The Best Lip Balm

Buying Guide

We’d have a hard time talking, eating, whistling or kissing without our lips. Even so, it’s surprising how much we take them for granted — until they start getting chapped. When that happens, there’s only one remedy: A good lip balm. You can find cheap tubes of balm at any supermarket or convenience store, but how can you tell which one is the best for you?

The best lips balms should do two basic things: Moisturize the lips to prevent that chapping, and form a layer to lock that moisture in (and protect your lips from the climate that causes the dryness in the first place). These balms use a variety of ingredients to do that, both natural and otherwise. It’s worth giving that ingredient list an extra look, especially if you have sensitive skin or fully cracked lips.

For moisturizing, there are a number of natural oils that will do the trick. Sunflower, almond and coconut oil can all be found inside many balms, and unless you’ve got a specific allergy they’ll all have your lips feeling better almost instantly. Shea and cocoa butter are two very common moisteners that you’ll find in lip balm, and they do a lot more than just wet your whistle. Each of them contain fatty acids that can soothe inflamed and cracking skin, and they’re both packed with vitamins that can speed up healing.

When it comes to locking in that moisture, few things work better than beeswax. It’s natural and can stick to even the driest lips, which is why you’ll find it in many popular brands. The only downside is that some might find it a little thick and waxy. Many brands also use lanolin, which goes on smooth to both moisturize and protect the lips. While most don’t have a reaction, lanolin can irritate sensitive skin, especially if it’s broken. And then there are petroleum jellies and mineral oil, which can both be very effective at protecting the skin against dryness along with harmful bacteria. These last two can also be a bit much for those with touchy skin (especially if they’re overused) but for the most part they are harmless.

Unfortunately, many lip balms include substances that aren’t really there to moisturize or protect. Some common examples are fragrances or flavoring. A lot of those can be OK, but camphor and menthol are two minty additives that can actually strip some protection away from your lips. You’ll also want to look out for parabens (which has been linked to hormone irregularities) and salicylic acid (which can treat numerous skin conditions but can irritate your lips).

If you’re going to wear your lip balm for an extended period outdoors, you’ll definitely want to consider one that doubles as a sunblock. Many balms do, and this is especially important at the beach since lips don’t have sweat glands and will dry out quicker in the heat. An SPF of 15 or 20 should be enough for most outings, and your best bet is a balm that uses zinc oxide as the active sun-blocking ingredient.

Many makeup professionals already know this, but lipstick and lip balm can be a dream team. Due to its waxier build, a little bit of balm around the outer edge of the lips will help keep you from “coloring outside the lines” with your lipstick. The nice, clean borders you create will especially work wonders if you’re using bold, glossy shades.