I Tested Over 60 Lip Balms—But Only These 11 Stay In My Bag
I have ridiculously high standards—but these drugstore, luxury, and celebrity-founded picks are *it.*
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Years ago, lip balm felt like such a bore. I wanted drama! Passion! Glitz! Eyeshadow palettes, lipstick, blush—that was more my speed than a boring old lip balm. Heck, they all basically worked the same anyway, as far as I was concerned. But in 2025, a good lip balm launch is just as exciting—if not more—than any color cosmetic or fancy new skincare. Now, we're not just swiping on some Chapstick to give a teensy bit of moisture to dry lips. The next generation of formulas are full-on lip treatments you can apply all day long, complete with smoothing and plumping peptides, hydrating hyaluronic acid and squalane, and even soothing niacinamide and centella asiatica.
"Lip balms are meant to seal in hydration and prevent water loss," says dermatologist Karan Lal, MD, so long as they're filled with the right ingredients. Which is where I come in. With so many lip balms on the market, though, I've basically made it my entire job to test them all. And not every single one out there is worth your time and/or money. I rounded up every single lip balm in my entire collection—plus sampled all the TikTok faves I'd never gotten my hands on and tried out some new ones that just released—and tested on my dry, chapped lips for the last month. Yup, my lips have seen the likes of over 60 lip balms for the last 40 days—and lemme tell ya, they're softer than ever, thanks to these 12 favorites:
Pros
- Loaded with butters and oils to moisturize
Cons
- Some might not like how heavy it is
When this lip balm first hit my inbox, I snoozed, admittedly. What's so exciting about another peptide lip balm? But this one, ultimately, turned out to be my absolute favorite of all time and now my go-to in every single bag I own. A mix of line-smoothing peptides plus a whole buncha nourishing butters and oils give this a really rich texture that glides over my lips.
- Shades: 7 (including clear)
- Key ingredients: Peptides, kokum seed butter, mango seed butter, cloudberry oil
- Flavor: Assorted
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
Pros
- Gently exfoliates to help chapped lips
- Chock-full of anti-aging ingredients
- I love the luxe metal applicator
Cons
- Most expensive lip balm on this list (by a lot, unfortunately)
If you've ever used U Beauty's skincare products, you know they do the most in the best way, filling their products with all the best stuff to simplify your routine. And the same can be said about this lip balm, which features a blend of exfoliants to help chemically slough away dead skin, hyaluronic acid and ceramides to hydrate, peptides to plump and reduce fine lines, and shea butter and oils to moisturize. Did I not say it's packed with stuff? Plus, the metal applicator feels cooling against your lips.
- Shades: 10 (including clear)
- Key ingredients: Shea butter, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, salicylic acid, peptides
- Flavor: None
One Cosmo editor says: “The Lip Plasma from U Beauty is my top product from the brand. It's just so luxe. The metal applicator is super soothing and massages the hydrating formula into my lips so easily. It has all the things I love in a gloss—shea butter, peptides, ceramides. What more could I need in a lip product?!" — Jasmine Hyman, assistant beauty editor
Pros
- Moisturizes *and* seals in hydration
- Doesn't feel too heavy or thick, which reviewers loved
Cons
- Might not be repairing enough for extremely dry, cracked lips, per reviews
While this lip balm isn't necessarily considered a lip mask per se, it's fantastic for repairing and moisturizing while you sleep. It's filled with rich oils and butters that seriously coat your lips to lock in all that hydration, plus ceramides and peptides to repair and nourish lips overnight.
- Shades: 1 (clear)
- Key ingredients: Moringa butter, shea butter, peptides, ceramides, maracuja oil, argan oil
- Flavor: None
One Cosmo editor says: “Every night before bed, I slather my lips with this balm, and I swear I wake up with fuller lips. There's still a trace of balm left over, but it doesn't feel goopy or too thick." — BG
Pros
- One of the longest lasting lip formulas I've tested
- Vegan formula (!)
Cons
- Very thick and sticky (although, I don't entirely mind for how glossy it is)
Sure, this lip balm is majorly moisturizing (ty, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and peptides), but the main feat is that it's legit so glossy. Like, it rivals most lip glosses in how well it reflects light. The thick consistency coats your lips and really stays on for hours.
- Shades: 2 (clear and berry)
- Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ceramides, rice bran wax, peptides
- Flavor: Mint and acai
One Cosmo editor says: “I have hundreds of lip glosses—sorry to my roommate—and this ultra-moisturizing balm is still the glossiest of them all. It makes my lips look seriously wet and juicy, and feels way more nourishing than a sticky gloss." — BG
Pros
- Cosmo Readers' Choice Award Winner
- I love all shades and flavors
Cons
- Formula can get grainy, per reviews
Cosmo readers (and editors, like moi) are obsessed with Rhode. Like, our associate shopping editor Meg is sitting across from me rn with the phone case that holds this magic lip balm. Personally, I'm obsessed with the flavors and tinted shades—they have just enough pigment to throw on top of a lip liner but don't actually need a mirror to apply. And they really do moisturize—shout out shea butter, babassu oil, and peptides.
- Shades: 4 tints and 4 clear flavors
- Key ingredients: Shea butter, babassu oil, peptides
- Flavor: Assorted
One Cosmo reader says: “I love Rhode’s peptide lip treatment because it leaves my lips feeling super hydrated, and I never get dry or chapped lips when I use it."
Pros
- Helps soothe irritated, cracked, dry lips
- Widely available at most drugstores
Cons
- Has a chemical taste that a few testers weren't a fan of
If you've ever used La Roche-Posay's famed Cicaplast Balm (a multi-purpose cream to help soothe and moisturize the F outta your skin), you'll get why this lip balm is the GOAT. It's essentially just the lip version, formulated with shea butter, panthenol, and beeswax to add a major layer of hydration to your lips while also calming down any potential inflammation from chapped skin or irritation. The waxy texture isn't too glossy or heavy on lips either; rather, it feels like an ointment that sinks into your lips over time.
- Shades: 1 (clear)
- Key ingredients: Shea butter, panthenol, beeswax
- Flavor: None
One Cosmo editor says: “My lips get chapped in dry or cold weather, and this balm fixes that easily without being sticky or greasy! It makes my lips feel silky smooth and I found myself reaching for it all the time.” — Erika W. Smith, former senior astrology editor
Pros
- Cosmo Clean Beauty Award Winner
- Most pigmented tinted lip balm I've used
- Doesn't feel sticky at all
Cons
- Some might not love the herbal scent
This formula is basically entirely oils and butters, which makes for a super moisturizing lip treatment. But it's also shockingly one of the most pigmented tinted lip balms I've ever tried. The shades don't look patchy on my lips; instead, they build up in opacity with each layer without looking too thick. You've got a few different options to choose from too, like a warm brown, a bright coral, and a deep cherry.
- Shades: 5 (including clear)
- Key ingredients: Grape seed oil, safflower seed oil, castor seed oil, shea butter, bacuri seed oil
- Flavor: Assorted
One Cosmo expert says: “The texture is nice and silky and has good staying power too." — Krupa Koestline, cosmetic chemist
Pros
- Very thick, enveloping feel on your lips
- Lasts really long without needing to reapply
- Scent isn't very strong
Cons
- A few testers found it too sticky
If you're looking for a lip balm that gives you a glossy, pretty shine, look no further than the Ilia Lip Wrap Reviving Balm. Not only will this lip balm deeply hydrate those chapped lips of yours, but it also makes a great addition to the top of a lipstick.
- Shades: 1 (clear)
- Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, prickly pear oil, shea butter
- Flavor: Soft, minty vanilla (but barely even noticeable really)
One Cosmo editor says: “Real talk: my lips are my favorite part of my body. So, I give them all the TLC they deserve, and ILIA's Lip Wrap Reviving Balm does not disappoint. It's hydrating and wears comfortably, which is why I love wearing it cocktailed with other lip products and on its own." — Sam Olson, assistant news editor
Pros
- One of the best-selling lip balms at Sephora
- Comes in a variety of flavors and shades for all ~vibes~
- V moisturizing, thanks to butters and hyaluronic acid
Cons
- Some reviewers wish it lasted longer on lips
You've def seen this all over your FYP, likely in the bottom of bags or hanging as bag charms. People legit can't get enough of these (hence why Summer Fridays is constantly releasing new shades and flavors). Why is it so beloved? It's supremely moisturizing, 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 don't overtake a look.
- Shades: 9 (including clear)
- Key ingredients: Shea butter, murumuru butter, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E
- Flavor: Assorted
One Cosmo editor says: “TikTok convinced me to try Summer Fridays' viral lip butter balm, and I couldn't be more thankful. It's become one of those purse essentials that I panic if I cannot find." — Sarah Maberry, fashion and luxury commerce editor
Pros
- Cosmo Holy Grail Award Winner
- Doesn't taste or smell like sunscreen
Cons
- May have to reapply often
Yes, it's absolutely important to protect your lips from the sun. Enter: The Cay Skin Isle Lip Balm with SPF 30. This incredible formula will give you the correct amount of SPF protection, hydrate your lips, and leave a glossy shine that isn't sticky. Win, win, and win.
- Shades: 6 (including clear)
- Key ingredients: Sea moss, vitamin E, shea butter, SPF
- Flavor: Vanilla brown sugar
One Cosmo editor says: “Yup, your lips need sunscreen too. And this one is top-notch with its addition of sea moss, aloe stem cells, and vitamin E." — Julee Wilson, beauty editor-at-large
Pros
- Least expensive lip balm on this list (!)
- Has no taste or smell
Cons
- Not as moisturizing or rich as others I tested
Moments before heading to the Coach Fall/Winter 2025 runway show, Cosmo's editor in chief Willa Bennett ran to my desk asking if I had any Aquaphor she could bring in her bag. "I forgot mine, and I feel empty without my Aquaphor," she said. And she's not the only one—Billie Eilish is also obsessed over it in 2022 and apparently won't go anywhere without a tube. But is it beauty editor-approved? Sure is, for a serious bargain. Compared to the lip balms above that clock in at 5, even 10 times the price, this one doesn't have all the bells and whistles (the ingredients list is pretty minimal—just petroleum, castor seed oil, shea butter, and beeswax, all of which can help hydrate but mostly lock in existing moisture). But it sure as heck does make my lips feel soft, especially when they're severely chapped.
- Shades: 1 (clear)
- Key ingredients: Shea butter, castor seed oil, petroleum, beeswax
- Flavor: None
One Cosmo editor says: "For how inexpensive this formula is, I can't believe how soft and smooth it makes my lips. It's fab for coating my lips with before bed when I really wanna seal in hydration." — BG
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: In the case that 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.
Siena Gagliano was the associate editor at Cosmopolitan and wrote hundreds of skincare stories, like the best lip balms with SPF and the top lip plumpers, and feels especially knowledgeable about lip balms thanks to struggling with chapped lips all the time.
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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