There is absolutely nothing sexy (or comfortable) about chapped lips. That's why we keep our pockets, purses, and nightstands stocked with an arsenal of conditioning lip treatments. And you can trust we've tried every product under the sun: medicated balms, do-it-all salves, all-natural scrubs—heck, we've even slapped on masks just for the mouth. These are the 40 that we found our lips can't live without.
Lip Oil
Yes to Coconut Lip Oil
This one's a Best of Beauty award winner—and for good reason. The silky oil won't disappear from lips the way other balms do. Instead, it leaves them pampered and glossy with a healthy, stick-free shine.
Lip Oil
Hourglass No. 28 Lip Treatment Oil
"This oil is so heavy-duty that you can slather it on before bed and still feel it on your lips the next morning. That's actually my favorite time to use it, since it's a little sticky. Plus, the gold applicator tip looks incredibly fancy."
—Stephanie Saltzman, associate digital editor
Lip Oil
Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil
"This is one of those products I could keep smearing on my lips all day like a freak because it feels so slick, smells like vanilla, and makes my lips super shiny while hydrating them at the same time. Something about the whole experience and effect on the lips reminds me of my vanilla lip gloss days."
—Lexi Novak, associate beauty editor
Lip Balm
ChapStick Total Hydration 3 in 1 Lip Care
There's no denying the brand's expertise in lip care, and this new and improved formula feels silkier and lasts even longer than the original.
Lip Balm
Pr-Lisse Daily Lip Nourisher
With a stacked lineup of super-hydrating ingredients—mango seed butter, shea butter, jojoba oil, and rice bran oil—this balm turns painfully chapped lips soft on the spot.
Lip Balm
By Terry Baume de Rose Lip Balm
This beauty editor favorite is formulated with ceramides and shea butter that help repair lips' natural moisture barrier, addressing the problem for the long term instead of just temporarily. It also layers well with lipstick, keeping lips moisturized without causing it to slip and slide around.
Lip Balm
Carmex Lip Balm
An oldie but a goodie, this iconic formula (which contains petrolatum, menthol, and camphor) has been soothing cracked lips for almost 80 years. One application, and it's no surprise why we keep going back to it every winter.
Lip Balm
Eos Lip Balm Smooth Sphere
These 99 percent natural lip balms are as cute as they are effective and fit nicely in the palm of your hand. The balm feels superlight but keeps lips smooth and hydrated thanks to jojoba oil, shea butter, and vitamin E.
Lip Balm
Korres Lip Butter
It's as rich and creamy as the name suggests, which is precisely what makes this a coveted editor favorite. That, and the fact the gorgeous tints provide the perfect dose of color without skimping on moisture.
Lip Balm
Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm
"I love this by way of my boyfriend. He has a tube in every room in our apartment, which is so convenient because whenever I see one I'll just grab it and run a swipe over my lips (OK, that also makes me lazy, but I prefer "efficient"). It's just a simple, nice lip balm. And between my dad, brother, boyfriend, and guy friends, it's pretty much the unanimous favorite for dudes because it's zero percent shiny and doesn't taste like candy."
—Lexi Novak
Lip Balm
Too Cool For School Dinoplatz Lip Balm
"I'm obsessed with Too Cool For School Dinoplatz Lip Balm. It's insanely moisturizing, with just the right amount of pigment and shine. And when I'm in a pinch (or looking sallow), I dot it on the tops of my cheekbones and in the inner corners of my eyes for a fresh, more-awake look."
—Lauren Caruso, senior digital editor
Lip Balm
Vaseline Lip Therapy in Cocoa Butter
"This is a cocoa butter–infused version of their Lip Therapy—supposedly it comes in a big size, but I've only ever found the miniature jar. Either way, it's fantastic. It has slightly more heft than just straight-up Vaseline, and it doesn't melt down and feel oily the way the original version does. I keep one stashed in my living room because I need a lip balm within reach at all times."
—Lauren Hubbard, researcher
Lip Balm
Malin + Goetz Mojito Lip Balm
"This lime-scented balm is as shiny as a gloss, so it's great as a last step in your makeup routine. Not only is it really nourishing, but it's also incredibly slippery, which feels awesome on dry, parched lips."
—Sophia Panych, digital beauty editor
Lip Balm
Maybelline New York Baby Lips
The youthful packaging looks like something your teenage self would freak over. But the silky texture, stick-free shine, and dose of SPF protection is something our adult selves get equally excited about.
Lip Balm
Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm
"Makeup artists love this balm for their male clients because it's exceptionally hydrating but doesn't leave any shine behind. After hearing that, I had to give it a try, and of course now I'm hooked. I use it when I'm wearing a bold lipstick. I put it on before I start my makeup and let it settle as I apply base, blush, and eye makeup. Once I'm ready for lipstick, my mouth is perfectly prepped."
—Sophia Panych
Lip Balm
Smith's Rosebud Salve
In addition to being insanely hydrating, this rose-scented salve has the slightest hint of pink, making it one of the easiest way to boost your natural lip color if you're going for a no-makeup makeup look. Makeup artist Diane Kendal keeps tins of the stuff in her kit at all times.
Lip Balm
Aquaphor
"I literally have the giant tub of this in my bathroom. I put it on my elbows and knees in the winter, it takes super-stubborn makeup off—I use it for everything. And that includes a lip balm. It's not the sexiest, but it really soaks into chapped skin."
—Lexi Novak
Lip Balm
John Masters Organics Lip Calm
"I try to make sure the balms I use are healthy and natural since I'm constantly putting them on, you know, my mouth. I have tubes of this stuff everywhere: my apartment, the office, my boyfriend's house, the bottom of the laundry bin when it falls out of my pockets. It's incredibly nourishing, leaves lips feeling super-soft, and has a fresh, citrusy scent that's not too overpowering."
—Sophia Panych
Lip Balm
Blistex Lip Medex
"This lip balm is no-frills, but so legit. One light swipe is the perfect lipstick primer, but you can pile it on thick for protection from harsh winter winds and freezing temperatures. I have one in my purse, one on my vanity, and one at my desk at all times. It's kind of minty, so it feels extra soothing."
—Kristie Dash, assistant editor
Lip Balm
Apivita Lip Care
"I love this lip balm because every swipe feels like a total luxury. The blend of beeswax, jojoba esters, cocoa and shea butters, and rich avocado, castor, balsam, and olive oils leaves my ragged lips almost comically silky, and there's zero stick factor. A week-long rafting trip in Montana was actually almost ruined for me one summer, all because this balm popped out of my raft on day two!"
—Anne Bauso, assistant digital editor
Lip Balm
Dior Crème de Rose Soothing Plumping Lip Balm
The silky formula feels divine on lips and leaves a gorgeous sheen without a hint of stickiness. We don't always love dipping our fingers into a pot, but this one is so smooth we rub the excess from our lips over our cuticles for good measure.
Lip Balm
La Mer The Lip Balm
It's a bit extravagant for an everyday lip product ($55, to be exact), but the marine extracts do a heck of a job healing severely parched lips in record time. Reserve the little pot as a nighttime treatment and lips will be soft and lush by morning—and remain that way all day long.
Lip Balm
Drunk Elephant Lippe Lip Balm
"This cute little guy is short and squat, so the shape is more like a glue stick than a typical lip balm. The natural formula contains peptides along with a bunch of different moisturizing oils, so in theory it should also ward off signs of aging in addition to keeping lips hydrated. I also like it because it's lightweight and fairly matte, so your lips don't end up looking weirdly glossy."
—Stephanie Saltzman
Lip Balm
Glossier. Balm Dotcom
Editors are obsessed with this do-it-all salve for its chic packaging and its ability to soothe dry, chapped anything—lips, cuticles, elbows, heels, you name it.
Lip Balm
RMS Beauty Lip & Skin Balm
This little white pot was created by makeup artist Rose-Marie Swift, whose celebrity clientele includes a lineup of former Victoria's Secret bombshells (Gisele Bündchen, Miranda Kerr, Karolina Kurkova). It can't exactly promise Angel status, but the organic coconut oil balm will keep parched lips soft and supple all day long.
Lip Balm
The Honest Co. Lip Balms
"These are cute little balms that come in a variety of yummy scents, including sweet orange vanilla and lavender mint. I like that they're natural, inexpensive, and great for reapplication throughout the day. They're effective but don't make you feel like you just made out with sealing wax."
—Stephanie Saltzman
Tinted Lip Balm
Fresh Sugar Tulip Tinted Lip Treatment
These pretty tinted balms are a beauty editor staple, and it isn't hard to understand why. They feel rich and moisturizing on lips, and depending on swipe strength, the color can range from a sheer tint to a juicier, more saturated sheen.
Tinted Lip Balm
Jane Iredale Lipdrink Lip Balm in Buff
The formula may be as hardworking as a medicated balm, but the dusty rose tint is as pretty and pigmented as some of our favorite sheer lipsticks.
Tinted Lip Balm
Hurraw Black Cherry Tinted Lip Balm
"These lip balms are like the ones from your childhood—hydrating, delicious, colorful—except they come in flavors you appreciate now: earl grey, coffee bean, black cherry. And the fact that they're organic, vegan, and cruelty-free is just a sweet bonus."
—Jenna Rosenstein, beauty writer
Lip Balm & Eye Cream
La Prairie Anti-aging Eye and Lip Perfection á Porter
Quite possibly the chicest of the bunch, with a price tag and white leather case to prove it. Pop open the bottom compartment and find a shiny balm that gives lips gorgeous shine and keeps them feeling hydrated for hours. Then open the top compartment to reveal a velvety eye cream-gel that melts into skin so seamlessly you can dab it on over makeup for an instant lift.
Lip Balm & Lip Scrub
Frank Body Lip Scrub and Lip Balm Duo
A combination of ground coffee beans and raw sugar makes this scrub a treat for your lips—and your taste buds, because yes, you can lick the all-natural stuff right off. Coat newly buffed lips with the thick, ointment-like balm, and lips are coddled and protected despite the wind chill factor.
Lip Scrub
Marlonda Currie Brown Sugar Lip Exfoliator
"It smells delicious, and it's the only thing that gets the dry flakes off my lips. Plus, the oil left behind really soaks in to moisturize. And I swear it makes my lips temporarily plumper."
—Lexi Novak
Lip Scrub
Sara Happ Lip Scrub Sparkling Pink Grapefruit
"There is nothing that drives me crazy like my lips feeling dry and flaky. When it gets really bad I use a washcloth or a toothbrush in the shower to gently scrub away flakes, but I try to avoid that by using a lip scrub regularly. Sara Happ has been my go-to for a while. She has a lot of great flavors, but I like Sparkling Pink Grapefruit the best."
—Sophia Panych
Lip Scrub
Julep Buff Lip Scrub
This convenient wand takes a lip scrub, which is traditionally in a messy pot, and neatly packages it in a twist-up pen. The shea-butter-and-sugar-crystals formula gently buffs away dry, flaky patches, making lips silky smooth. Bonus: a sweet, fruity scent that tastes just as good as it smells.
Lip Scrub
Lush Popcorn Lip Scrub
"I swear, this scrub really tastes like popcorn and makes my lips extra smooth. You can even lick it off after because it has all-natural vegan ingredients."
—Shyema Azam, researcher
Lip Balm & Lip Mask
Kaplan MD Perfect Pout Lip Mask + Balm Duo
This lip-loving duo will transform a cracked, dry mouth in minutes. The mask is spiked with papaya enzymes to gently dissolve flakes, and marine collagens add plumpness. Wipe away after five to ten minutes and seal in moisture with the softening balm.
Lip Mask
Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask
"I'm a big fan of Bite's Agave Lip Mask—it's heavy-duty enough that I can put some on before I go to bed and my lips will still be nice and moisturized when I wake up in the morning."
—Lauren Hubbard
Lip Treatment
Miss Spa Deep Wrinkle Hydrogel Lip Treatment
Here's one that's perfect for an at-home spa day because it requires some patience—you have to carefully adhere the jelly film to lips and let it sit for 45 minutes. But if you're able to hold out (and let the caviar extract and sodium hyaluronate do their work), you'll have a plumped, hydrated pout to show for it.
Lip Treatment
Josie Maran Argan Lip Treatment
We're suckers for the adorable mini pot, but really it's what's inside that counts. The main ingredient is argan oil, so it's incredibly moisturizing, and it has a delicious fruity scent that isn't the least bit cloying. One swipe over lips makes them feel impeccably smooth, and with repeated use you'll notice flakes start to disappear for good (or at least until you stop using it).
Lip Treatment
Nivea A Kiss of Recovery Medicated Lip Repair
The smooth bullet glides over lips and leaves a faint tingle that reminds you it's working. Throw it in every coat pocket to relieve painful winter chapped-ness with one swipe. Plus, that soft, conditioned feel lasts considerably longer than most other balms.
