We Tested More Than 50 Lip Balms, but These 9 Are the Only Ones We Keep in Our Makeup Bags
These picks will keep your lips nice and moisturized for hours on end.
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Years ago, lip balms felt like a bore. A clear formula with some shea butter couldn’t compete with the thrill of other beauty products like eyeshadow palettes or a pigmented blush. But in 2026, a new lip balm launch is just as exciting—if not more so—than any color cosmetic or fancy new skincare. We’re no longer just swiping on Chapstick to slightly moisturize dry lips. The next generation of formulas acts as full-on lip treatments you can wear all day, packed with tons of hydrating ingredients, plumping peptides, and tinted glossy finishes. Not to mention, trendy lip balms from brands like Rhode and Summer Fridays have become status symbols in their own right.
Team Cosmo is constantly testing lip balms on our own dry, chapped lips to find the best formulas. Our desks alone probably hold a collective 50 different lip balms (not to mention the ones scattered across our bags, bathrooms, and apartments). We also spoke with dermatologist Karan Lal, MD, about how to choose the best formulas for your lips.
Ahead, discover the best lip balms to hydrate and soften your lips, according to Cosmo’s beauty editors.
Why we love it: This lip balm is majorly nourishing (shoutout to mango butter, lactic acid, and peptides), but the main feat is that it’s legit so shiny. It rivals most lip oils or glosses in how glassy the finish is, and the thick consistency coats your lips beautifully and really keeps your lips soft for hours.
One Cosmo editor says: “I’m in a committed, long-term relationship with this lip balm from now until forever, I fear! It feels so luxe while also being easy to just toss into my bag. And the moisture levels are strong.” —BETH GILLETTE, BEAUTY EDITOR
Features at a Glance
| Key ingredients | Peptides, mango butter, lactic acid |
| Shades | 6 |
Why we love it: If you’re looking for a lip balm that gives you a glossy, pretty shine, look no further than the ANFISA Ceramide Lip Treatment. Not only will this lip balm deeply hydrate those chapped lips of yours, but it also makes a great addition to the top of your favorite liner or lipstick.
One Cosmo editor says: “While I realize $45 is absurd for a lip balm, this is by far one of the best I’ve used. It is so hydrating and nourishing and really helps to repair and strengthen my lips, not just temporarily moisturize them. And I love the metal-tipped applicator too. This is a total luxury, but for a product I use all the time it’s so worth it.” —LAUREN BALSAMO, BEAUTY DIRECTOR
Features at a Glance
| Key ingredients | Squalane, murumuru butter, ceramides |
| Shades | 3 |
Why we love it: Just like all of its no-frills skincare products, The Ordinary makes the perfect classic lip balm. The formula is chock full of nourishing ingredients like squalane, jojoba extracts, and amino acids, just to name a few.
One Cosmo editor says: “When my lips are in major need of some hydration, especially during the winter, I coat them in this ultra-moisturizing lip balm. I also love that the slim packaging makes it so easy to slip into any pocket or purse.” —JASMINE HYMAN, ASSISTANT BEAUTY EDITOR
Features at a Glance
| Key ingredients | Squalane, jojoba, amino acids, sodium PCA |
| Shades | 1 |
Why we love it: This combines the moisturizing benefits of a lip balm with the mirror-like finish you want in a gloss. It comes in a bunch of super-pigmented shades. And it also chemically exfoliates with lactic acid, so the lips get a nice softening treatment every time you swipe it on.
One Cosmo editor says: “If you walk into my apartment, there’s a 100 percent chance you will find an EADEM Lip Balm strewn across my entryway table, bathroom sink, or makeup desk. It’s my favorite one-and-done lip product. No need for a mask, lipstick, and gloss, because this single formula handles it all.” —JH
Features at a Glance
| Key ingredients | Peptides, lactic acid, Brazilian açaí, African mongongo butters |
| Shades | 8 |
Why we love it: Glossier’s iconic Balm Dotcom is debatably the tube that started the entire lip balm revolution. Not only does it come in over a dozen pigmented shades (including limited-edition versions), but it’s got castor seed oil, bee’s wax, and vitamin E to keep the lips nice and nourished as you wear it.
One Cosmo editor says: “The OG tinted lip balm that went far beyond just a clear formula or some pigment without any hydration, Balm Dotcom will forever be an icon. The pigment is buildable and rich, so you don’t need to stack on a bunch of lip products—this single balm does it all.” —JH
Features at a Glance
| Key ingredients | castor seed oil, beeswax, vitamin E |
| Shades | 16 |
Why we love it: When you’re acne-prone, literally anything you put on your face can lead to breakouts, and yes, that includes your lip balm! If you’re experience bumps or pimples around the chin or mouth, we adore this hydrating and noncomedogenic formula.
One Cosmo editor says: “I’m prone to acne around my lips (cool!!) and practically every formula is filled with pore-clogging ingredients. But not this one from Personal Day. It doesn’t skimp on moisture but isn’t so heavy that it leads to breakouts. Huge win.”
—BG
Features at a Glance
| Key ingredients | Jojoba oil, squalane, hyaluronic acid |
| Shades | 3 |
Why we love it: Chapped and dry lips are no match for this super hydrating lip balm from Dr. Idriss. Squalane, ceramides, and shea butter work to lock in moisture, while colloidal oatmeal and panthenol soothe the lips. Because there’s nothing worse than overly dry lips that start burning from irritation (we’ve all been there).
One Cosmo editor says: “I’ve followed Dr. Idriss’s ‘lip baste’ technique for years (she recommends applying a chemical exfoliant on your lips—like an AHA toner—then coat your lips in a rich occlusive moisturizer), so it only made sense that she’d create a lip balm one day. And I’m wholly obsessed with it. It’s been my saving grace this winter to help my lips amid freezing temps and ultra-dry apartment air. I wear it nightly as a lip mask, but I also keep a whole tube in my bag for travel.” —BG
Features at a Glance
| Key ingredients | Squalane, ceramides, shea butter, colloidal oatmeal |
| Shades | 2 |
Why we love it: While this lip mask isn’t necessarily considered a lip balm per se, it’s fantastic for plumping and moisturizing while you sleep. It’s filled with rich ceramides and hyaluronic acid to lock in all that hydration plus peptides to nourish lips overnight.
One Cosmo editor says: “I know everyone’s obsessed with Rhode’s lip tints, but I’ll admit that I’m not the biggest fan. While the shades are lovely, the formula isn’t hydrating enough for my dry lips, and the texture can be weird. But the brand-new Rhode lip mask, on the other hand? Absolutely obsession worthy. I have been using it nonstop, and my lips have never looked or felt better.” —LB
Features at a Glance
| Key ingredients | Peptides, lactic acid, ceramides, hyaluronic acid |
| Shades | 1 |
Why we love it: You’ve likely seen this tube all over your social feed or hanging as a bag charm. People can’t get enough, hence why Summer Fridays is constantly releasing new shades and flavors. It’s got tons of moisturizing powers, thanks to murumuru and shea butter, as well as hyaluronic acid and vitamin E. And the tints are so soft and light—they add a hint of color but are perfect for everyday wear. And the bio-resin applicator tip gives off the perfect amount of product and makes it super easy to reapply.
One Cosmo editor says: “I now understand why the Lip Butter Balm is considered the GOAT of lippies. To sum it up, the formula effectively nourishes and repairs lips to keep them kissably soft, the glassy finish is *chef’s kiss*, every iteration smells heavenly, it imparts a buildable tint, and the slim tube holds a solid amount of product so it lasts for months.” —MARY HONKUS, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Features at a Glance
| Key ingredients | Shea butter, murumuru seed butter, hyaluronic acid |
| Shades | 9 |
How to choose the best lip balm
Know which ingredients to look for.
The goal of a lip balm is to moisturize those chapped lips of yours, right? Right. So it’s important to take a peek at the ingredients to ensure you’re going to maximize the hydration benefits, and as Dr. Lal suggests, balms that contain petrolatum, beeswax, shea butter, cocoa butter, castor oil, sunflower oil, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid are going to be your best bet.
Understand which ingredients to avoid.
You may have heard plenty of chatter that some lip balms actually dry out your lips, which, surprise, according to Dr. Lal, they absolutely can: “Some lip balms contain agents like menthol or fragrance, which can be irritating and inflammatory.”
And because lip balms lock in moisture, they can actually make your lips feel dry with excessive use, Dr. Lal adds. Oh, and one more important note: When you’re using a lip balm with a plumping effect, Dr. Lal says to keep an eye out for ingredients such as cinnamon or cinnamon derivatives, which can cause irritation, especially if you have sensitive skin.
Meet the expert:
- Karan Lal, MD, is a double board-certified adult, pediatric, and cosmetic dermatologist at Affiliated Dermatology in Scottsdale, AZ.
Why trust 'Cosmopolitan'?
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan and has been writing and editing skincare and makeup stories for more than six years, including how to treat sunburned lips and kissing with lip filler. She regularly tests and analyzes lip balms on her own lips for efficacy, while working with the industry’s top dermatologists to assess new formulas and products.
Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmopolitan who has more than three years experience writing about all the best makeup and skincare products. She's a lip balm aficionado and has tested dozens of formulas in her time as a beauty editor.
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
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