25 Best Lip Balms for Chapped, Dry Lips

You know the packaging from a mile away, with its signature yellow background and red font. Burt’s Bees was founded by Burt Shavitz and Roxanne Quimby, a couple of city dwellers who found each other in the mountains of Maine. Burt was already an amateur beekeeper, and together they began using the surplus beeswax to create candles, and eventually, lip balm. Since forming the company and finding success, they’ve expanded to skincare, makeup, and body and hair care.

But the lip balm is what keeps many coming back. It’s an all-natural product available in 13 flavors, including the original one. Highly conditioning, nourishing, and rejuvenating, this lip balm offers a cooling comfort thanks to the blend of vitamin E, beeswax, and peppermint oil, and long-lasting wear at a perfectly budget-friendly price tag. Burt’s Bees products also give back to the nature they take from, using recyclable plastic, supporting honeybee health, and being carbon-neutral certified. You can pick up our top pick at Ulta or Amazon.

Key Features:

• Size: 0.15 oz.
• Format: Lip balm stick
• Key Ingredients: Sunflower seed oil, beeswax, vitamin E, peppermint oil, coconut oil, castor seed oil, pomegranate seed oil, rosemary leaf extract, soybean oil, canola oil
• Skin Type: All
• Cruelty-Free/Vegan: Yes/No
• Flavor: Various

Aquaphor lip balm is a dermatologist-approved lip repair ointment that comes in a close second for our overall favorite. Aquaphor products are often marketed as multi-use, providing relief from dry, cracked skin, dry lips or cuticles, and even minor wounds and burns. Aquaphor works by creating a protective barrier on your skin to prevent moisture loss. This is also beneficial for wounds and burns because it creates an ideal healing environment. You can find it online at Ulta or Amazon.

Key Features:

• Size: 0.35 oz.
• Format: Lip ointment
• Key Ingredients: Castor seed oil, shea butter, beeswax, vitamin C, E, pro-vitamin B5
• Skin Type: All
• Cruelty-Free/Vegan: No/No
• Flavor: Fragrance-free

Eos was launched in 2009, founded by CEO Jonathan Teller, who wanted to create a new approach to traditional products. Eos lives up to their name (essence of smooth) by using high-quality ingredients and being free of harmful components and allergens. They are best known for their sweet, egg-shaped lip balms, but this budget-friendly pick comes in a traditional tube. These yummy lip balms offer long-lasting hydration and nourishment with sustainably sourced natural shea butter, coconut oil, and jojoba oil. You can pick up this super moisturizing balm in one or all three all-natural flavors at Ulta. 

Key Features:

• Size: 0.14 oz.
• Format: Lip balm stick
• Key Ingredients: Sunflower seed oil, beeswax, coconut oil, shea butter, jojoba seed oil, olive oil, fruit extracts (depending on flavor)
• Skin Type: All
• Cruelty-Free/Vegan: Yes/No
• Flavor: Various

Usually, when you hear La Mer, one might think of the luxury face cream, Crème de la Mer. But La Mer is home to a myriad of body and face care, including lip balm. Aerospace Physicist Dr. Max Huber created la Mer after he suffered burns from an accident in his lab. He created La Mer’s Miracle Broth, a fermented sea kelp formula that is the key ingredient to all La Mer products. The Lip Balm is a splurge at $75, but the velvety mint formula hydrates and heals while instantly softening dry lips. You can pick it up at Nordstrom or Sephora.

Key Features:

• Size: 0.32 oz.
• Format: Emollient balm
• Key Ingredients: Aloe leaf extract, seaweed extract, Malachite, algae extract, sesame seed oil, eucalyptus leaf oil, sunflower seedcake, sweet almond oil, castor seed oil
• Skin Type: Normal, dry
• Cruelty-Free/Vegan: Yes/No
• Flavor: Vanilla mint

Laniege prioritizes water in their formulas because they know that water is the key to hydration, so it’s no surprise their daytime companion to their famous sleeping mask is a lightweight, hydrating lip balm. Lip Glowy Balm is available in five fruity flavors and is slightly tinted. The light water formula is super hydrating, leaving a high shine finish without any stickiness. You can grab it at Sephora.

Key Features:

• Size: 0.35 oz.
• Format: Tinted lip balm
• Key Ingredients: Shea butter, murumuru seed butter
• Skin Type: Normal, dry
• Cruelty-Free/Vegan: No/No
• Flavor: Various

Glossier was developed out of the beauty site Into The Gloss in 2014, and since then, their products have gained an insane cult following. Balm Dotcom is no exception, an eye-catcher with its wordplay and formula variety. It comes in nine different flavors and leaves either a clear or slightly tinted finish. The original (fragrance-free, untinted) also doubles as a skin salve! Get it directly from Glossier!

Key Features:

• Size: 0.5 oz.
• Format: Universal skin salve
• Key Ingredients: Castor oil, beeswax, lanolin
• Skin Type: All
• Cruelty-Free/Vegan: Yes/No
• Flavor: Various

C.O. Bigelow began as an apothecary in Greenwich Village in New York City, and today is one of the oldest apothecaries in America. Founded by Dr. Galen Hunter, it was later purchased by Clarence Otis Bigelow, who gave the company the name it bears today. Today, the company’s chemists use new and improved techniques and formulas from the company’s history to develop their products.

The Rose Salve is made with an emulsified rose extract that can be used on the lips and other dry patches. You can go for the tin for the classic look, but the rose salve also comes in an easy-application tube for less mess. This lip balm is also free of beeswax if you’re looking for a petroleum-based product. You can purchase this soothing salve from Nordstrom.

Key Features:

• Size: 0.8 oz.
• Format: Lip salve
• Key Ingredients: Petrolatum, lanolin oil, squalene
• Skin Type: All
• Cruelty-Free/Vegan: Yes/No
• Flavor: Rose

Combating dry, chapped lips is one thing, but remembering to protect those lips is another. You may be careful about applying sunscreen to the rest of your face and body, but if you aren’t using a lip product with a form of SPF, you may be putting your lips at risk. The skin of your lips is more sensitive than other areas of your face and body, so protecting them with a hit of SPF is crucial. Jack Black’s lip balm comes in five different flavors, each of them packing SPF 25 to keep your lips protected from the sun. You can pick it up at Sephora or Nordstrom.

Key Features:

• Size: 0.25 oz.
• Format: Emollient balm
• Key Ingredients: Beeswax, vitamin E, shea butter, green tea leaf extract, lanolin, avocado oil, cocoa seed butter
• Skin Type: All
• Cruelty-Free/Vegan: Yes/Yes
• Flavor: Various

Fresh’s lip balm is a Sephora bestseller and part of their clean at Sephora collection. Fresh was founded in 1991 by Russian immigrants Lev and Alina, who focused on creating beauty products that were effective and indulgent. Since then, they’ve been serving up skincare, body care, and super effective fragrances. This lip balm is a clinically proven lip treatment that heals damaged lips in as little as 24 hours. The formula uses sea fennel extract, orange extract, and hydrating hyaluronic acid to soothe and enhance the look of lips. It comes in translucent and sheer pink options, both of which rely on the same formula. You can find it online at Sephora and Nordstrom.

Key Features:

• Size: 0.15 oz.
• Format: Lip treatment
• Key Ingredients: Beeswax, hyaluronic acid, jojoba oil, orange extract, sea fennel, sugar
• Skin Type: All
• Cruelty-Free/Vegan: No/No
• Flavor: Soft

ChapStick, like Kleenex, is one of those brands whose name has become synonymous with the product itself. Their classic ‘black stick’ was launched in the 1880s. ChapStick has expanded to provide a slew of balms, butters, oils, scrubs, and serums at bargain prices. The Sheer Glow is made with a sea mineral formula that hydrates and smooths lips while boosting your natural lip color. The tint is sheer and enhances the color of your lips, making it personalized to you! Grab it online at Ulta!

Key Features:

• Size: 0.12 oz.
• Format: Tinted lip balm stick
• Key Ingredients: Blue sea kale, sea algae, aloe, botanical shea butter
• Skin Type: All
• Cruelty-Free/Vegan: No/No
• Flavor: Fragrance-free

We’re often told to reapply sunscreen every eighty minutes or so, depending on the formulation. The same principle should apply to your lips! This lip balm from EltaMD provides protection for up to eighty minutes, so you can go longer without reapplying and still protect your pout. EltaMD is one of the top recommended brands by dermatologists for their award-winning formulas that began as an ointment used in rural Switzerland.

This lip balm is a zinc oxide-based mineral sunscreen formula that uses glycerin to moisturize and nourish the lips, and antioxidants to fight free radical damage. It is water-resistant, non-comedogenic, and fragrance-free, which makes it a gentle choice for sensitive skin as well. You can snag it from Dermstore.

Key Features:

• Size: 0.28 oz.
• Format: Mineral lip sunscreen
• Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide, glycerin, vitamin C ester, vitamin E
• Skin Type: All
• Cruelty-Free/Vegan: No/No
• Flavor: Fragrance-free

Frank body began with five friends and an idea for a coffee body scrub. Since then, frank body has expanded its collection to body, face, and haircare. The Australian brand is cruelty-free, and they prioritize clean, simple ingredients in all of their products. Their lip balm is no different! This multi-purpose balm is perfect for keeping your lips hydrated, and you can use any excess on your brows, cuticles, or any dry patches for added healing. The coffee arabica oil keeps the lips looking plump and juicy, while vitamin E, coconut, and grapeseed oils keep them smooth and hydrated. To try its many uses, you can grab it from Ulta.

Key Features:

• Size: 0.51 oz.
• Format: Multi-purpose balm
• Key Ingredients: Coffee arabica seed oil, vitamin E, coconut oil, grapeseed oil, lanolin
• Skin Type: All
• Cruelty-Free/Vegan: Yes/No
• Flavor: Coffee

If you want to add a bit of glam to your everyday lip look, Sara Happ delivers an ultra-glossy, shimmery answer in their Lip Slip One Luxe Balm. It’s a deeply hydrating treatment that provides immediate, long-lasting results, healing, nourishing, and softening the lips. While macadamia seed oil moisturizes the lips, anti-inflammatory jojoba oil heals chapped lips, and vitamin A-packed sweet almond oil regenerates the skin and refines fine lines.

Known as the ‘lip expert,’ founder Sara Happ launched her original lip scrub product in 2005 after trying and failing to find a scrub on the market that she liked. So, she decided to make her own! She believes in doing one thing and doing it perfectly. Her line has extended to include the original lip scrub, treatments, lip color, and of course, the shimmering lip balm. Pair this balm with her lip scrub and lip elixir to lock in the ultimate hydration. Pick it up from Nordstrom!

Key Features:

• Size: 0.5 oz.
• Format: Gloss balm
• Key Ingredients: Beeswax, jojoba seed oil, castor seed oil, macadamia seed oil, sweet almond oil, vitamin E
• Skin Type: All
• Cruelty-Free/Vegan: Yes/No
• Flavor: Rose

If you’re vegan and want to extend that practice to your beauty products, Summer Fridays Lip Balm Butter is a perfect choice. Summer Fridays was founded by influencers Marianna Hewitt and Lauren Ireland, who wanted to put together clean, simple products that were easy to use and satisfying in every way. Their lip butter balm is vegan, formulated with shea and murumuru seed butter to naturally moisturize and condition dry lips. You can also use it as an overnight lip mask! Grab it from Sephora!

Key Features:

• Size: 0.5 oz.
• Format: Lip butter
• Key Ingredients: Shea butter, murumuru oil, vegan waxes, natural vanilla flavor
• Skin Type: Oily, combo, normal
• Cruelty-Free/Vegan: Yes/Yes
• Flavor: Vanilla

Founded by Dr. Josh Gordon, noyah, meaning ‘divine beauty,’ strives to create natural products that straddle the line of classic and cutting edge. Some of their products are made in a kitchen instead of a cosmetic lab because they are made from 100% food-based ingredients. Their lip balm is made with coconut oil, beeswax, extra virgin olive oil, natural flavor, and stevia. These five ingredients are much friendlier for the environment and your body. You can grab the all-natural lip balm from Ulta.

Key Features:

• Size: 0.15 oz.
• Format: Lip balm stick
• Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, beeswax, extra virgin olive oil
• Skin Type: All
• Cruelty-Free/Vegan: Yes/No
• Flavor: Various

Lanolips products are made with lanolin, a naturally occurring oil in sheep’s wool. This oil is humanely harvested from Australian sheep farmers and is a natural, renewable and sustainable product since it’s a natural byproduct of sheep washing. The original lip ointment is an award-winning ‘super product,’ as it has multiple uses. Not only for lips, but you can also apply it to heal dry patches, add it to your moisturizer, heal cuts and insect bites. This balm is also perfect for new moms. Lanolin is safe for newborn baby skin, and the ointment can also be used to soothe sore breastfeeding nipples. You can find it online at Ulta or Amazon.

Key Features:

• Size: 0.52 oz.
• Format: Lip ointment
• Key Ingredients: Lanolin, lanolin oil
• Skin Type: All
• Cruelty-Free/Vegan: Yes/No
• Flavor: Fragrance-free

So, you need a lip scrub, but you also need a balm. Then you want a pop of color to bring some attention to your newly moisturized lips. Instead of purchasing three separate products, you can snag this all in one from Glow Recipe. Fruit-derived AHA naturally exfoliates your lips, while coconut oil moisturizes, watermelon soothes, and blueberry gives you an antioxidant boost. The newest formula also features macadamia seed oil for added hydration. You can pick it up at Sephora.

Key Features:

• Size: 0.14 oz.
• Format: 3-in-1
• Key Ingredients: Fruit extracts, coconut oil, flower-derived AHA
• Skin Type: Normal, dry, combo, oily
• Cruelty-Free/Vegan: Yes/Yes
• Flavor: Fruity

Since Paula Begoun founded Paula’s Choice in 1995, the company has been known for using smart, safe ingredients and telling the truth about what their products can and can’t do for your skin. This lip balm uses hyaluronic acid to improve the moisture of your lips, diminishing fine lines, while the peptide complex increases fullness. Finally, squalane works to prevent moisture loss. For a smoother, softer smile that will stand the test of time, you can grab this lip balm from Paula’s Choice or Sephora.

Key Features:

• Size: 0.33 oz.
• Format: Lip treatment
• Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, peptides, squalane, castor seed oil, cocoa seed butter, shea butter
• Skin Type: Dry, mature
• Cruelty-Free/Vegan: Yes/Yes
• Flavor: Fragrance-free

Drunk Elephant prides itself on using ingredients that are compatible with your body chemistry, focusing on healthy pH levels, formulations and ingredients that your body will recognize, and components that protect the acid mantle of your skin. It’s no surprise that their lip balm is just as nourishing as their other products. Avocado oil, rich in fatty acids and antioxidants, provides intense moisture, while mongongo oil helps to protect the natural barrier of your skin. The tripeptide formula plumps and fills the lines of the lips, giving more definition. Did we mention that they also support the International Elephant Foundation? Support the elephants and your skin, and pick up this balm from Sephora!

Key Features:

• Size: 0.13 oz.
• Format: Lip balm stick
• Key Ingredients: Avocado oil, mongongo oil, coconut oil, shea butter, beeswax, cranberry seed oil
• Skin Type: Normal, dry, combo, oily
• Cruelty-Free/Vegan: Yes/No
• Flavor: Fragrance-free

You may remember that many lip plumping products in days of yore included bee venom or other ingredients that made your lips plump up and appear ‘bee-stung’ for a fuller effect. Kosas provides a natural plumping product that won’t adversely affect you or the bees while using active skincare ingredients. Hyaluronic acid and vitamin E work to lock in moisture, keeping lips as plump as possible. Konjac root protects the lips from the environment, while wild mint provides a stimulating fragrance. You can pick it up in any of the four colors from Sephora.

Key Features:

• Size: 0.17 oz.
• Format: Plumping lip balm
• Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, konjac root, wild mint, castor seed oil, lanolin oil cocoa seed butter, grape seed oil, shea butter, mango seed butter, avocado oil, rosemary leaf extract
• Skin Type: All
• Cruelty-Free/Vegan: Yes/No
• Flavor: Mint

Nooni is a Korean skincare and makeup brand that believes less is more when it comes to its products. Their lip oil is slightly tinted and non-sticky, leaving a natural flush to the lips when applied. Apple water keeps the lips soft and hydrated, while the botanical oil blend locks that moisture in for a nourishing finish. Available in four different apple-based flavors with multiple benefits, you’ll have no problem finding one that will suit your lip care needs. Go ahead and add it to your Amazon cart!

Key Features:

• Size: 0.12 oz.
• Format: Lip oil
• Key Ingredients: Sunflower seed oil, jojoba seed oil, various fruit oils depending on the blend, argan oil, macadamia seed oil 
• Skin Type: All
• Cruelty-Free/Vegan: Yes/Yes
• Flavor: Various

Bento boxes make it super easy to pack multiple components into your lunch, so why not apply the same structure to a lip balm duo? This scrub and balm duo makes it easy to exfoliate and hydrate lips quickly. Kaja products are ‘as cute as they are good,’ providing adorable packaging and ‘sensorial’ formulas. This formula is a transparent piña colada combination of coconut lip balm and pineapple scrub. You can pick it up at Sephora.

Key Features:

• Size: 0.32 oz.
• Format: 2-in-1 balm and scrub
• Key Ingredients: Balm – castor seed oil, beeswax, coconut oil/Scrub – sugar, shea butter, pineapple fruit extract
• Skin Type: All
• Cruelty-Free/Vegan: Yes/Yes
• Flavor: Coconut/Pineapple

First Aid Beauty, also known as FAB, works to combat skin challenges that affect many skin types. Their lip treatment is a nourishing semi-matte balm that will leave your lips hydrated and protected. This formula uses colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, and glycerin to combat red, dry lips while improving the skin barrier and smoothing the lip line. Pick it up online from Sephora!

Key Features:

• Size: 0.5 oz.
• Format: Lip treatment
• Key Ingredients: Colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, glycerin, jojoba seed oil, grapeseed oil, hyaluronic acid, malic acid, squalane
• Skin Type: Normal, combo, dry, oily
• Cruelty-Free/Vegan: Yes/Yes
• Flavor: Mint

If you aren’t sure what skin type you have or just want a product that will work no matter your skin type, you can give this beeswax lip balm a try. Farmacy focuses on providing ‘conscious beauty’ by using farm-sourced ingredients, reducing waste, food scarcity, and promoting ethical product production. Their lip balm is somewhat of a two-in-one, working as a lip primer and a balm. Honey, beeswax, and cupuaçu butter work together to deliver and maintain moisture long after you’ve applied it. Snag it from Sephora!

Key Features:

• Size: 0.12 oz.
• Format: Lip balm stick
• Key Ingredients: Proprietary honey blend, beeswax, cupuaçu and cocoa butters, castor seed oil, olive fruit oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, squalane
• Skin Type: All
• Cruelty-Free/Vegan: Yes/No
• Flavor: Honey

With a name like Gold Spun, it’s hard to imagine that this lip balm from Tatcha could be anything but lip care gold. Tatcha is a well-known Japanese brand founded by Vicky Tsai, who unexpectedly found herself immersed in Japanese skincare while living in Kyoto. Tatcha products work to bring you harmony from ‘your skin to your soul.’ Their lip balm is no different, enriched with camellia oil that quickly absorbs into dry lips. Camellia oil is even richer in oleic acid than olive oil, providing nourishing Omegas 3, 6, and 9. You can pick up this shimmering balm from Sephora.

Key Features:

• Size: 0.21 oz.
• Format: Lip balm
• Key Ingredients: Japanese camellia oil, squalane, rice germ oil, licorice extract, green tea leaf extract
• Skin Type: Dry, mature
• Cruelty-Free/Vegan: Yes/Yes
• Flavor: Citrus