Our favourite lip balms for dry, chapped lips

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Many of us have at least half a dozen different lip balms in rotation at any given time, stored across various bathroom cabinets, makeup bags, purses and coat pockets. After all, they’re our primary line of defence against dry, chapped lips — especially in dry indoor air or during the cold winter months.

Besides being very portable, the bestselling lip care products are easy to apply, feel good on and have either a pleasant scent or no scent at all. You also want a lip balm that has humectant or emollient ingredients, to hydrate and soften skin, as well as an occlusive such as beeswax or shea butter, to help create a barrier and seal in that moisture. Beyond that, it’s mostly personal preference between choices like clear and tinted formulations, or a solid balm versus one in a squeeze tube.

Ahead, seven of the best lip balms on the market.

Best natural: Weleda Skin Food Nourishing Lip Butter Best unscented: Burt’s Bees Ultra Conditioning Lip Balm Best vegan: ILIA Lip Wrap Reviving Balm Best SPF: Sun Bum Coconut Sunscreen Lip Balm Best tinted: Laneige Lip Glowy Balm Best plumping: Buxom Power-full Plump Lip Balm Best medicated: Carmex Classic Lip Balm

Features: Available in a squeeze tube, Weleda’s lip butter is made with a natural blend of botanical ingredients like sunflower seed oil, chamomile and calendula extracts, all sustainably sourced. It’s free from things like synthetic preservatives, fragrances, colourants, microplastics and genetically-modified and petroleum-derived ingredients.  

Why buy: Skin Food is a Weleda cult favourite, and fans of the bestselling moisturizer will enjoy the skin care company’s nourishing lip butter. Price: $11 Size: 8 ml Where to buy: Amazon | The Detox Market

Features: This tube-format, 100 per cent natural lip balm is made with kokum, shea and cocoa butters as well as a number of oils including coconut, olive and sunflower seed oil. It has a creamier texture than other balms in the Burt’s Bees lineup, thanks to a formula that includes more butters and less wax, and each application will keep your lips hydrated for hours. 

Why buy: Burt’s Bees’ original beeswax lip balm is a classic, but if you are sensitive to scents (the original features peppermint oil) or want a bit more moisturization, the brand’s Ultra Conditioning balm is a highly-rated alternative at a great price. Price: $9 for two Size: 0.15 oz each Where to buy: Amazon | Walmart

Features: This vegan lip balm is made with a moisturizing shea and murumuru seed butters while vegan waxes provide a high shine finish that doesn’t feel sticky. The skincare-powered formula replenishes your skin’s moisture barrier, helping lips stay hydrated over time.

Why buy: The tube has a cooling ceramic applicator that glides over lips for easy application. Price: $33 Size: 7 ml Where to buy: Sephora | The Detox Market

Features: Surprisingly, not all of Sun Bum’s lip balms come with SPF protection, but this one offers broad spectrum UVA/UVB coverage thanks to active ingredients like avobenzone and octocrylene. It also features aloe and vitamin E, so your lips will feel moisturized all day long. Also available in Mango and Watermelon flavours. 

Why buy: For sunny day excursions, a lip product with SPF protection is a must-have. This Sun Bum balm offers water-resistant, SPF 30 coverage. Price: $5 Size: 4.25 gm Where to buy: Amazon | Well.ca

Features: Available in several tasty flavours including Vanilla, Gummy Bear and classic Berry, Laneige’s lip balm features murumuru and shea butter. The applicator on the squeeze tube makes reapplication a breeze even on the go, and we’re fans of the glossy finish and subtle tint.  

Why buy: This is one of the pricier options on our list, but Laneige’s Lip Glowy balm is worth the investment, especially if you prefer a lightweight, glossy formulation. Price: $26 Size: 0.35 oz Where to buy: Amazon | Sephora

Features: Available in four sheer shades, Buxom’s new Power-full Plump Lip Balm includes ultra-hydrating ingredients like pumpkin seed oil and peptides that help to plump lips. Plus, it has a pH-reacting formula that transform lips to their most flattering custom shade.

Why buy: This combines the look of a sheer lipstick or gloss with the moisturizing benefits of a balm. Price: $28 Size: 0.17 oz Where to buy: Sephora | Shoppers Drug Mart

Features: A classic lip balm that features camphor and white petrolatum as active ingredients, this Carmex protectant also offers relief for chapped lips and cold sores. The original tube format works great even on hot days, and its formulation — lanolin, cacao seed butter and beeswax are key ingredients — is kid-friendly, too. 

Why buy: A trusted product for those days when your lips need serious soothing.  Price: $7 Size: 0.35 oz Where to buy: Amazon

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