Best Lip Balms You Can Buy In 2022

Stepping outside without your phone, wallet, keys, an easy-to-reapply sunscreen, and lip balm is blasphemous, at least according to dermatologists and Virgos. Every essential serves a crucial purpose, whether that is to protect your skin or get you back inside your house. And so, each deserves a careful curation process backed by research. For lip balms, you don't have to look too far — we've gathered some of the best lip balms on the internet, proven to be good company wherever you go.

"Our lips are a unique and sensitive part of the body because they do not have any sweat glands," board-certified dermatologist Annie Gonzalez M.D. told Hello Giggles. "In addition, the lips are constantly exposed to different environmental elements, whether it's cold air or the hot sun." A good lip balm should keep your lips hydrated, protected, and smiling. Read on to pick the one that deserves to be in your pocket at all times.

Your lips can appear to age faster than the rest of your face, as they're dryer and can lose elasticity easily. According to a study published by the National Library of Medicine, "An optimal lip product should include agents that both condition the lip skin to improve texture and reduce surface lines as well as increase lip fullness and definition and enhance the natural lip color." A quick translation: for a lip balm to be 'good,' it should have ingredients that can give you pouty lips forever.

The lip balms we've chosen definitely have conditioning agents, but they're also infused with ingredients that tackle various concerns, from sun protection and aging to exfoliation and tinting. They also have approval from thousands of customers on the internet (they don't know what a bad review is) as well as beauty editors and dermatologists. So, browse through this comprehensive list to find your lip a new best friend.

This lip balm from Burt's Bees has had a chokehold on millennials since its release, and naturally, the torch is being passed on to Gen-Z. The original lip balm, made with beeswax and vitamin E, is the perfect recipe for hydrated lips. "Beeswax is a humectant, which means it helps your skin retain its own moisture. It also seals and locks moisture in. I absolutely love beeswax. Used properly it's an amazing ingredient," esthetician Debbi Burnes told Well + Good. "It also has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties, which can help protect the skin as well," dermatologist Hadley King added.

On Amazon, the lip balm has 39,000 ratings with 4.9 out of 5 stars. A poetic review by one customer sums up why: "The Gods came together and said 'what can we do to improve quality of life?'" The answer, according to the customer, is the chapstick which they describe as "a drop of sunshine on my lips."

If you'd like to confirm the reviewer's beliefs, get four Burt's Bees lip balms on Amazon for $8.97.

Drugstores like CVS are overflowing with lip balm options that circle around you as you make your way to the cashier. We've saved you from "Temptation Island" with this recommendation that has been approved and endorsed by dermatologists everywhere. Aquaphor's Lip Repair Ointment is made with shea butter, chamomile extract, and vitamins to really give your lips long-lasting moisture. It's also fragrance-free, which is great because dermatologist Mona Gohara estimated that an additional fragrance "just add[s] cosmetic appeal to the product but [is] irritating to the skin barrier, causing more dryness and irritation," as per Allure.

Over 29,000 reviewers give the ointment a 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon, and one reviewer who experienced dryness from acne medication said, "This is by far the best lip balm I've ever used...My dermatologist recommended it, and I have never used another lip balm since. It is extremely effective at moisturizing and softening dry lips and feels very light." 

Get the Aquaphor Lip Repair Ointment starting at $3.97 on Amazon.

Not many brands can combine active skincare ingredients with every day makeup the way Kosas does, which explains its cult following. The Kosasport LipFuel Hyaluronic Acid Lip Balm, as its name suggests, is a plumping and hydrating balm made with hyaluronic acid, konjac root, and peppermint oil. "Hyaluronic acid is a sugar molecule that occurs naturally in the skin, [and] it helps to bind water to collagen, trapping it in the skin, so that skin can appear plumper, dewier, and more hydrated," dermatologist Tsippora Shainhouse told Allure.

The magic ingredient is probably why people see an immediate difference when using this lip balm, making it worth the price tag. A reviewer on Sephora said, "Feels wonderful and makes my constantly dry lips actually look plump." Another said, "This is my favorite chapstick of all time. It is ultra hydrating and lasts for HOURS! I am obsessed to say the least. I swear by this product. 100/10."

Get the Kosasport LipFuel Hyaluronic Acid Lip Balm for $18 at Sephora.

Lanolips is perfect for your lips but it doesn't have to stay there — it can be used to moisturize your cuticles, dry elbows and knees, and cracked heels. You can also use it for slugging, a viral K-beauty practice of covering your face with an occlusive product like petroleum jelly or lanolin to stop the loss of moisture.

Lanolips is made from lanolin, an ingredient that penetrates your lip (and skin) barrier to deliver moisture from within instead of just the top layer (via Healthline). A reviewer on Amazon said of the product, "I have finally, after years of trying and buying lip balms for my chronically chapped lips, found a balm that works! Lanolips has given me lips that don't peel, chap, crack, and bleed."

Get the Lanolips 101 Ointment for $16.99 on Amazon.

Our lips are the underdogs when it comes to aging; they don't have sweat glands, are more prone to drying, and are constantly exposed to the sun. While wearing a lip balm is the first step, "It's also wise to choose a lip balm that contains SPF, so you can moisturize your lips and protect them from the sun at the same time," dermatologist Annie Gonzalez M.D. told Hello Giggles.

The Sun Bum lip balm gives you broad-spectrum SPF 30, made with a creamy base of cocoa butter and enriched with aloe vera and vitamin E. A reviewer said, "This is my GO TO chapstick. I am OBSESSED!! I love every single scent and product that Sun Bum makes! This chapstick smells amazing, tastes amazing, and it has sunscreen so it helps protect you while in the heat. Especially good if you live in a hot area like me in Florida." Client tested and approved, so you really can't go wrong here. 

Get three Sun Bum SPF 30 lip balms for $9.49 on Amazon.

Dermatologist Dr. Caroline Robinson reminds us, "Lips do not have oil glands like the rest of our skin and the skin is thinner. For this reason the skin on our lips tends to be drier and more sensitive," as she told USA Today. While most lip balms are meant to moisturize, this lip balm from Biossance takes it a step further. Made with a cocktail of ingredients like squalane, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and rose wax, the lip balm works to plump and deeply moisturize your lips, while mimicking your skin's natural moisture barrier (via Healthline).

On Sephora, over 17,000 people have favorited the lip balm, and one reviewer says that it's "finally, a truly moisturizing balm that lasts! Not sticky at all — feels smooth and soothing. Smells lovely too! Love this clean, climate/planet friendly brand."

Get the Biossance Squalane+ Rose Vegan Lip Balm for $14 at Sephora.

Reapplying lip balm gives your lips an extra dose of moisture. However, you shouldn't constantly reapply your lip balm as it may be counterproductive. "Repetitive application of lip balm can cause the opposite effect to what you are looking for," dermatologist Annie Gonzalez told Hello Giggles. "Lip balm sometimes leads us to lick our lips more often, which causes the lips to become more dry and chapped. Also, constantly swiping lip balm interferes with the lips' natural process of adjusting to environmental changes."

To combat this nasty habit, reach for a lip balm that stays on longer; the L'Occitane Ultra Rich Lip Balm has shea butter as a base, which can give a moisturizing barrier that can last several hours, per Healthline. For this Amazon reviewer, it's the "best I have ever had. You don't realize how good it is until you are out and need to use another product!"

Get the L'Occitane Ultra Rich Lip Balm for $10.53 on Amazon.

Tinted lip balms are the perfect halfway point between nourishing your lips and feeling like you put on makeup that day. If you want a good shade range to choose from, the Maybelline New York Baby Lips should be in your cart. The lip balm comes in a variety of tints — deep reds, coral hues, and an electrifying pink that's made for a night out.

And it doesn't have to stay on your lips. A reviewer on Amazon said, "A makeup artist taught me a great trick: keep this in your purse and use as a cream blush for a little color pick-me-up when needed. Works wonderful! The coral color also doubles as an eye lid highlighter. There are days when I wear no makeup, but do use these to add a little color on my face.... cheeks, lips and lids." Sounds like the perfect product for those versatile makeup folks, and the best news is that one tube costs less than a cup of coffee. 

Get the Maybelline New York Baby Lips on Amazon starting at $3.59.

Sometimes, you don't want to have to carry the Big Three: lip balm, lipstick, and lip gloss. If you cut out the middleman and combine the others, you'll have Kopari's glossy lip balm — a delicious, hydrating balm made with coconut oil that keeps your lips shining throughout the day. It also has a shea butter base and vitamin E infused in it, so you know it's not going to come off easily.

A customer called it their "favorite lip product of all time" and explained, "I absolutely adore this lip product! It is so much more than moisture for your lips. Not only does it provide moisture for your lips in a way it is easily absorbed, but it smells amazing and it looks like a lip gloss! I had dried lips and tried it under my lipstick and it turned my favorite lipstick into my favorite gloss!" So there you have it — if the glossy, dewy look is the aesthetic you're aiming for, this is the option for you. 

Get the Kopari Lip Glossy for $13.30 on Amazon.

Glossier's Balm Dotcom, made with a blend of castor oil, beeswax, and lanolin, can be a seriously appetizing addition to your collection of lip balms. It comes with a few different flavors, all equipped to manifest your next snack. A reviewer on Glossier gives us a rundown: "Mint is lovely for morning. Mango is insane. Coconut is...the balm. I will never be without from this day forward!"

The hydrating lip balm comes in iterations of rose, vanilla buttercream cake, cookie butter, and a platter of fruits to balance it all out. One reviewer also noted, "Was kind of skeptical but [it] genuinely tastes and smells like cake !! Super hydrating, 100% recommend, pairs great with lipstick."

If you're hungry, reach for the Glossier Balm Dotcom from Glossier for $12.

While hydration is essential when it comes to lip care, exfoliation is just as important. "The first step in a lip care routine should be exfoliation," dermatologist Annie Gonalez told Hello Giggles. "Pick an exfoliating agent such as sugar and also look for moisturizing ingredients, like beeswax, shea butter, oil, and honey," she added.

Revlon Kiss Exfoliating Lip Balm combines both steps, using sugar crystals to polish your lips and natural fruit oils for long-lasting moisture. With 4.6 out of 5 stars from over 6,000 reviewers on Amazon, the lip balm is obviously a crowd-pleaser. This reviewer cut their routine down a step, noting, "Goodbye overpriced $18 Fresh Sugar Lip Polish, you've been dethroned! Revlon beat you with a product that is both moisturizing and exfoliating, that I can use any time of the day without standing at a sink!!!"

Get the Revlon Kiss Exfoliating Lip Balm for $4.17 on Amazon.