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These formulas help draw in and retain moisture for soft, smooth lips.
By Jennifer Hussein and Deanna Pai
Wesley Hall for Allure / Courtesy of brands
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
There's nothing comfortable (or fun) about flaky, peeling, and dry lips, which is why we keep ourselves stocked with a collection of the best lip balms and treatments for chapped lips out there. And you can trust we've tried every beauty product under the sun: medicated balms, do-it-all salves, SPF-spiked formulas, exfoliating scrubs — we've even slapped on sleeping masks made just for the mouth.
Our Top Picks:
- Best Overall: Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm, $24
- Best for Sensitive Skin: Eau Thermale Avène Cicalfate+ Lips Restorative Lip Balm, $20
- Best for Mature Skin: Ole Henriksen Pout Preserve Lip Treatment, $22
- Best with SPF: EltaMD UV Lip Balm Broad-Spectrum SPF 36, $17
- Best Tinted Lip Balm: Dior Addict Lip Glow Balm, $40
- Best Vegan: Glossier Balm Dotcom, $14
- Best Plumping: Rhode Skin Peptide Lip Treatment, $16
- Best Overnight Treatment: Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask, $24
If your current lip balm isn't doing it for you anymore, it's time to make a switch — most likely to something simpler. Connecticut-based board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, has previously compared lip balms to quenching your thirst with a can of soda. "You drink something that appeals to the senses with no nutritional value, and shortly thereafter, you are still thirsty," she explains. "The same thing goes for balms loaded with flavor, fragrance, and menthol."
That doesn't mean you have to completely avoid tasty or tingly balms; in fact, there are a few we really love on this list. Just be sure to pay attention to what is and isn't working for you. Below, we're sharing the best lip-care products we've tried to date, including Best of Beauty winners (hey, Rhode and Summer Fridays), luxury picks that beauty editors simply can't get enough of, and a few drugstore scores.
Best Overall: Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm
1/15
Summer Fridays
Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm
Why It's Worth It: The brand may be called Summer Fridays, but its Lip Butter Balm is a year-round must-have. The 2023 Best of Beauty Award winner and TikTok-beloved formula is packed with moisturizing botanical butters (shea and murumuru seed) to condition dry skin, while vegan waxes serve as an occlusive to smooth flakes and seal in hydration. Plus, the natural vanilla flavor makes it downright impossible to resist, even when your lips are feeling far from chapped.
Editor Tip: Commerce editor Sarah Han is a huge fan of the tinted shades, like Brown Sugar, for a dose of sheer, your-lips-but-better color.
Key Ingredients: Shea butter, murumuru seed butter | Who It's For: Everyone
Best for Sensitive Skin: Eau Thermale Avène Cicalfate+ Lips Restorative Lip Balm
2/15
Eau Thermale Avène
Eau Thermale Avène Cicalfate+ Lips Restorative Lip Balm
Why It's Worth It: For extreme chapping — think cracked, split, or peeling lips — consider the extra-gentle formula of Eau Thermale Avène Cicalfate+ Lips Restorative Lip Balm. While you'll find the usual lineup of nourishing ingredients like shea butter, jojoba oil, and castor oil, the balm also contains a postbiotic ingredient to help restore skin health (postbiotic being the end-result of the skin's beneficial microbiome). Bonus: You can also apply it directly to compromised skin, like the sides of the nose, to help it heal.
Editor Tip: The formula is water-resistant but not waxy, so it locks in moisture and creates a protective barrier.
Key Ingredients: Castor oil, shea oil, jojoba oil | Who It's For: Those with severely dry or chapped lips
Best for Mature Skin: Ole Henriksen Pout Preserve Lip Treatment
3/15
Ole Henriksen
Ole Henriksen Pout Preserve Lip Treatment
Why It's Worth It: Just like the rest of our skin, the lips lose volume with age. The Ole Henriksen Pout Preserve Peptide Lip Treatment aims to offset this change with peptides hand-selected for the lips; in boosting collagen production, they support a plump, full look over time and help reduce lines around the mouth. On the moisture front, the blend of kokum butter, mango seed butter, and cloudberry oil in this lip-repair treatment makes quick work of dryness, even in the winter.
Editor Tip: Forget peppermint — this comes in limited-edition flavors that inspire the scent, like Blood Orange Spritz and Lingonberry Jam.
Key Ingredients: Peptides, mango seed butter, cloudberry oil | Who It's For: Anyone targeting signs of aging around the mouth
Best with SPF: EltaMD UV Lip Balm Broad-Spectrum SPF 36
4/15
EltaMD
EltaMD UV Lip Balm Broad-Spectrum SPF 36
Why It's Worth It: Your lips need sun protection, too, which is why a balm with broad-spectrum SPF is essential. The EltaMD UV Lip Balm Broad-Spectrum SPF 36 has you covered with a blend of chemical and mineral sun filters (which gets you beyond the SPF 30 recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology) along with quercetin, vitamin C, and vitamin E, antioxidants that help further repair and defend skin from free radical damage. Since moisture is still a must-have, the formula also contains 5% Hydromanil, a trademarked ingredient that increases immediate and long-term moisture.
Editor Tip: It does have a slight, white cast that fades after a few minutes — worth keeping in mind for when you reapply.
Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide, vitamin c, glycerin | Who It's For: Everyone
Best Tinted Lip Balm: Dior Addict Lip Glow Balm
5/15
Dior
Dior Addict Lip Glow Balm
Why It's Worth It: Treat dry lips in fashion with the Dior Addict Lip Glow Balm. Similar to its equally trendy sibling, Addict Lip Glow Oil, this TikTok-beloved lip balm contains antioxidant-rich cherry oil and shea butter, two emollients that seal moisture for a smoother, softer feel to your lips. “Gliding it on feels extra smooth and it leaves my lips looking juicy,” says former Allure editor Jihan Forbes. We especially love that this balm is available in 17 gorgeous, high-shine tints to choose from — none of which feel sticky or heavy on the lips.
Editor Tip: D&C Red 27, which turns a pink shade when in contact with moisture, gives the balm its color-changing ability.
Key Ingredients: Cherry oil, shea butter, sunflower wax | Who It's For: Those seeking a tint
More from Allure
- 12 Best Primers for Dry Skin to Keep Mid-Day Flaking At Bay
- 12 Best Lip Masks for a Soft, Plump, and Flake-Free Feel
- 11 Best Lip Scrubs to Buff Away Flakes
- 15 Best Cream Blushes for a Natural-Looking Flush
Best Plumping: Rhode Skin Peptide Lip Treatment
6/15
Rhode Skin
Rhode Skin Peptide Lip Treatment
Why It's Worth It: Want suppler, plumper-looking lips? Then simply glide Rhode Skin's Peptide Lip Treatment onto your lips throughout the day. This 2022 Best of Beauty winner's star ingredient, peptides, firms the look of skin, while shea butter, babassu, and cupuaçu work hand-in-hand to moisturize. "While it isn't a lip plumper, I love the way this treatment leaves my lips looking juicier and slightly fuller," says Allure senior editor Jesa Marie Calor.
Editor Tip: Rhode founder Hailey Bieber often wears it over lip liner, according to her makeup artist.
Key Ingredients: Shea butter, babassu oil, lactic acid | Who It's For: Those seeking fullness
Best Vegan: Glossier Balm Dotcom
7/15
Glossier
Glossier Balm Dotcom
Why It's Worth It: Editors are obsessed with Glossier's Balm Dotcom for its chic packaging and its ability to soothe dry, chapped anything — lips, cuticles, elbows, heels, you name it. Originally, petrolatum (the key ingredient in Vaseline Petroleum Jelly) was the main additive of this formula, but in early 2023 Glossier reformulated its best-selling salve and nixed it; plus, while some balms contain lanolin and beeswax, two animal-derived ingredients, it's free of both. Instead, the cruelty-free balm features conditioning (but less greasy) castor jelly with an additional boost of vitamin E.
Editor Tip: The balm has a meandering shipping route: The tubes and caps are molded and printed in Tennessee, filled in New Jersey, and stored in Ohio.
Key Ingredients: Castor jelly, safflower seed oil, vitamin E | Who It's For: Those who want a vegan option
Best Gloss: U Beauty The Plasma Lip Compound
8/15
U Beauty
U Beauty The Plasma Lip Compound
Why It's Worth It: On top of the seven sheer and sexy pigments and lip gloss-like sheen, U Beauty's The Plasma Lip Compound is a total game-changer for its intensely moisturizing, softening formula. “The hydration actually lasts for hours, and the colors are more pigmented than other balms I've used,” says Allure contributor Deanna Pai, who swears by Fawn, a rose-nude. Each tube is infused with hydrating hyaluronic acid, skin barrier-supporting ceramides for moisture replenishment, and a blend of conditioning oils derived from castor seed and sweet almonds.
Editor Tip: As with every formulation in the brand's portfolio, this formula uses patented Siren Technology, which delivers hydrating ingredients to where they're most needed.
Key Ingredients: Ceramides, hyaluronic acid, sweet almond oil | Who It's For: Those who want a slick finish
Best for Fine Lines: Drunk Elephant Lippe Balm
9/15
Drunk Elephant
Drunk Elephant Lippe Balm
Why It's Worth It: Drunk Elephant Lippe Balm lives rent-free on Allure contributing editor Marci Robin's nightstand. Broader than your usual balm stick, you get no-fail coverage when applying the buttery formula, which includes avocado oil — full of omega fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins — as well as peptides to boost lips' plumpness. “Even if I apply it an hour or two before I actually fall asleep, I always wake up with smooth lips,” Robin says. "That's pretty much a miracle for my perennially flaky lip skin."
Editor Tip: The matte formula doubles as a primer for lips, helping glosses and lipsticks swipe on smoothly.
Key Ingredients: Green tea, vitamin C, peptides | Who It's For: Those with lines around the mouth
Best Overnight Treatment: Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
10/15
Laneige
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
Why It's Worth It: A 2019 Allure Best of Beauty winner, Laneige's ever-viral Lip Sleeping Mask is a TikTok-approved treatment that works overtime to ensure lips are moisturized, supple, and smooth-as-silk by morning. Infused with berry-derived antioxidants and vitamin C, as well as its proprietary "moisture wrap" technology, you'll notice a visible difference in dryness after just one use. The intoxicating fruity scent doesn't hurt either, though if that's not your jam, it also comes in other scents.
Editor Tip: It also works for daytime wear, too, according to Allure senior beauty editor Paige Stables “A thin layer of the antioxidant-rich balm adds the prettiest subtle sheen to lips, and it layers nicely with lipstick, too,” she says. But if you prefer a more lightweight formula, opt for the Lip Glowy Balm.
Key Ingredients: Murumuru seed butter. shea butter, coconut oil | Who It's For: Those who prefer flavors
Best Applicator: Ilia Lip Wrap Reviving Balm
11/15
Ilia
Ilia Lip Wrap Reviving Balm
Why It's Worth It: Considering how popular Ilia's Lip Wrap Lip Mask is with Allure readers and editors alike, it should come as no surprise that the brand has launched a daytime balm version of its overnight treatment. In addition to hydration-locking hyaluronic acid, the Lip Wrap Reviving Balm utilizes moisturizing and barrier-supporting natural ingredients like prickly pear oil and sea succulent extract. Over time, that stronger barrier means even dryness-prone lips hold onto moisture more effectively.
Editor Tip: The applicator is made of ceramic, which is naturally cooling.
Key Ingredients: Squalane, coconut oil, shea butter | Who It's For: Everyone
Best Drugstore: Flower Beauty Petal Pout Lip Mask
12/15
Flower Beauty
Flower Beauty Petal Pout Lip Mask
Why It's Worth It: Protect your lips with nourishing conditioners like the mango and cocoa butters in the Flower Beauty Petal Pout Lip Mask. Available in six shades, treatment goes on with a sheer tint so you can wear it all day long just like a regular lipstick. We awarded this a Best of Beauty Award for its chap-reducing formula and lightweight yet pigmented hue.
Editor Tip: This lip product leaves behind an even layer of color, beating out some of our favorite lip glosses.
Key Ingredients: Cocoa seed butter, mango seed butter, vitamin E | Who It's For: Everyone
Best Scent: Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment
13/15
Fresh
Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment
Why It's Worth It: Chances are, you've tried Fresh's best-selling Sugar Lip Treatment at least once, and we're here to remind you why it's so popular. As its name suggests, this buttery balm is spiked with sugar, which is actually a humectant that binds water onto the surface layer of the skin, as well as antioxidant-rich oils derived from cranberries and grapeseed to smooth, soften, and protect skin from further chapping.
Editor Tip: If you're a longtime user of the Sugar Lip Treatment, know that the brand reformulated a few years ago and removed the sun protection — so you might want a separate formula if you're spending time outdoors.
Key Ingredients: Sugar, grapeseed oil | Who It's For: Those who want multiple tint options
More from Allure
- 12 Best Lip Masks for a Soft, Plump, and Flake-Free Feel
- 15 Best Cream Blushes for a Natural-Looking Flush
- 11 Best Lip Scrubs to Buff Away Flakes
- 12 Best Primers for Dry Skin to Keep Mid-Day Flaking At Bay
Best Color-Adjusting: Givenchy Le Rouge Interdit Hydrating Lip Balm
14/15
Givenchy
Givenchy Le Rouge Interdit Hydrating Lip Balm
Why It's Worth It: For a subtle tint with conditioning benefits, Allure commerce writer Jennifer Hussein says she constantly reaches for Givenchy's Le Rouge Interdit Hydrating Lip Balm, specifically in the black-to-pink shade No. 10. "I love a grungy, all-black beauty product, so of course Givenchy's lip balm caught my attention," she says. Don't let its pitch-black hue fool you: Its pH-reactive formula, which is infused with hyaluronic acid and jojoba oil, instantly transforms into a sheer wash of pink color once you swipe it on.
Editor Tip: While the formula delivers a berry shade for lighter skin tones, it's much more subtle on medium to deep skin.
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, jojoba extract, Acmella Oleracea flower extract | Who It's For: Anyone seeking a unique tint
Best Affordable: Chapstick Total Hydration With Sea Minerals Overnight Lip Renewal Treatment
15/15
ChapStick
Chapstick Total Hydration Overnight Treatment
Why It's Worth It: Although associate manager of special projects Talia Gutierrez uses the Chapstick Total Hydration With Sea Minerals Overnight Lip Renewal Treatment overnight as the name suggests, she's gotten in the habit of applying the aloe and shea butter-infused formula during the day, too — especially before putting on makeup. "It's like a lip oil and lip mask hybrid I use to keep my lips from drying out whenever I wear a lipstick or crayon," she says, adding that her lips are never chapped when this is a regular part of her routine.
Editor Tip: The fragrance-free formula doesn't have a flavor, which might impact how much you like it.
Key Ingredients: Aloe extract, shea butter, sea minerals | Who It's For: Everyone
Check Out Some of Our 2022 Allure Best of Beauty Winners
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Jennifer Hussein is a commerce writer at Allure, where she's been finding the best beauty deals and sales for Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Amazon Prime Day for the past three years. Previously, she served as beauty editor of BestProducts.com and junior beauty editor for L'Oréal's Skincare.com. Her... Read more
Deanna Pai is a freelance writer, editor, and copywriter who's been writing about beauty,health, and wellness for more than a decade — as well as a longtime contributor to Allure. Prior to freelancing, she was the senior associate beauty editor at Cosmopolitan. When she's not experimenting with skin-care products, you... Read more
Keywordsbeauty productslip treatmentslip balmlip oilChapsticklip masklip scrublip butterlip exfoliatorlipslip maskslaneigechapped lipsshoppingBelifilia beautyFlower BeautySummer FridaysGlossierDrunk Elephantdiorla mer
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