We Asked Dermatologists to Share Their Favorite Lip Balms—Shop the Expert-Approved Picks Here
Courtesy of Glossier
When it comes to caring for your lips—especially if they're perpetually parched—a trusty lip balm (or two!) should always be in your arsenal. Why? Since lips don't produce their own natural oils, they need an extra layer of nourishing protection to prevent them from becoming dry, flaky, and chapped. Nutrient-rich balms work to do just that and soothe delicate skin while locking in moisture and fending off free radicals and environmental stressors. From tried-and-true drugstore favorites to new-age lip masks and treatments, we've rounded up some of our favorite dermatologist-approved balms for a perfectly hydrated mouth.
Top Picks
Best Drugstore Lip Balm: Aquaphor Advanced Therapy Healing Ointment
Lip Balm with Minimal Ingredients: Vaseline Petroleum Jelly
Best Multi-Tasking Lip Balm: Glossier Balm Dotcom
Best Lip Balm for Chapped, Peeling Skin: Neosporin Overnight Renewal Therapy
Best Anti-Aging Lip Balm: Skinceuticals Antioxidant Lip Repair
Best Lip Balm for Sensitive Skin: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Intensive Lip Balm
Best Tinted Lip Balm: Rosebud Perfume Co. Smith's Rosebud Salve
Related: The Best Natural Lip Balms
Best with Sunscreen: EOS
"One of my favorites is the EOS Guardian Ultra SPF 30 Coconut Lip Balm," says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Marni Nussbaum. "Not only does it contain SPF, but it also features 100-percent mineral-based sunscreen, so it reflects the sun rather than gets absorbed. It is reef-safe, sweat and water-resistant, and tastes like a delicious coconut which makes me feel like I am on vacation!"
Shop Now: EOS "Guardian Ultra" SPF 30 Coconut Lip Balm, $2.99, target.com.
Best Drugstore Find: Aquaphor
"Tried and true, this drugstore find is a mainstay in dermatologists' offices for a reason. It contains petrolatum, which acts as a semi-occlusive barrier to transepidermal water loss—meaning it works to prevent already dehydrated, chapped lips hold onto water," explains board-certified cosmetic and general dermatologist Dr. Rachel Maiman.
Shop Now: Aquaphor Advanced Therapy Healing Ointment, $3.59, cvs.com.
Best Mask: Laneige
Apply this rich sleeping mask before bed to reveal soft, hydrated lips by morning. Although this balm was designed to be used as an overnight treatment, its super silky—and never sticky—formula is lightweight enough to be worn during the day and can even be layered under other products.
Shop Now: Laneige Sleeping Mask, $22, sephora.com.
Best Simple Formula: Vaseline
"There's no better deal at the drugstore than Vaseline Petroleum Jelly," says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Joshua Zeichner. "Triple purified petrolatum forms a protective seal over the skin to keep hydration in and environmental aggressors out—and works better than almost anything else out there on the market."
Shop Now: Vaseline Petroleum Jelly, $1.79, target.com.
Best Multi-Tasker: Glossier
We love this cult-favorite balm for its moisture-rich formula that doubles as a skin salve to soothe chapped lips, dry cuticles, and even hands and elbows. Opt for the original iteration that goes on clear or choose from seven other flavors, finishes, and tints.
Shop Now: Glossier Balm Dotcom, $12, glossier.com.
Best Splurge: Dr. Barbara Sturm
Protect your lips from harsh elements with this ultra-soothing and hydrating balm from Dr. Barbara Sturm. Powerhouse ingredients like lanolin, beeswax, and shea butter work to infuse your lips with moisture while vitamin E shields them from free radicals.
Shop Now: Dr. Barbara Sturm Lip Balm, $55, nordstrom.com.
Best for Chapped Lips: Neosporin
For moments when your lips are painfully chapped or cracked, this formula from Neosporin is a soothing solution. The product is chock full of peptides and emollients to help strengthen and restore your lips while you sleep.
Shop Now: Neosporin Overnight Renewal Therapy, $6.99, cvs.com.
Best Anti-Aging: Skinceuticals
This potent lip treatment is ideal for tight, aging lips and is loaded with antioxidants and vitamin-rich ingredients to rejuvenate and replenish tissue. "This is a really soothing treatment that moisturizes immediately with urea and hyaluronic acid, and helps fight free radicals with vitamin E," says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Dendy Engelman.
Shop Now: Skinceuticals Antioxidant Lip Repair, $38, dermstore.com.
Best for Intense Dehydration: Lanolips
Lanolin is one of the most skin-nourishing ingredients out there and Lanolips—as the brand's name implies—is packed full of it. This deeply hydrating product has an ointment-like texture and formula that works to protect delicate lip skin and seal in moisture. As an added bonus, Lanolips can be used to treat other skin concerns from windburn and cold-chapped cheeks to cracked heels and dry cuticles.
Shop Now: Lanolips "The Original 101 Ointment" Multipurpose Superbalm, $16.99, amazon.com.
Best for Sensitive Skin: First Aid Beauty
"This lip balm is excellent for chapped lips largely thanks to its three main ingredients: glycerin, colloidal oatmeal, and shea butter—all of which are humectants. Devoid of any alcohols, artificial fragrances, and artificial colorants, this soothing salve is safe for even the most sensitive and ultra cracked lips. As an added bonus, this balm also contains a blend of botanical antioxidants, including licorice root, feverfew, and white tea. These antioxidants [fight] free radicals, which, when produced from any number of environmental insults, wreak havoc on the skin barrier," says Dr. Maiman.
Shop Now: First Aid Beauty "Ultra Repair" Intensive Lip Balm, $20, dermstore.com.
Best Subtle Sheen: Elizabeth Arden
"I love this balm because it soothes dry lips with instant hydration while working to strengthen lips' moisture barrier, guarding them against future dryness. It also has a lovely, natural-looking sheen," says Dr. Engelman.
Shop Now: Elizabeth Arden "Eight Hour" Cream Intensive Lip Repair Balm, $24, elizabetharden.com.
Best with Color: Rosebud Perfume Co.
This old-school balm works. It smells faintly of roses and has a soft pink hue that adds just enough color. Plus, its nourishing formula can be used to highlight cheekbones, tame flyaways, or groom eyebrows.
Shop Now: Rosebud Perfume Co. Smith's Rosebud Salve, $9.97, walmart.com.
Most Skin Strengthening: Glo Skin
"Glo Skin's Barrier Balm is one of my favorites because you can use it in so many ways—on lips, cuticles, hands, and other dry spots. It contains vitamin E and rosehip seed oil, and hydrates while preventing future water loss," notes Dr. Engelman.
Shop Now: Glo Skin Barrier Balm, $16, dermstore.com.
Most Travel-Friendly: Drunk Elephant
Loaded with antioxidant-rich ingredients like green tea leaf and vitamin C, this balm protects parched lips from free radicals and environmental stressors. Its buttery and silky formula is easy to apply and can be worn under your favorite lipstick or tint.
Shop Now: Drunk Elephant Lippe Balm, $18, sephora.com.
Best Vegan Balm: Bite Beauty
Bite Beauty's agave lip balm is not only deeply moisturizing, but smells divine, too—think notes of orange and vanilla. Its vegan formula promises eight hours of continuous hydration and is full of emollients and fatty acids to leave lips supple and plump. As an added bonus, it's the perfect size for stashing in pockets and purses.
Shop Now: Bite Beauty "Agave + Daytime" Vegan Lip Balm, $16, sephora.com.
Most Moisturizing: Augustinus Bader
Nurture your lips with Augustinus Bader's nutrient-rich lip balm that uses reparative sunflower, avocado, and grapeseed oils to seal in moisture, creating a barrier against cold weather temperatures and drying climates. Its clean formula also harnesses the power plant-derived collagen to deliver a plumper mouth.
Shop Now: Augustinus Bader The Lip Balm, $38, saksfithavenue.com.
