Bring up the topic of the best lip balms among a group of beauty lovers, and you’re guaranteed to drum up some healthy debate on which lip balms are really worth buying. While some swear by luxury, break-the-budget formulas (such as La Mer’s £58 lip balm), others have found their holy grail lip balm for less than a couple of pounds in a drugstore.
Everyone has difference preferences for their lip balm of choice. Some might want a lightweight, waxy lip balm that delivers a quick hit of moisture in a swipe, or, for others whose lips are forever parched or flaking, they may prefer a heavy duty intensive lip balm to treat chapped lips. Different circumstances also call for different lip balms, which is where having a lip balm wardrobe can come in handy. Tinted lip balms are ideal for summer months when a lipstick feels too stifling in the heat, whereas the winter months call for a long-lasting formula that cocoons lips against the cold and central heating.
However, nothing beats a personalised recommendation when it comes to finding the best lip balms. A quick poll of beauty lovers, editors and the Who What Wear team confirmed that there was more than one lip balm devotee in our midst—and every single editor had a ride-or-die lip balm that they wouldn’t be without. Keep scrolling to see and shop the best lip balms ever, according to our editors.
I’ve flirted with many lip balms over the years, but having constantly dry and sensitive lips means many haven’t met my skin’s high maintenance needs. It was only when I had an eczema flare around my mouth that I found my forever lip balm. Eucerin’s Acute Lip Balm was made for sensitive and reactive skin (check and check) and this was the only lip balm that soothed the eczema flare and eventually healed the cracked corners of my lips too. It has a cushiony texture that’s instantly soothing, while evening primrose oil liquorice extract help hydrate and bring down inflammation. It also comes dermatologist recommended for medical dry lips. In fact, a friend of mine taking roaccuatane (an acne medication, of which side effects can include very dry lips) also raved about this lip balm during her treatment.
Evening primrose oil, glycerol and liquorice extract work to calm skin irritation while hydrating and shielding the skin.
“I must have been at university when Nuxe Rêve de Miel became something of a buzzy beauty item amongst the early wave of beauty bloggers and YouTubers. I had never comprehended spending more than a couple of pounds on a lip balm before, but what can I say? I was influenced,” says Mica Ricketts, freelance content editor. “Thankfully, though, this lip balm turned out to be my one and only. I apply it every single evening before bed, as its incredibly thick in texture. It uses antibacterial honey and nourishing shea butter to calm and nourish even the most chapped of lips, and I love that it doesn’t have any hint of shine or stickiness. Plus, if you’re in a pinch, then you can also use it to soothe dry cuticles and hydrate any parched areas of the skin.”
This sumptuously rich balm leaves velveteen finish on the lips, making it great as an overnight lip treatment or as an intensive treatment for sore lips. Honey, sweet almond oil and shea butter work to intensely nourish compromised lips.
“My music teacher used to always shout at our class if we used lip balm, as she seemed to find them even more offensive than our giggling and terrible use of the recorder. So it has put me off lip balm for my whole life, and I’ve never used it,” says Emma Spedding, freelance editor. “She claimed lip balm ruined your lips. (She was wrong.) My sister bought me three of the Glossier Balm Dotcoms for Christmas, and I am now obsessed. Yes, I’m partly drinking the Glossier cool-aid (down to the baby-pink packaging and the divine smell), but I also love how these slightly stain your lips, giving a more subtle look for the day than a lipstick.”
Coming in a range of fun flavours (birthday cake and cookie butter) to staple lip balm flavours (berry and cherry), these lip balms contain occlusive ingredients of beeswax, castor oil and lanolin which prevent moisture loss from the lips, forming a waxy yet lightweight shield.
“I have chronically dry lips,” says Shannon Lawlor, freelance beauty editor and Who What Wear UK contributor. “Seriously, my lips are drier than just about anyone else’s that I know. They’re constantly uncomfortable, tight, sore and flaking. So needless to say, I am a big ol’ fan of lip balm. The concept of leaving my house without a lip balm is totally alien. And because I hate my dry lip situation so much, I like lip balms that are luxe and spark some joy. And I’m using the word luxe in its purest form. I keep a bullet of Rouge Hermès Baume de Soin in my handbag to swipe on while I’m out and about. I get countless comments on how plump it makes my lips look.”
The silky formula of Hermès’ lip balm means that it is lightweight and non-greasy, despite having a cocktail of nourishing ingredients such as candelilla wax and beeswax to cocoon lips in moisture.
“Permanently attached to my dressing table, though, is By Terry Baume de Rose. It’s rich and luxurious, and it’s by far the most softening lip balm I have ever tried. (And I’ve tried them all.) Rose blossom essential wax, ceramides, vitamin E and shea butter are a winning combination in this lip balm, leaving lips soft and comfortable.”
“The reason I love this lip balm? It moisturises for hours on end, it’s teeny tiny but appears to last for a lifetime and it’s a great base for the Bobbi Brown lip crayon I love to wear that can sometimes feel drying. It’s also sufficient on its own thanks to the pinky hue,” says Hannah Almassi, editor in chief at Who What Wear UK.
If you’re looking for a balm with a tinted and glossy finish like a lip gloss, then make this your go-to. It contains minty menthol for a cooling effect on parched lips.
“It’s highly inconvenient that my favourite lip balm is so expensive. Make no mistake—this is a real investment for your lips, but boy, is it worth it,” says Nell Block, deputy editor at Who What Wear UK. “The minty balm feels delicate when applied, and there’s no full-on grease slick that ends up in my hair or on my clothes. But it somehow manages to hydrate my lips in an instant. Is it actual magic? I think so.”
Housed in a chic pot, you’ll feel rather fancy pulling this lip balm out of your bag. The contents are equally impressive, with La Mer iconic miracle broth, which contains fermented ingredients that fortify the skin. This balm also has a minty fresh feeling on application, and feels nourishing without being heavy.
“I picked up this lip balm while passing through an airport. In all honesty, I didn’t put a great deal of thought into it—I grabbed it and was on my way,” says Joy Montgomery, senior commerce editor at British Vogue. “But when it came to trying it out on the long-haul flight (surely the best test for a lip balm), it passed with flying colours. I generally tend to buy tinted products that look nice but never deliver when it comes to moisturising your lips, but Elizabeth Arden’s offering does exactly what it says on the tin: It kept my lips hydrated for those long eight hours. I couldn’t ask for much more from a lip balm, really.”
Elizabeth Arden is famed for its Eight Hour Cream range, and this lip balm contains the very same nourishing ingredients in a handy pot size. With shea butter, beeswax and soybean oil, it replenishes lost moisture and keep it locked in.
“I’ve never been loyal to a particular lip balm. I always just slick on whichever happens to be in the bottom of the handbag I’m using. However, I recently tried Chanel’s new Rouge Coco Baume, and while I don’t want to get ahead of myself, this might just be the lip balm that I commit to,” says Maxine Eggenberger, acting assistant editor at Who What Wear UK. “In all fairness, it’s more of a lipstick/lip balm hybrid—a super hydrating formula with buildable colour. As soon as I slicked it on my lips, I could immediately feel its nourishing effects, so much so that I couldn’t stop rubbing my lips together. In terms of colour, there are seven to choose from, ranging from translucent white to just-kissed cherry. My favourite, however, is a shade called Natural Charm, which, as soon as I applied it, seemed to give my entire face an instant jolt of radiance. I can’t speak to its long-term effects just yet, but I’m certainly impressed by what I’ve seen so far.”
If you want a tint and the benefits of a lip balm, then this is the perfect hybrid. It contains ceramides and meadow foam oil which drench lips in moisture, leaving behind a glossy sheen.
The original, untinted version of this multipurpose balm is incredible, but this peachy one is even better. Not only is it great for hydrating and adding colour to lips, but it looks beautiful applied to cheeks as a glowy blush.
If you want an intensive lip treatment, then allow me to point you in the direction of this brilliant lip balm, which is seriously hydrating. It has a cocooning effect on the lips, making it a great overnight lip mask. In fact, when I’ve worn this overnight I could still feel it on my lips in the morning—it really is that nourishing.
This is a great basic balm that just does the job, and for less than the cost of a coffee. It’s dense in texture, so it creates a real barrier on dry lips.
Sure, this lip balm delivers moisture, but it’s the iconic peachy-gold Orgasm tint that makes this one a real winner.
If you struggle with seriously dry, damaged lips that are prone to cracking and irritation, nothing will help quite the way that this balm does. It’s rich, nourishing and gives the lips everything they need to regain health.
If it’s juicy, plumping hydration you’re after, look no further than this low-fuss serum.
