Banish dry lips with one of these products that seriously hydrates, nourishes and repairs.

Unlike the rest of the body, lips lack oil and sweat glands. It’s important to treat them often to prevent chapping. Enter lip balms, which sit on top, forming a shield.

Our picks for the most healing lip balms that you’ll want to wear all day.

Pick Your Formula 

Lip balms come in many shapes, sizes and formulations.

👄 WAX

“Waxy formulas are never greasy and won’t give any added shine,” says makeup artist Sheri Stroh, which makes them the perfect unisex choice. 

👄 Oil

To revive dry lips, look for oil-based balms that contain almond, wheat germ, jojoba, coconut or argan oil. 

👄SPF

“Lips can be sensitive, and it’s the one area we often forget to protect with sunscreen,” says Stroh. “Also, lips get dried out so much faster than any other place on the skin.” 

Top Lip Tips

Plutino Group makeup pro Sheri Stroh gives us her lip-saving tips to fix a dry pucker.

1. Dry air means dry skin, which is exacerbated when thermostats are cranked up. Sleep with a humidifier, as it will help skin stay supple throughout winter.

2. Before Stroh applies lipstick on her clients, she swipes on a lip balm and lets it sit for 10 minutes. “It helps soften any dead skin,” she explains. Then, it’s wiped off with a damp facecloth, which gently
exfoliates.

3. If your lips still look a little flaky, Stroh suggests giving them a light brushing after applying a lip balm. “I scrub my lips with my toothbrush,” she says. 

Lip Treatments

Is a basic balm not giving your pout enough love? Try one of these targeted treatments to bestow an extra hit of hydrating, smoothing and anti-aging ingredients.

Lip Locked

Before a big event when you know your lips will be swathed in a vibrant lipstick, prep them with a mask. 

Watch Your Mouth

Due to transepidermal water loss, a process that accelerates overnight,
our lips decrease in volume (the thinner skin makes them more susceptible). The sesame seed and Indian gentian extracts seal in hydration. 

Sleeper Hit

Our bodies go through a mini renewal process when our heads hit the pillow. Korean beauty brand Laneige uses a vitamin C complex to form a wrap over your lips’ surface, helping absorb and retain moisture.