afterglow Lip Balms are infused with a monoi hydrating complex alongside a cocktail of protective antioxidants to soothe and hydrate lips while giving them a pretty, sheeny tint.Save when you shop for the best lip balm with these LookFantastic discount codes.£26 AT LOOKFANTASTIC£26.50 AT JOHN LEWIS
Best lip butterNUDESTIX NUDESKIN Hydra-Peptide Lip ButterWhy we love it: Made with a natural blend of avocado and shea butter, this moisturising lip balm glides on with ease, hydrating as it goes. It’s available in several different neutral tones and flavours, which means there’s bound to be one for whatever mood you’re find yourself in on any given day.£16£12 AT LOOKFANTASTIC£16 AT BEAUTY BAY
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Best lip ointment for extra-dry, chapped lipsCeraVe Advanced Repair Ointment for Very Dry and Chapped SkinWhy we love it: This petroleum-based lip repair treatment is ideal for those of us with very dry, sensitive lips that are in desperate need of a hydrating boost. Made with hyaluronic acid and a blend of ceramides, it delivers a cooling sensation that doesn’t feel greasy on the skin. Great for long-lasting hydration.£11 AT LOOKFANTASTIC£11 AT CULT BEAUTY
Best-tasting lip balmFresh Sugar Caramel Hydrating Lip BalmWhy we love it: Named ‘Sugar Caramel’ for a reason, this delicious beauty product has a sweet scent and a pleasant buttery texture that will make your lips feel like dessert. But its sweet nature also doesn’t mean that it doesn’t do its job well – it helps provide lasting hydration and prevents water loss throughout the day.£18 AT LOOKFANTASTIC£18£17 AT SEPHORA
Best lip balm for plumpingThe INKEY List Tripeptide Plumping Lip BalmWhy we love it: If you’re looking for an effective solution to improve your overall lip health, we’ve got just the thing for you. Made with a formula that boasts both tripeptide complex and hyaluronic acid, this plumping lip balm is both affordable and is clinically proven to deliver maximum fullness without any irritation or unwanted tingle.£11 AT LOOKFANTASTIC£11 AT BOOTS
Best replenishing lip balmClarins Hydra-Essentiel Moisture Replenishing Lip BalmWhy we love it: Formulated with dry and damaged lips in mind, this lip balm delivers a replenishing feel and lasting moisture. Thanks to the featured blue lotus wax and its melt-in texture, your lips will be nourished and glowy almost immediately upon application. A must.Save when you shop for lip balms using these John Lewis discount codes.£21£17.85 AT JOHN LEWIS
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Best lip balm for sensitive skinLa Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume LipsWhy we love it: La Roche-Posay is easily one of the best brands when it comes to treating sensitive skin. Made with a hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic formula, this lip balm helps prevent chapping by soothing and nourishing your skin with minimalistic, yet effective ingredients.Tempted to shop more lip care products? We can help you pick the best lipstick, best lip stain and lip tint, best lip gloss, best lip oil, best lip plumper, as well as the best matte lipstick. Plus, we also have guides on the best face serums, best hand creams and lotions, best vitamin C serums, best cuticle oils, best eye cream, best collagen supplement and the best makeup remover.£8.50 AT LOOKFANTASTIC£8.50 AT BOOTS