12 Best Lip Balms for Dry Lips to Soothe All Year Round

26.10.2025, 06:04 allure.com

All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.

There's nothing comfortable (or fun) about flaky, peeling, and dry lips, which is why we keep ourselves stocked with a collection of the best lip balms and treatments for chapped lips out there. And you can trust we've tried every beauty product under the sun: medicated balms, do-it-all salves, SPF-spiked formulas, exfoliating scrubs—we've even slapped on sleeping masks made just for your pout.

If your current lip balm isn't doing it for you anymore, it's time to make a switch — most likely to something simpler. Connecticut-based board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, has previously compared lip balms to quenching your thirst with a can of soda. "You drink something that appeals to the senses with no nutritional value, and shortly thereafter, you are still thirsty," she explains. "The same thing goes for balms loaded with flavor, fragrance, and menthol."

That doesn't mean you have to completely avoid tasty or tingly balms; in fact, there are a few we really love on this list. Just be sure to pay attention to what is and isn't working for you. Below, we're sharing the best lip-care products we've tried to date, including Best of Beauty winners (hey, Nécessaire, Biossance, and Summer Fridays).

Summer Fridays

Amazon

Revolve

Sephora

Why it's worth it: When you want the deep hydration of an overnight mask but the lightweight feel of a lip gloss, reach for Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm—a 2024 Best of Beauty Award winner and a TikTok staple. This buttery balm started with a single Vanilla flavor and has since expanded to 10 shades and scents, including cozy Brown Sugar, juicy Cherry, and shimmery Birthday Cake. The formula packs emollients like shea and murumuru seed butters to condition dry lips, as well as vegan waxes that smooth uneven texture and lock in moisture for hours. It delivers a glossy, plush finish that feels less like makeup and more like skin care.

Allure commerce editor Sarah Han applying the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm

Han after applying the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm

Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han

“If I ever don't have at least one of these Summer Friday Lip Butter Balms on hand or in my bag, something's off. Not only do they keep coming out with scrumptious flavors—Hello, Iced Coffee!—they smooth over my dry, textured lips just one swipe. Even though I usually layer up, it never feels heavy or greasy. My lips look absolutely glistening, which is a far cry from their usual pale, flaky state. I love a punch of color and rarely wear untinted lip balms, so Summer Fridays' tint offerings (which does include a clear shade) really speak to me. For a true my-lips-but-better look, I reach for Pink Guava (what I'm wearing here), but if I'm in the mood for something bolder, Cherry is my girl.” —Sarah Han, commerce editor

More to know

Glossier

Sephora

Kohl's

Glossier

Contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee applying Glossier Balm Dotcom in Peppermint Bark

Why it's worth it: When Glossier first debuted, it did so with just four products—and one of them quickly became the now-iconic Balm Dotcom. The multipurpose salve became an instant classic for its glossy finish, long-lasting moisture, and minimalist packaging. While it was reformulated in 2023, Glossier’s loyal community (which has always been central to the brand) demanded the original back, and the brand listened. The OG formula returns with castor seed oil to deeply nourish, beeswax to seal in hydration, and lanolin to soften and protect dry, cracked skin. And while it’s made for lips, Glossier encourages using it anywhere you need extra moisture (think cuticles, elbows, or any dry patch that needs a little TLC).

Lee before applying the Glossier Balm Dotcom

Lee after applying the Glossier Balm Dotcom

Tester feedback from contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee

“I’m so picky about lip balm texture—too thin and it disappears instantly, too thick and it leaves that weird waxy film. Glossier’s Balm Dotcom nails the perfect in-between: cushy, hydrating, and more about deep moisture than shine (which, TBH, is way more important to me). I’ve been loving the new Peppermint Bark flavor—it’s not aggressively minty, just gives the perfect little zing.” —Christa Joanna Lee, contributing commerce writer

More to know

Laneige

Amazon

Sephora

Allure former shopping market editor Angela Trakoshis applying the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask

Why it's worth it: Pretty much ushering in the entire overnight lip mask trend was—and still is—the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask. You can’t scroll TikTok without seeing someone swipe on this viral K-beauty favorite before bed. It’s packed with a berry fruit complex, murumuru seed butter, and shea butter to smooth, nourish, and deeply hydrate while you snooze. A little goes a long way, and a much smaller dab doubles as a glossy, hydrating treatment during the day. And just when you think it can’t get better, Laneige frequently drops limited-edition scents like Pumpkin Pie, Strawberry Shortcake, and Rainbow Sherbet. It’s basically lip care and dessert all in one cute jar.

Tester feedback from former shopping market editor Angela Trakoshis

“I mean, this is the OG when it comes to lip masks. There's a reason it's a top-seller on Amazon. It moisturizes lips for hours on end—no reapplication needed. I apply the smallest amount of this stuff on my dry lips at night and am guaranteed to wake up with soft, hydrated lips in the morning.” —Angela Trakoshis, former shopping market editor

More to know

Nécessaire

Amazon

Nordstrom

Sephora

Allure senior news editor Nicola Dall’Asen applying the Nécessaire The Lip Balm

Why it’s worth it: Hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, and approved by the National Eczema Association—if you have sensitive skin, those phrases are music to your ears. Nécessaire The Lip Balm, a 2025 Best of Beauty Award winner, checks all those boxes and then some. The formula blends niacinamide, essential ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and Centella asiatica extract into a base of luxe shea butter to restore and strengthen the lips’ delicate skin. “It’s made without synthetic fragrances and uses only skin-beneficial ingredients that hydrate, smooth, and protect. Its clear, semi-gloss finish delivers immediate relief for dry, chapped lips,” says Anna Chacon, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, based in Miami. A hint of pure mint oil adds freshness with every swipe, while the cooling metal tip soothes on contact.

Tester feedback from senior news editor Nicola Dall’Asen

“In middle school, I used to slather this super tingly mint lip balm that I'd buy at the mall all over my mouth basically 24/7, and I'm pretty sure it was so fragranced and menthol-heavy that it actually wound up making me more chapped (ah, the viscious lip balm cycle). The Necessaire's Lip Balm is the skin-friendly adult version of my old favorite. It's got a slightly sweet minty flavor, and I still get the cooling effect from its metal applicator. But this formula, unlike its predecessor, is ceramide-packed, which means it actually repairs and plumps the skin of the lips. It's effective enough that I only need to apply it every now and then—and that's exactly how you want a lip balm to perform, if my tween experiences have taught me anything. ” —Nicola Dall'Asen, senior news editor

More to know

Personal Day

Ulta Beauty

Revolve

Allure associate beauty director Sarah Kinonen applying the Personal Day Emotional Support

Why it’s worth it: Founded by actress Lili Reinhart, Personal Day was born from her own struggles with sensitive skin and her mission to create skin care that’s as gentle as it is effective. Enter the Emotional Support Lip Balm, a.k.a. your lip’s comfort companion. It gives lips that just-right mix of high shine and moisture that actually lasts, thanks to hyaluronic acid (which pulls in hydration like a magnet) and squalane (which locks it in, even if a little bit swipes off with your morning coffee). Aloe vera instantly soothes dryness, while jojoba, camellia, and almond oils keep your lips plush, soft, and supported.

Kinonen before applying the Personal Day Emotional Support

Kinonen after applying the Personal Day Emotional Support

Tester feedback from associate beauty director Sarah Kinonen

"In my adult life, there are three beauty items I never leave the house without: hand sanitizer, sunscreen, and lip balm. The latter is a "if-I-forgot-it-my-day-is-ruined" kind of pick because I'm extremely prone to cold sores and have perpeputally chapped lips—and if you've experienced either, you know they are both very uncomfortable. The Personal Day Emotional Support Lip Balm doesn't just have a cute name, it works! And it's really long-lasting. One swipe of the goopy-in-the-best-way balm with the curved applicator usually lasts me a few hours (if I don't eat in between). I've already gone through two tubes of this stuff—I love it so much!" —Sarah Kinonen, associate beauty director

More to know

Kylie Cosmetics

Nordstrom

Ulta Beauty

Allure senior editor Jesa Marie Calaor applying the Kylie Cosmetics Lip Butter

Why it’s worth it: Kylie Cosmetics is synonymous with all things lips (hello, Lip Kits). So naturally, the brand’s Lip Butter takes hydration and shine to the next level. This rich yet silky balm delivers up to 24 hours of moisture, instantly quenching dry, chapped lips and locking it in for lasting softness. It helps protect against dehydration and supports the skin’s natural barrier, while shea butter and jojoba oil soothe, condition, and smooth. Every swipe gives you a fuller-looking pout with a glossy finish that feels as buttery as it gets.

Calaor before applying the Kylie Cosmetics Lip Butter

Calaor after applying the Kylie Cosmetics Lip Butter

Tester feedback from senior editor Jesa Marie Calaor

“Ask anyone on Team Allure how much I love thi