Lip balms used to seem 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.
We at Team Cosmo are always trying out different lip balms on our own dry, chapped lips to see which ones work best. 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.
Cosmo’s beauty editors have put together a list of the best lip balms to keep your lips soft and hydrated.
Budget to Blowout: The 4 nail polish brands we rely on for an expert-looking at-home manicure
Best Lip Balm Overall
Pout Preserve Peptide Lip Care
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. — BETH GILLETTE, EDITOR OF BEAUTY
| Quick Look at the Features |
|---|
| Main parts Peptides, mango butter, and lactic acid |
| Shades 6 |
Best Lip Balm To Spend Money
Ceramide Lip Treatment from AN-GLOSS
The best lip balm to spend money on is ANFISA Skin AN-GLOSS Ceramide Lip Treatment for $45 at Revolve.
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,” says one Cosmo editor. 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. Lauren Balsamo, Beauty Director, says, “This is a total luxury, but for a product I use all the time, it’s so worth it.”
| Quick Look at the Features |
|---|
| Important parts Squalane, murumuru butter, and ceramides |
| Shades 3 |
Best Budget Lip Balm
The Ordinary Hydrating Lip Balm is now 15% off. It costs $9 at Amazon, $8 at Nordstrom, and $9 at Ulta Beauty.
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,” says one Cosmo editor. I also love how easy it is to fit into any pocket or purse because of how thin the packaging is.—Jasmine Hyman, Assistant Beauty Editor
| A Quick Look at the Features |
|---|
| Squalane jojoba amino acids, and sodium PCA |
| Shades 1 |
Best Lip Balm For Exfoliating
Le Chouchou Lip Softening Balm
$24 for EADEM Le Chouchou Lip Softening Balm on Amazon
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.
One editor at Cosmo says, “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. “This one formula does it all, so you don’t need a mask, lipstick, or gloss.”—JH
| Quick Look at the Features |
|---|
| Important parts Peptides, lactic acid, Brazilian açaí, and African mongongo butters |
| Shades 8 |
Best Tinted Lip Balm
Balm Dotcom
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,” according to one Cosmo editor. 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.—JH
| A Quick Look at the Features |
|---|
| The main ingredients are vitamin E, castor seed oil, and bee’s wax |
| Shades 16 |
How to pick the best lip balm
Know what ingredients to look for.
You want to use lip balm to make your lips less dry, right? That’s right. 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. Well, Dr. Lal says that they definitely can: “Some lip balms contain menthol or fragrance, which can be irritating and cause inflammation.”
Dr. Lal says that lip balms can make your lips feel dry if you use them too much because they trap moisture. Also, Dr. Lal says that if you’re using a lip balm that makes your lips look fuller, you should watch out for ingredients like cinnamon or cinnamon derivatives, which can irritate your skin, especially if it’s sensitive.
Meet the expert
At Affiliated Dermatology in Scottsdale, AZ, Karan Lal MD, is a double board-certified dermatologist for adults, children, and cosmetic issues.
Why should you believe Cosmopolitan
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan. She has been writing and editing skincare and makeup articles for more than six years. Some of these articles are about how to treat sunburnt lips and kiss with lip filler. She tests and analyses lip balms on her own lips all the time to see how well they work, and she also works with the best dermatologists in the business to look at new formulas and products.
Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmopolitan. She has been writing about the best makeup and skincare products for more than three years. As a beauty editor, she’s tried out dozens of lip balm formulas and loves them.
