Your lips are one of the most delicate parts of your body and more susceptible to cracking and drying out—yes, even in the summer time. Licking your lips will only provide a temporary fix, but when that moisture dries up, your lips are left drier than ever. This is where lip balm becomes a necessity. At ELLE.com, we take our lip balm addictions very seriously, from hydration-packed formulas, birthday cake scents, and old faithfuls. Here, 16 lip balms that ELLE editors depend on year-round.
Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly
$0.99
“Aren’t all lip balms just a more scented, more expensive version of Vaseline? If all you’re looking for is renewed protection and moisturization, there’s no need to shell out for tinted, inferior versions of the original best lip protectant. Your fave could never.” — Jessica Roy, ELLE.com Deputy Editor
Aquaphor Lip Repair & Protect Tube Blister Card Dual Pack
amazon.com
$6.99
“To be honest, I am more of a lipstick girl than a lip balm one. But Aquaphor is the one exception: It is the only product that has really healed my chapped lips. A beauty editor recommended I try it, and I have never looked back. I use it all the time in the morning, especially in the winter when I’m doing cold runs outdoors. I stick it on my lips and even during my most chapped days, they become smooth shortly after I apply this. This is a drug store miracle product. Sure, there’s no color, but that’s what lipstick is for.” - Alyssa Bailey, ELLE.com News and Strategy Editor
Lip Frosting
$5.00
“I may or may not have bought this lip balm because of its name but this ‘lip frosting’ is a GODSEND. It’s packed with all the good stuff—castor oil, coconut oil, mango butter, and candelilla wax—to help restore the lip’s barrier and smells ahhh-mazing.” – Nerisha Penrose, ELLE.com Assistant Editor
Maybelline New York Baby Lips Glow Lip Balm, My Pink, 0.13 oz.
amazon.com
$4.49
$2.98 (34% off)
“The gimmick here is that this lip balm creates a personalized pink tint based on your pH—like a mood ring for your face—and I LOVE a gimmick.” - Katherine Stoeffel, ELLE.com Features Director
Go-To Lips
sephora.com
$12.00
“While researching the rise of A-Beauty—that’s Australian Beauty, FYI—I tried out this skincare brand made by a former beauty editor and immediately fell in love. It is a squeeze tube that gives a beautiful, plump sheen to your lips and has a nice slip to it. I take it in every single plane ride and never have to deal with dryness.” - Kristina Rodulfo, ELLE.com Senior Beauty Editor
Brazilian Kiss Cupuacu Lip Butter
dermstore.com
$18.00
“A lip balm that transports me to Brazil ! It’s hydrating on my dry summer lips while also lasting all day. I apply once in the morning and usually top with a lip tint or gloss. Please refer to me as Gisele moving forward.” – Chloe Hall, ELLE.com Special Projects Editor & Producer
Moisturizing Lip Balm
amazon.com
$23.19
“Burts Bees is my go-to. I always keep one in my purse, one at home, and at the desk. I tend to have dry lips so they crack and Burts Bees gives me fast relief and baby smooth lips. The mango flavour is my personal favourite! My lips are ready for summer.” - Yousra Attia, ELLE.com Photo Editor
Blistex Lip Medex
amazon.com
$16.53
“Sure, it smells medicinal but it’s so soothing! Before bed I crack this little pot open, slather some on, and rest easy knowing that my lips are guarded against the dry air and dust that attack in the night.” – Katie Connor, ELLE.com Digital Director
Sugar Ruby Tinted Lip Treatment Sunscreen SPF 15
$24.00
“I’ve always loved how smoothly this lip balm goes on, how nice it feels on my lips, and the little pop of color it gives. I tend to look very washed out without any lip color on, so for the days I’m just running out the door with minimal or no makeup, this is a great way to brighten my face. I’m also not a huge fan of super glossy lip balms, so I’ve always appreciated the just-right texture of this one.” – Alyssa Bailey, ELLE.com News and Strategy Editor
Lano 101 Ointment Multi-Balm Coconutter
nordstrom.com
$13.50
“I fell in love with Lanolips after a friend gifted me the 101 Ointment in a sweet green apple flavor. Lanolips is more than just a dry lip savior. Forgot to apply lotion in the cracks of your fingers? Dry, flaky nose? Cracked cuticles? Lanolips to the rescue!”- Nerisha Penrose, ELLE.com Assistant Editor
It Cosmetics Je Ne Sais Quoi Hydrating Color Awakening Lip Treatment
$24.00
“I’m pretty confident I’ve tried every cult-favorite lip balm on the market and nothing compares to this one from It Cosmetics. The Rose version gives a really slight pink tint that looks really flattering on my tan skin tone. Plus, it’s formulated with essential butters and oils and hyaluronic filling spheres so you not only get relief from chapped lips, but a plumping effect that leaves your pout looking real juicy.” — Kristina Rodulfo, ELLE.com Senior Beauty Editor
Kiehl’s Lip Balm
$9.50
“This lip balm is the definition of no-frills, but really gets the job done. It’s the only one I actually get excited to put on because it leaves me feeling moisturized, but never greasy.” — Nikki Ogunnaike, ELLE.com Style Director
Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Swivel Stick
$4.76
“I realize this looks like a glue stick, but stick with me, friends! This chapstick is gigantic and reasonably priced, plus it smells good and actually works. One of my best friend’s introduced me to this bb in high school, and I’ve never looked back.” — Madison Feller, Associate Editor
Ilia Tinted Lip Conditioner
$28.00
“It’s the HOLY GRAIL: a tinted lip conditioner that actually works and gives great color. This shade is the perfect ever-so-slightly pink red; I keep it at my desk for a daytime pick-me-up. Plus, with natural dyes and organic ingredients, I don’t feel bad about reapplying all day, every day.”— Estelle Tang, ELLE.com Senior Culture Editor
Glossier Balm Dotcom in Birthday
$12.00
“Milk Bar, NYC’s top bakery that brought you Crack Pie and Cereal Milk Soft Serve, collaborated with Glossier to create a new flavor of their cult-favorite balm. This time it smells faintly of vanilla frosting and adds a subtle hint of sparkle. Yes, please.”— Justine Carreon, ELLE.com Market Editor
Carmex Original Tube Lip Balm
$2.79
“Old reliable. I have very sensitive lips and Carmex’s lip balm is the only treatment that makes them soft and hydrated. Plus. it comes at a drugstore friendly price. I always have at least three tubes at a time.” – Ariana Yaptangco, ELLE.com Social Media Editor