15 Of The Best Lip Balms For Dry Lips [According To Dermatologists]

Autumn has arrived, and with it, the ground is filled with leaves, while our cups are filled with pumpkin spice lattes. The cool and crisp mornings indicate that winter weather is just around the corner, and we need to prepare ourselves for it. Now is the time to bring out those heavy-duty creams that we kept aside during the summer months, start moisturizing our skin, and take care of other winter beauty problems. One of the most annoying effects of winter weather is chapped lips.

Cold weather shows lips no mercy. They can end up dry, chapped, and, in extreme cases, even bleeding. Finding the perfect lip balm to keep your lips in check is akin to finding the perfect boot/cozy sweater combo. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of lip balm options to choose from. You can find almost anything these days, including a Swiss Miss-flavored lip balm thanks to Glossier, per Stylecaster.

The trouble with endless options is narrowing them down to find the right one. Choosing the wrong lip balm could do more harm than good. Certain ingredients, such as mineral oils and humectants, could dry your lips out even more, per MindBodyGreen. So we’ve rounded up the best lip balms recommended by dermatologists to get you through this fall and winter.

How we selected the lip balms

Prostock-studio/Shutterstock

When it comes to purchasing beauty products, a lot of research is required. The market is so crowded that it’s difficult to differentiate between products that actually work and those that are just gimmicks. This becomes even more important when it comes to skincare products because you can potentially cause harm to your skin. It’s always best to trust the experts, which is exactly what we have done here.

When selecting these lip balms, we considered the general factors: price, ingredients, and especially customer reviews to confirm how well they work at preventing and treating chapped lips. But we’ve also taken things one step further. Each lip balm listed below was a personal favorite recommended by a dermatologist. They vetted each one for harmful ingredients and hydration levels.

You can guarantee that these lip balms will not only keep your lips from getting chapped but also heal them deeply in the process, as a doctor’s prescription always should.

Best staple lip balm

Most of us have a go-to lip balm that we carry with us at all times for emotional support. Let’s face it, at some point, it has probably been one of those familiar small pots of Vaseline Lip Therapy. It’s a staple product for a reason. The tiny pot is the lip-focused version of the popular petroleum jelly, and you can always count on it to keep your lips healthy.

Formulated with petroleum jelly and cocoa seed butter, this lip balm is heavy-duty and will keep your lips chap-free all day. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hadley King is a massive fan of the stuff. “It’s just a nice product,” she told Buzzfeed News.

Non-professionals also love it. As one Target reviewer of the 4.8 star-rated lip balm raves said, “This is the only thing that has ever worked for my lips. Most products work for a while and then eventually stop. But this product always makes my lips feel so good and moisturized. Great smell as well.”

Purchase the Vaseline Lip Therapy in Cocoa Butter

Best deep healing lip balm

If you’re experiencing chapped lips and regular lip balm isn’t doing the job, try CeraVe’s Healing Ointment. According to dermatologist Dr. Shari Marchbein, the best way to prevent and treat chapped lips is to use a thicker treatment. Apply the ointment generously throughout the day to keep your lips hydrated, especially before going to bed. Our skin tends to lose the most moisture overnight, so it’s essential to keep it moisturized. CeraVe’s Healing Ointment is not only limited to lips but it can also be used to treat severely dry patches all over the body. However, it works exceptionally well on the lips.

Just like the entire CeraVe line, which was developed by dermatologists, the healing ointment is formulated free of lanolin and fragrances to avoid irritation. More importantly, it’s filled with petrolatum, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides that work overtime to heal your lips and keep them deeply hydrated.

It is also perfect for those with sensitive skin, as it’s guaranteed to be gentle while still packing a punch of repairing powers. The 4.7-star-rated lip balm is a staple for many. One CeraVe reviewer writes, “This is so much better than plain petroleum jelly. It has great ingredients like hyaluronic acid and several peptides. It’s great for sealing in moisture on the skin, too. This is my go-to lip balm!“

Purchase the CeraVe Healing Ointment

Best lip balm with SPF

It’s important to protect your lips from harmful UV rays throughout the year, even in the colder months. In fact, sun damage can worsen chapped lips during this period. That’s why using a lip balm with SPF is recommended. Dermatologists recommend eos Ultra SPF Coconut Lip Balm as a great option. You might recognize the brand from its iconic lip balm balls, which we’ve all used at some point.

Dermatologist Dr. Marni Nussbaum raved about the hypoallergenic and cruelty-free lip balm to MarthaStewart.com. “Not only does it contain SPF [30], but it also features 100-percent mineral-based sunscreen, so it reflects the sun rather than gets absorbed,” she said. “It is reef-safe, sweat and water-resistant, and tastes like a delicious coconut which makes me feel like I am on vacation!”

Coconut is also a big hit with consumers, as one EOs reviewer shares: “It kept my lips super soft, and the coconut flavor/smell is addictive!“

Purchase the eos Ultra SPF Coconut Lip Balm

Best tinted lip balm

When it comes to lip balms, one of the downsides is that layering them with color can be tricky. The best lip balms for dry lips are usually clear, so you need to figure out the right time to add some color on top. Alternatively, you could choose a tinted lip balm from the start, such as Sun Bum’s Tinted Lip Balm.

Sun Bum is already a staple brand for sun protection, so add this to your list of SPF lip balms. However, the best thing about this pick is that it comes in four different shades, from a nude to a warm red, to give your lips just the right amount of subtle tint. This saves you the extra work of layering on some lipstick.

Dermatologist Dr. Joshua Zeichner is a fan of this lip balm. “Sun Bum Tinted Lip Balm with SPF moisturizes and protects the lips with shea butter and coconut oil while providing broad spectrum UV protection,” he told Women’s Health.

Purchase the Sun Bum Tinted Lip Balm

Best repairing lip balm

At times, your lips may feel severely damaged and in need of intense hydration. In such situations, you require a lip balm that contains healing ingredients to restore them back to their healthy state. SkinFix’s Barrier+ Lip Repair Lip Balm is an excellent choice for this purpose. Its name itself suggests its effectiveness, and the formulation delivers as promised. This lip treatment is infused with 40% coconut oil, which deeply nourishes your lips without feeling heavy. Additionally, it contains several other repairing ingredients such as jojoba oil, vitamin E, vitamin B complex, copper, and zinc. In short, this lip balm is nothing less than a miracle worker.

Dermatologist Dr. Heather Woolery-Lloyd personally recommends this as an everyday lip balm. “It works well for chapped lips and has that hydrating, soothing action because it contains protective petrolatum as well as coconut and jojoba oils,” she tells Prevention.

One Skinfix reviewer shared just how deeply repairing this lip balm can be, even for the most damaged of lips, writing, “I have a histamine reaction periodically, and it can cause my lips to crack and layers of skin to peel. It can be painful and itchy. This is the ONLY product of so many I’ve tried that helps.“

Purchase the skinfix Barrier+ Lip Repair Lip Balm

Best medical lip balm

Winter weather can be tough on our lips, leaving them dry, cracked, and painful. Sometimes, regular lip balm isn’t enough to provide relief. If you’re looking for a product that can offer serious hydration and even help heal your lips, consider trying Boiron Homeoplasmine. Although it may not be the most attractive product, it is prescription-worthy and has been called a ‘magic cream’ by many. This French pharmacy find is especially useful for those suffering from extremely dry, damaged lips with cuts, cracks, and peeling.

Dermatologist Dr. Shereene Idris praises Homeoplasmine. “This works wonders to hydrate lips,” she told InStyle. The salve is soothing on harshly cracked or injured lips and contains antibacterial properties to prevent problems from getting worse. It is so deeply healing that some even like to use it on eczema or dry noses.

One Amazon reviewer of the 4.5 star-rated treatment raved, “The texture is very thick, which took some getting used to, but that thickness helps it stay put. I slather it on at night and can still feel it there in the morning, and I think having that barrier has helped my lips finally heal.“

Purchase the Boiron Homeoplasmine at Amazon

Best thick lip balm

Lip balms have many variations, from lightweight sticks to thicker salves. But when it comes to colder months sometimes you crave that ultra thick, ultra heavy lip treatment that you can put on at night and know some will still be there when you wake up. Look no further than Weleda’s Skin Food Lip Butter, the counterpart to viral thick night cream, Weleda’s Skin Food.

The Lip Butter is formulated with Weleda’s signature heavy-duty blend of sunflower seed oil, chamomile, and calendula extracts that smell like a trip to the spa and give your lips the luxe treatment they deserve. Dermatologist Dr. Shereen Idriss recommends reaching for this and taking the time to do “lip basting,” her favorite lip care activity. “Let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes (basting like a Thanksgiving turkey), and voila — smooth, hydrated lips,” she tells CNN.

The 4.6 star-rated lip treatment has quite the following, and one Weleda reviewer explained exactly why she keeps coming back for more: “The Lip butter is amazing. I used this one time and was hooked. My lips were embarrassingly dry and chapped until I rolled that pure magic across my lips.“

Purchase the Weleda Skin Food Lip Butter

Best lip balm for super dry lips

EOS, a brand dedicated to lip balms, appears twice on this list because of its quality products. All of EOS’ lip balm products ensure excellent hydration, but The Hero Lip Repair goes further. It comes in tube form and is made with the brand’s unique SuperShield Shea complex. This salve helps heal your lip’s barrier and locks in moisture, as per EOS. With a subtle strawberry scent, this hypoallergenic lip treatment is a step above the typical lip balm and is a great option to keep your lips healthy and moisturized.

Dermatologist Dr. Hadley King highly recommends the potent treatment. “It has petrolatum, castor seed oil, shea butter, beeswax, cocoa seed butter, avocado oil, and olive oil. So that’s going to support the skin barrier, hydrate, and moisturize,” she tells Buzzfeed News.

This lip treatment is specifically targeted to super dry lips, and one EOS reviewer can attest that it works miracles on them, writing, “This stuff is pretty amazing. I love lip balms and have tried so many in the past, and this will be a staple in my routine. … I do not need to apply very much for my lips to feel moisturized, and it is long-lasting and comfortable. It also smells incredibly delicious.”

Purchase The Hero Lip Repair

Best plant-based lip balm

If you prefer using only plant-based products for your beauty routine, finding a suitable lip balm can be quite challenging. Most lip balms that provide intense hydration contain petrolatum and lanolin. So, if you’re looking for a solution to soothe your dry lips this winter, Doctor Rogers Restore Healing Balm is a great option. It’s a thick and occlusive treatment that provides hydration without the use of any ingredients that you might be trying to avoid.

Dermatologist Dr. Mary L. Stevenson recommends this fragrance-free lip treatment for those seeking a plant-based alternative (via NBC Select). And the balm has received high praise, as it was deemed a “wonder-healer” by goop as well as won the title of “Best Balm” by Allure (via Doctor Rogers). Formulated with glycerin, castor seed oil, and castor wax, which all work to seal in moisture and heal your dry lips, it is so profoundly repairing that it’s commonly used to heal post-procedure skin, so you can only imagine the level of healing it can provide for your lips.

Fans continue to back up this 4.8-star-rated lip balm’s claims, as one Doctor Rogers reviewer boldly exclaims, “Let this be the last balm you ever buy. There’s no need to spend your money on anything else! This is the best…period!“

Purchase the Doctor Rogers Restore Healing Balm

Best luxury lip balm

In almost every beauty category, people have their preferred products that they like to invest a little extra in. This may be because they believe that a specific area needs the help of the best products or just because they want to indulge themselves. If you’re searching for a luxury lip balm to be your companion this winter, then Skinceuticals is the perfect choice. The luxury skincare brand is known equally for the effectiveness of its products as well as for its high price points. SkinCeuticals Antioxidant Lip Repair is no exception.

The strong emollient is formulated to smooth and refine your lips while protecting them from environmental damage. The lip treatment is filled to the brim with antioxidants and vitamins designed to retain water in your lips and keep them looking plump. Dermatologist Dr. Dendy Engelman recommends the balm, saying, “This is a soothing treatment that moisturizes immediately with urea and hyaluronic acid and helps fight free radicals with vitamin E.” If you’re in the market to invest, this is a product you won’t regret purchasing.

Purchase the Skinceuticals Antioxidant Lip Repair

Best affordable lip balm

We are fortunate to live in a time where we can spend less on beauty products without compromising quality. The drugstore offers a wide range of products that can easily compete with higher-end brands. Sometimes, simplicity is the best option, as is the case with Neutrogena’s Norwegian Formula Lip Moisturizer. This classic drugstore aisle product is the best option for deep lip hydration at an affordable price point. The lip balm has a uniquely thick formula that stays on for a long time without feeling waxy on the lips. Moreover, it contains SPF 15, which is a bonus.

Dermatologist Dr. Joshua Zeichner recommends this moisturizer, explaining to Women’s Health, “This balm combines natural emollient oil with beeswax and carnauba wax to soften the lips in a formula that stays put. It also provides broad-spectrum UV protection.“

Its 4.8-star reviews are filled with fans deeming it their holy grail of all time. One Bed Bath & Beyond reviewer wrote, “My entire family has been using this lip moisturizer for over 20 years! I always buy in bulk because we go through them so quickly — we live in Colorado, where it is very dry, and this product is by far the best product I have found.“

Purchase the Neutrogena Norweigan Formula Lip Moisturizer

Best lip balm for inflammation

During colder weather, some people experience more than just chapped lips. They can also suffer from inflammation, redness, and peeling. In such cases, the FixMySkin Healing Body Balm can be a great solution. This hydrocortisone treatment is specially designed to treat a range of skin conditions, from cracked lips to eczema and psoriasis. With 1% hydrocortisone, the balm effectively soothes inflamed lips, repairs cracks, and prevents peeling.

When it comes to matters of inflammation, it’s best to turn to a doctor, and this is dermatologist Dr. Heidi Waldorf’s top pick. “FixMySkin lip balm (or the larger balm) is ideal for irritated, chapped lips because it contains 1% hydrocortisone, a mild steroid, to reduce inflammation,” she told Prevention. The balm is fragrance-free to avoid any further irritation, and the shea butter and beeswax feel immediately soothing on any inflammation.

Purchase the FixMySkin Healing Body Balm

Best cult favorite lip balm

Let’s be honest, this list simply wouldn’t be complete without an honorable mention of the lip balm that we’ve all owned and loved at some point in our lives: Burt’s Bees. There’s a reason this is such a cult favorite. Its magic is in its simplicity. Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balms will always deliver lightweight hydration and visibly softer lips. Now, this one won’t be quite as heavy duty as some of those listed above, but if your dry lips just need a little extra upkeep throughout the day, then Burt’s Bees is the classic lip balm to turn to.

Formulated with vitamin E, coconut oil, and sunflower seed oil, this lip balm is available in endless scents that will keep your lips soft and smooth at all times. Dr. Shereene Idriss recommends this one, although she does note that it will not repair your lips, but rather work as a hydration sealant to keep up all the hard work your salves and balms are doing, per InStyle. The popular pick has countless fans, but this one Target reviewer put it best when she said, “I’ve used this product for most of my life. I wouldn’t recommend anything else but this.”

Purchase the Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm

Best multi-use lip balm

During the colder months, our lips and the rest of our body tend to get dry. Therefore, it’s essential to find a moisturizer that can treat dryness all over. Vaseline’s All-Over Body Balm can be the perfect solution for you. The Vaseline brand is known for providing thick occlusive hydration, and this All-Over Body Balm is no exception. Originally designed as an anti-friction stick, this jelly stick also offers deep hydration to the skin. Its stick form makes it easy to use anywhere and anytime, and it can also be used as a lip treatment.

Dermatologist Dr. Caroline Robinson raises this unusual pick as an excellent lip treatment. “You can use this stick on lips or dry, irritated skin anywhere on the body,” she told CNN underscored. “The non-sticky, unscented, hypoallergenic formula provides instant moisturization with a mess-free application.“

Users back up Robinson’s recommendation. One Target reviewer wrote, “Love this thing can’t recommend it enough! Your lips are chapped; use the stick. If you have a little eczema patch popping up, use the stick. One of my favorite forms for Vaseline/aquaphor/petrolatum.”

Purchase the Vaseline All-Over Body Balm

Best lip balm for a compromised skin barrier

Many of us fail to identify the root cause of our skincare concerns, especially when it comes to dry lips. However, recognizing that a compromised lip barrier could be the reason behind chapped and dry lips is the first step towards finding a solution. Eau Thermale Avène’s Cicalfate Restorative Lip Cream can help you avoid further trouble by providing six hours of deep hydration while also sealing in moisture to help repair your skin barrier. The product contains Avène’s trademark thermal spring water, but the standout ingredient is yet to be revealed.

The zinc sulfate earned this lip balm a spot on dermatologist Dr. Hadley King’s list of recommendations. “It also has a zinc sulfate complex that helps with skin recovery, as well as beeswax, castor seed oil, and triglycerides, so it’s very helpful for dry lips,” she told Buzzfeed News.

One of the best features of this lip balm is the immediate cooling sensation it gives to help soothe irritated lips. One of the many reviewers of this product shared some bold claims about it on Ulta, sharing, “This is by far the best working lip care product I have ever tried. It’s very nourishing, healing, protective, and easy to use on the go. It has healed my cracked lips when nothing else will work. I will keep repurchasing this.“

Purchase the Eau Thermale Avène’s Cicalfate Restorative Lip Cream