If there was ever such thing as a lip balm season, this would be it. My lips are naturally prone to dryness, but it’s amplified tenfold during the winter, so when it comes to lip balms, I do not compromise. The perfect lip balm, in my opinion, needs to do three things: hydrate the dry skin, seal in the moisture, and stay on for several hours at a time. I dug deep into my bags and pockets to bring you this roundup of my favorite lip balms currently in rotation. I can personally vouch for the effectiveness of each one of these, so you can rest assured they won’t disappoint or melt away after one sip of coffee.
Beessential Buzz Balm in Peppermint is the one I am actually wearing right now as I write this. It’s absolutely magical, the the affordable price point makes me want to buy a wagon of these. What’s special about this all-natural lip balm is the waxy lightweight film it creates on your lips. The finish is more satiny, leaning toward matte, so guys can use it, too, and it won’t look like a lip gloss. The balm adheres to the lips through thick and thin: you can have lunch and a cup of coffee, albeit carefully, and it will still be there. I apply it before going to bed, and always wake up to soft, plush lips and the balm still going strong! If peppermint is not your thing, Beessential makes these in an array of flavors to choose from, so you’ll definitely find a favorite.
PIXI Nourishing Lip Polish is technically not a lip balm, it’s more of a scrub, but I couldn’t exclude it from this roundup. This is easily one of my favorite products from PIXI, and it works so well to painlessly exfoliate dead skin cells from the lips, while hydrating them at the same time. So if your lips are already in pretty bad shape, this little magic wand will revive them after a couple of applications. I have no idea how it works, and really the silicone “scrubber” isn’t even that abrasive. There’s just something about the formula that melts the dry skin off, and deeply nourishes the freshly exposed new skin so the lips don’t hurt as a result. Again, it’s a lip balm that I highly recommend to everyone.
The only reason I don’t use BUTTER elixir lip balm more often is the fact that it comes in a jar. This type of packaging prevents it from being portable, because I’d be too paranoid to stick my finger and infect the product with random street germs. The formula, however, is simply divine. The mix of natural oils, butters, and spices makes it smell like a fancy French bakery, and it’s also super effective. This is what I would use when my lips are super tight, dry, and have bleeding cracks, because it soothes and nourishes those problem areas almost immediately. A couple days of BUTTER elixir lip balm, then a few days of Beessential Buzz Balm made a huge difference last time I needed a lip rescue. Again, if you can get past the fact that it comes in a jar, this lip balm is definitely worth checking out.
John Masters Organics Lip Calm in Peppermint may look similar to Beessential Buzz Balm listed above, but they are actually very different. Unlike the Buzz Balm, JMO’s Lip Calm sets with a glossy sheen, because it has less waxes and more oils in the formula. Besides, all of the ingredients are certified organic, which is quite impressive. With formula this clean, I even felt comfortable gifting one of these to a relative who is currently undergoing chemotherapy. The overall effectiveness and longevity is comparable to BUTTER elixir, but the fragrance selection is quite simplistic. I like to use this lip balm as a primer for lip stains. As you know, stains can go on splotchy and settle in the weirdest spots, but with this balm as a base I always get an even distribution of pigment that lasts all day.
And finally, a personal favorite of many years – TATCHA Camellia Nourishing Lip Balm. You’ve seen it mentioned countless times on this blog and featured on my Instagram and Snapchat channels season after season. That’s because this luxurious treat is more than just a lip balm. I actually use it as a highlighter sometimes when my skin is looking dull, and it works surprisingly well! I don’t know if you are familiar with the concept of face gloss, but this highlight is not the traditional shimmer type. Instead, it gives the skin slightly wet, dewy appearance, which in the end looks less like makeup and more like you’re born with it. I could talk all day about the gorgeous packaging, and the delicate gold leaves each balm is adorned with, but the hype really sprawls from the formula. Inspired by the ancient rituals of the geisha, TATCHA created one of the most effective lip balms on the market using materials that you will be hard pressed to find in competitor products. I am talking about olive-derived Squalane, which takes the top seat on the ingredient list. This unique natural occlusive looks and feels like petroleum jelly in ways that it seals moisture within the skin, allowing it to repair itself without outside interference, while also allowing it to breathe, because it’s not a petrochemical. That’s the main reason so many people – including celebrities, bloggers, and magazine editors – are obsessed with Camellia Nourishing Lip Balm, which has since risen to its present cult status. I’m on my fourth jar and it’s nearly empty, so it’s time for a restock.
Well, that’s it for my currently in-use lip balms! I actually thought there would be more, but looking at this list I realize that probably 5 is more than enough, although I know people who carry a chapstick in every pocket. However, since I started this blog, I had the opportunity to try a crazy amount of products, including lip balms, and I realized that they really are not all created equal. Do you ever apply lip balm only to see it disappear within 30 minutes or sooner? I even tried several that made my lips drier than before, and that is just unacceptable. So if you want to make sure your lips are in tip top shape this winter, look at the ingredient list first. Beeswax, cocoa butter, shea butter, and squalane are amazing for sealing in moisture and helping the skin repair, and the more other helpful oils, waxes, and extracts in the formula to nourish and protect the better.
How many lip balms do you carry around in your purse? Which ones are currently your favorites? Let me know in the comments!
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I always have a tube of lip stuff in my purse, desk at work, night stand & in my mani-cave. 🙂 I haven’t tried any of the ones you mention, but the PIXI looks cool – exfoliating my dry lips is a must!
I swear, I was not expecting it to work – most lip scrubs did virtually nothing for my lips. This one is plain magical!
The only one of these I’ve been lucky enough to try is the Pixi and I love it. It made my top 5 list of Pixi products. I am one of those people with lip balms everywhere!
Funny that you mention top 5, because I was just thinking about my upcoming top 5 PIXI products blog post and this one would be among them 🙂 This scrub is so good, I am actually shocked how well it works for my lips!
I tried that pixi and quite liked it
I was surprised how much I liked it. Normally, my lips are so fussy that most lip scrubs don’t really do anything. This one was golden!
I’ve been using Maybelline baby lips and am quite fond of them
It’s great that Baby Lips works for you! I love all the vibrant colors it comes in 🙂
Great review! I’m in desperate need of some lip balm!
Thank you! Finding a good lip balm was harder than it seemed, because some of them just don’t perform as well as the others.
My lips are SO fussy, most lip balms will seem like they’re working and then after a few weeks of use my lips will become drier than ever. I found one I loved in South Africa but I can’t seem to get my hands on it here in the US!
I want to try that pixi lip polish, though.
Oh no, that’s a bummer when you find something that works and then you can’t get it anymore. That happened to me with my favorite cleansing oil that got discontinued right after I bought it, haha. PIXI polish is definitely a must try, I think it’s one of my personal top 5 PIXI products from her entire range. Such a good one!
I have so many lip balms in my purse. Winter means my go to is Jack Black! I also use Burts Bees especially until matte lippies!
Jack Black is my go to for summer, I love the SPF!
My lips have been really dry this winter – and matte lipsticks only make it worse! I am a Burts Bees user, but I want to try the BUTTER elixir lip balm !!
Ugh, I hear you about matte lipsticks. They look so amazing on hydrated, exfoliated lips! It’s hard to keep them in shape, especially in the winter. I am a Burt’s Bees user too, their Pomegranate balm is one of my faves (I am out right now tho). I wanted to highlight my favorites from some of the lesser known brands, save for PIXI, that deserve the recognition 🙂
I need to try that Pixi one!
It’s one of her best products, easily my top 5!
I can’t be without lip balm. I favor petrolatum based balms, on my derm’s recommendation and they really do work best for me. I have lip balm everywhere… On my dressing table, my desk, my little laptop table in my living room, in my bag, by my bed. Everywhere. lol
Girl, you and me both! I am SO dependent on lip balm, it’s not even funny. If I go without applying it even a single day, my lips will look like I’ve been wandering the desert with Moses for 40 years.
I tend to use lip gloss rather than balm – beeswax dries out my lips horribly.
I have the opposite experience – lip gloss usually contains ingredients that make my lips feel even drier. I do love to slap on some lipstick on top of the lip balm though so it kind of looks like a sheer gloss.
I have two lip balms in my purse at the moment, and a tube of Carmex. Both brands are local small business brands in NJ! I love the Pixi product you mentioned!
I love supporting local small businesses! Beessential is a small local brand, too (well sort of, they’re in a neighbour state). They also make great foaming hand wash, which reminds me that I need to stock up 😉
I have lip balms stashed all over the place. I do need that Pixi scrub though!
That scrub is so unique, it’s unlike any other lip product I tried. I would say it’s one of top 5 PIXI products I would recommend to someone who never tried the brand.
I have lip balms stashed everywhere but you can never have too many!
Haha, you know it! I carry one in every bag 🙂
Beeessentials in one of my faves. I love seeing it in your round up 🙂
I love their lip balms! They are way different from my other beeswax balms. Sometimes I want my lips to be nourished AND matte 🙂
I am obsessed with lip balms! Love the one from Pixi
The Pixi one is fantastic! I couldn’t believe how effective it was.
I love beesentials!
They have some of my favorite lip balms and hand wash 🙂
I’ve never tried any of these brands myself, my go to lip balm is normally Burts Bees 🙂 x
Burt’s Bees makes great lip balms! I love the pomegranate one 🙂