A long time ago, lip balms were boring. A clear formula with some shea butter couldn’t compete with the excitement of other beauty products, like eyeshadow palettes or pigmented blush. But in 2026, a new lip balm launch is just as exciting if not more so than any new colour makeup or fancy skincare. We don’t just put Chapstick on our lips to make them a little less dry anymore. You can wear the next generation of formulas all day because they are full on lip treatments with lots of hydrating ingredients, plumping peptides, and glossy finishes. Not to mention, lip balms from brands like Rhode and Summer Fridays that are in style have become status symbols in their own right.
Cosmo’s beauty editors have put together a list of the best lip balms to keep your lips soft and hydrated.
We at Team Cosmo are always trying out different lip balms on our own dry chapped lips to see which ones work best for everyday hydration. There are probably 50 different lip balms on our desks alone, not to mention the ones in our bags, bathrooms, and apartments. We also talked to dermatologist Karan Lal MD about how to pick the best lip formulas.
Best Lip Balm Overall
Pout Preserve Peptide Lip Care
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Peptide Lip Treatment from OleHenriksen Pout Preserve
Why we like it: This lip balm is very moisturising thanks to the mango butter, lactic acid, and peptides. But the best part is how shiny it is. The finish is as glassy as most lip oils or glosses, and the thick texture coats your lips perfectly and keeps them soft for hours.
One editor at Cosmo says, I’m in a long-term, committed relationship with this lip balm that I fear will last forever. It feels so fancy, but it’s also easy to throw in my bag. And the levels of moisture are high.
| Features | Details |
|---|---|
| Main parts | Peptides, mango butter, and lactic acid |
| Shades | 6 |
The best lip balm to spend money on is ANFISA Skin AN-GLOSS Ceramide Lip Treatment
What we love about it: The ANFISA Ceramide Lip Treatment is the best lip balm for you if you want a pretty shiny look. This lip balm will not only deeply moisturise your chapped lips, but it will also look great on top of your favourite lipstick or liner.
Even though I know $45 is crazy for a lip balm, this is by far the best one I’ve ever used. It really helps to repair and strengthen my lips, not just moisturise them for a short time. I also really like the applicator with the metal tip.
| Features | Details |
|---|---|
| Key ingredients | Squalane, murumuru butter, and ceramides |
| Shades | 3 |
The best budget lip balm
The Ordinary Hydrating Lip Balm
The Ordinary makes the best classic lip balm, just like all of its other simple skincare products. There are a lot of good-for-you ingredients in the formula, like squalane jojoba extracts, and amino acids.
When my lips really need some moisture, especially in the winter, I put this super moisturising lip balm on them. I also love how easy it is to fit into any pocket or purse because of how thin the packaging is.
| Features | Details |
|---|---|
| Main ingredients | Squalane, jojoba, amino acids, and sodium PCA |
| Shades | 1 |
Best Lip Balm for Exfoliating
Le Chouchou Lip Softening Balm
Why we love it: It has the moisturising benefits of a lip balm and the glossy finish you want in a gloss. There are a lot of very pigmented colours to choose from. It also has lactic acid in it, which helps to chemically exfoliate the skin, so every time you swipe it on, your lips get a nice softening treatment.
If you walk into my apartment you will definitely find an EADEM Lip Balm on my entryway table, bathroom sink or makeup desk. This is my favourite lip product that I can use once and be done with it.
| Features | Details |
|---|---|
| Important parts | Peptides, lactic acid, Brazilian açaí, and African mongongo butters |
| Shades | 8 |
Best Tinted Lip Balm
Glossier Balm Dotcom
Why we like it: Some people say that Glossier’s famous Balm Dotcom is the tube that started the whole lip balm craze. It comes in more than a dozen colours, including limited-edition ones, and it has castor seed oil, bee’s wax, and vitamin E to keep your lips healthy while you wear it.
Balm Dotcom will always be an icon. It was the first tinted lip balm that went beyond just a clear formula or some pigment without any moisture. You don’t need to use a lot of lip products because this one balm has a lot of pigment and can be built up.
| Features | Details |
|---|---|
| Main ingredients | vitamin E, castor seed oil, and bee’s wax |
| Shades | 16 |
How to pick the best lip balm
You want to use lip balm to make your lips less dry. So to get the most out of the hydration benefits, you should look at the ingredients. Dr. Lal says that balms with petrolatum beeswax shea butter, cocoa butter, castor oil, sunflower oil, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid are the best choice.
Know what ingredients you shouldn’t use.
You may have heard a lot of talk about how some lip balms can actually dry out your lips. Dr. Lal says that they definitely can because some lip balms contain menthol or fragrance, which can be irritating and cause inflammation.
Dr. Lal also says that lip balms can make your lips feel dry if you use them too much because they keep moisture locked in. He also says to be careful if you’re using a lip balm that makes your lips look fuller because ingredients like cinnamon or cinnamon derivatives can irritate your skin.
