Welcome to LovelySkin.com.
There are few beauty products out there that are as practical and versatile as lip balm. Whether you need a medicated formula to heal chapped lips or a sun protection-packed product for the ski slopes or beachfront, lip balm can deliver big benefits in a small package. From tinted lip balms for a touch of color to anti-aging lip balms that smooth and plump, there’s no shortage of formulas to choose from.
To help you learn more about this trusty self-care staple and choose the best lip balm to fit your needs, follow along as we answer questions such as:
“When you lick your lips, the enzymes in your saliva can actually dry out the skin on your lips, which is quite thin and delicate,” Dr. Daniel Schlessinger says. “For some people, wearing lip balm prevents that unconscious urge to lick your lips. We invented FixMySkin 1% Hydrocortisone Healing Balm to treat lips that are dry and cracked and break this cycle.” “For situations when you’ll be outdoors in cold or windy weather, wearing a lip balm can be a preventative measure to avoid dryness and chapping.”
“Whether you chose a flavored versus unflavored lip balm or a scented versus unscented lip balm is just a matter of personal preference,” Dr. Joel Schlessinger says.
He adds that “our product has 1% hydrocortisone in it, which has a somewhat bitter flavor, so the vanilla flavor can help make it a little more palatable, but some people just prefer a non-flavored version, so we offer this as well. If you have very sensitive skin and tend to react to skin care products with scents or flavors, you may want to stick with unflavored and unscented lip balms, but otherwise, this is a case of just using what you like.”
“With most lip balms, you can apply them as often as you like,” Dr. Daniel Schlessinger says. “Medicated lip balms that contain ingredients such as hydrocortisone will have a recommendation, usually around 3-4 times daily and up to a week or so at that amount of applications, so be sure to check the labels. Lip balms containing menthol can also cause irritation for some people, so if that’s something you’re noticing you may want to reduce application and see if that helps.”
Like other cosmetics, lip balms do have a limited shelf life. “Once opened, you can expect a lip balm to last about six months to a year, depending on the formula and types of ingredients used,” Dr. Joel Schlessinger says. “If you notice the ingredients start to separate or the texture or smell changes, I’d say it’s time to toss it and replace.”
“Most standard lip balm formulas only coat the surface of the skin, which doesn’t do much to help heal severely dry, chapped or cracked lips,” says Dr. Daniel Schlessinger, who invented this lip balm as a teen with the help of his father Dr. Joel Schlessinger and grandfather Bernie Schlessinger, who has a PhD in physical chemistry. “It contains 1% hydrocortisone to heal inflamed skin along with shea butter and cocoa butter to soothe and moisturize.”
This medicated lip moisturizer can also multitask as a skin-soothing remedy for insect bites, itchy rashes from allergic reactions, eczema and psoriasis elsewhere on the body. A larger size of 0.5 ounce is available for larger areas in an unflavored version. Whether you choose the vanilla flavor or the unflavored version, this is without a doubt the best lip balm for chapped lips and also the best lip balm for cracked lips.
“Sun exposure is a leading cause of cancerous lesions on the lips,” Dr. Joel Schlessinger says. “Applying sunscreen on your face but neglecting to protect your lips can put you at risk every time you’re out in the sun.” Wearing a lip balm with sunscreen can help provide that much-needed protection.
Two of our favorite lip balms with broad-spectrum sunscreen are TiZO Tinted Lip Protection SPF 45, an all-mineral lip sunscreen with 4% titanium dioxide and 5.5% zinc oxide, and EltaMD UV Lip Balm Broad-Spectrum SPF 36 Lip Sunscreen, which combines chemical and mineral sunscreen ingredients (7% transparent zinc oxide and 7.5% octinoxate).
TiZO Tinted Lip Protection SPF 45 is a tinted lip balm with a buttery soft texture and a tropical-leaning ginger-lime-kiwi flavor. It features vitamin E for antioxidant protection and is photostable, so it won’t degrade in sunlight.
EltaMD UV Lip Balm Broad-Spectrum SPF 36 Lip Sunscreen is untinted and features a mint flavor. It contains a proprietary moisturizing agent called HydromanilⓇ to help reduce dryness caused by moisture loss as well as antioxidant-rich vitamin C, vitamin E and thioctic acid work to diminish visible signs of aging on your lips, such as fine lines.
If supporting companies with organic practices is important to you, you’ll love this lip balm from Eminence Organics, which sources ingredients from its very own certified-organic farm in Hungary. Organic ingredients in this formula include sunflower seed oil, hawthorn fruit extract, calendula flower and lemon balm. As an added bonus, its glass pot with domed bronze lid couldn’t be cuter to carry with you or keep at home.
The signature component in this nourishing lip balm is Avene cold cream, a French pharmacy favorite that soothes irritated skin and protects against the damaging effects of cold weather. Bisabolol, an extract derived from chamomile, soothes irritated skin while shea butter and a blend of safflower, castor and jojoba seed oils provide gentle nourishment. In a clinical study, users experienced a 93% decrease in dryness after the first application.
This tinted lip balm from German skin care brand Augustinus Bader comes in three sheer shades: plum, coral or sheer pink. Shea butter and castor oil work to help strengthen the skin barrier and prevent moisture loss while a proprietary plumping complex helps smooth the appearance of fine lines on the lips.
With plumping hyaluronic acid and an advanced peptide complex, Revision Skincare created this lip balm to support the results of lip filler treatments. A blend of sunflower and jojoba seed oils and shea butter help enhance the look of fullness by boosting moisture retention. You can use it alone or layered over a lip color, three times a day or as needed.
Can’t get enough of balms? You can learn more about cleansing balms and how to use them in your daily skin care routine on the LovelySkin Blog.
Aaron serves as Editor at LovelySkin. Since graduating from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2016 with degrees in Creative Writing and English, he has immersed himself in the beauty industry. When he’s not writing about the latest beauty trends, he spends time cuddling his dogs, scouring antique stores, playing tennis and hiking.
Other Posts by Aaron7 makeup trends to look out for in 2025
5 reasons to wear sunscreen in winter wi...
Follow us on social networks and be one of the first to learn about sales, giveaways, and free samples
| Mon - Fri | 9 - 5 p.m. CT |
|---|---|
| Sat (chat only) | 9 - 3 p.m. CT |
| Sun / Holidays | Closed |
| Call or Text: | 402-697-1100 |
|---|
