Favorite Things: Top Lip Balms
It's dry lip season, and I'm sharing my favorite remedies.
Lip balm has been a life-long love affair for me. After the medicated Chapstick, Carmex, and Lip Smackers of the 90s, I discovered Burt’s Bees and used it religiously until several years ago. I realized that I was constantly reapplying, and it wasn’t doing the trick in terms of moisturizing and lasting power. As is my tendency, I made my own peppermint chapstick for many years, which was honestly better than anything I could find in stores at the time. I took a break from DIYing when I went to grad school, and in the meantime I found other brands that I loved. I preferred solid chapstick lip balms until I recently tried the Laneige Vanilla Lip Glowy Balm in a squeeze tube and realized how long it lasted. This opened the floodgates for one of my classic research rabbit holes, and the rest is history.
I prefer clear/sheer lip balms that last a long time and keep my lips moisturized without having to constantly reapply. Occasionally I’ll branch out and try a tinted balm to give a subtle pop of color while still keeping my lips moisturized. I love sweet, gourmand flavors like vanilla, but I’ll also reach for unscented if I’m not in the mood for flavors. Unfortunately I can’t do minty lip balm anymore, since I seem to have developed a sensitivity (probably from my years of peppermint lip balm overload). It feels nice and tingly when applying, but ultimately makes my lips more chapped and irritated.
This list includes only my absolute favorite lip balms and treatments that I would buy or make again. I almost made a 13 Things list with a ranking, but decided it wasn’t worth it to include the others I tried that were good, but not in my top tier. They’re mostly squeeze tube formulas, but I’ve also included my favorite chapstick and DIY recipe for good measure.
Marin Lip Treatment: This lip treatment was a favorite from the start. It’s not too sticky, lasts a while, and has a lovely, glossy finish. My lips felt hydrated even after the balm wore off, so I wasn’t desperate to reapply right away. It also has a silicone applicator that cushions the lips while applying and enhances the experience. There are unscented and scented versions with a clear finish, as well as a new tinted cranberry scent in a lovely berry color. I’ve tried all the flavors, including blueberry French toast, campfire s’mores, and limited edition gingerbread, and they were all incredible. Their products contain marine glycoproteins, an upcycled byproduct of lobster processing. These same proteins that allow lobsters to regenerate limbs can also be helpful in repairing the skin barrier and soothing sensitive skin. Pretty neat, right? One thing to consider is that this might not be the best fit for you if you have a shellfish allergy, specifically to lobster.
Lanolips 101 Ointment: This is one of the best, truly nourishing lip balm formulas I’ve ever tried. It’s thick, occlusive, and long-lasting without being sticky. The slanted applicator has a slightly wider opening, which makes it easier to squeeze out of the tube and apply directly from the tube or with your finger. If you are sensitive or allergic to lanolin, this would not be a good fit for you. From what I’ve read, this brand has a very involved refining process to remove odors and potential irritants. If you can tolerate it, this is an excellent, fairly affordable option. It comes in tons of different flavors in addition to their original unscented 101 ointment, which comes in a regular squeeze tube instead of a slanted applicator like the flavored options.
Eadem Le Chouchou Lip Softening Balm: This stuff is very luxe. From the cooling metal applicator to the long-lasting hydration and gentle exfoliation, it’s an overall great lip balm experience. The price tag reflects it, but if you’re going to spend money on a pricey lip balm, this is one that is worth it. Butter Mochi is the clear, unscented version, but they also have some really pretty tinted versions that I love for a subtle pop of color while keeping my lips nourished. I recently started pairing their Fig Sauce shade with Charlotte Tilbury Iconic Nude lip liner, and it’s one of my favorite everyday lip combos.
Olehenriksen Pout Preserve Hydrating Peptide Lip Treatment: Lots of people rave about this, and for good reason. The original sheer color smells like an orange creamsicle, which might not be appealing to everyone, but I like it. If this came in a clear vanilla flavor, I would like it even more. It lasts a while on my lips, makes them feel nourished, and imparts a nice shine. The feel might be a little thick and sticky for some, but for me this helps with longevity. The initial tackiness eventually melts down for a more cushy, slippy feel. This formula contains lactic acid, which gently exfoliates while also attracting moisture.
Glossier Balm DotCom: This product has a cult following, especially for their original formula. Apparently they attempted to reformulate to make it vegan, and everyone complained. So the original formula is back! After trying it myself, I get the hype. It’s thick and conditioning without being sticky, and has great lasting power. I got the unscented version, coconut, and hot cocoa (a tinted reddish brown). It doesn’t have a shiny finish, so this is perfect if you want something subtle with excellent moisture payoff. The smell/taste isn’t the best (especially the unscented version), but I’m willing to overlook it for how well it works. This contains lanolin and beeswax, so keep that in mind if you’re sensitive, allergic, or want to avoid animal products.
Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm: I almost didn’t try this because it felt so overhyped. But, I had a Sephora gift card for my birthday and decided to give it a go, for science. :) It’s one of the pricier options, but it comes in a large tube, and the formula is a nice in-between texture. It’s not too thick or sticky, and has nice slip, good hydration, and a lovely shine. It doesn’t last as long as some others I’ve mentioned, but I also don’t feel like I have to reapply every 5 seconds because of the conditioning. I definitely understand why so many people love it. I tried the vanilla clear, pink sugar, and birthday cake shades, and they all smell amazing.
Fatco Fat Stick: This is a tallow-based balm that’s supposed to be for lips, cuticles, and beyond, but it’s been my go-to chapstick for years. It’s comically large and chunky in a half-ounce tube, so it lasts a really long time. If you want something in chapstick form that truly nourishes your lips and isn’t super shiny, this is it. My favorites are unscented, lemon + honey, and coffee + vanilla.
Favorite DIY Recipe: I learned this in a YouTube video from Marie of Humblebee and Me. (The video is from a live-streamed workshop, so fast forward to 29:35 for the recipe and demonstration.) I made a batch for holiday gifting and was really happy with how it turned out, so this may be my new go-to recipe.
10g (20%) beeswax
12g (24%) coconut oil
7g (14%) cocoa butter
21g (42%) liquid oil
What are your favorite lip balms and treatments? Are there any that surprised you that were on this list or left off? Are there any that you’d like to try? Let me know in the comments!