The 12 best lip balms for dry lips, according to 380 panellists and 10 years of testing

Score: 93/100

If you grew up in a household with someone who experienced dry, chapped, and even eczema-prone skin, you’ll be very familiar with E45. The brand is known for its science-led formulations that fight itchiness and discomfort for those with dry and sensitive skin conditions, so it’s no wonder it knows what it’s doing when it comes to chapped lips.

This treatment, which is brilliant not just for your face but for any dry spots, doesn’t present as your typical wind-up lip balm. It comes in a little tube and contains lanolin, vitamin E and beeswax to bring nourishment and moisture back to cracked lips in need of softening. It’s perfume-, colourant- and paraben-free and costs less than £10.

“It melted into the skin and kept it moisturised,” said one panellist, while another told us, “Only a small drop lasted from morning until bedtime.” One person even tried it on the heels of their feet overnight as they were so dry and said it worked better than their usual foot cream. This is clearly the balm to pick for softening and soothing your skin from head-to-toe – it’s unscented and sensitive-skin-friendly enough to be able to use anywhere.

Score: 92/100

Korean skincare brand, Laneige, won us over with its hydrating face milk, refreshing water cream, and a whole host of skincare deliciousness, but nothing comes close to the popularity of the brand’s Lip Sleeping Mask. Some skin-thusiasts on Team GH have it in almost every flavour (of which there are quite a few).

Everyone who tried this mask said it instantly hydrated their lips and lasted throughout the day and night. They found it moisturising and enjoyed the range of potent scents. “The sweet berry reminds me of summer,” said one, while another said theirs smelt like vanilla buttercream. Some people thought the accompanying spatula was a bit redundant, preferring to just apply it with their fingers.

Score: 91/100

This is our first tinted balm to make the list, courtesy of Selena Gomez’s super successful beauty brand. Available in five suits-all shades, this delivers a healthy sheen and a pout-enhancing wash of colour with every swipe. It’s probably not for those looking to treat sore and chapped lips, but it’s a lovely everyday balm.

Panellists praised the easy-to-use packaging, long-lasting tint and non-sticky or “gunky” gloss finish. One tester told us they didn’t like how the colour looked on them and would go for something more neutral next time, but overall, this chic and shiny balm definitely sparked joy.

Score: 90/100

This Black Honey balm has caused quite a stir in the beauty sphere. Its buildable pigment and initial dark hue make it a delight to use and intriguing to watch, as it builds and blends to your skin tone the more you put on.

“It wasn’t at all sticky and lasted a reasonable amount of time (around two hours) before it needed to be refreshed,” said one tester. It also stood up well against the competition when it came to hydration, leaving everyone with a silkier, smoother smile. Most people also commented on the colour pay-off. “It had the perfect pop of pigment,” said one tester, while another praised the packaging, which looked “sleek, modern and expensive.”

Score: 90/100

What it lacks in fancy packaging, this Eucerin balm makes up for in performance. It’s a hard-working, science-backed formulation developed to soothe dry, cracked lips. And it delivers on its promise, with instant, moisture-locking results.

Testers said it “made lips soft and hydrated straight away,” with one telling us they “enjoyed crack-free, supple lips that lasted, after just one application.” Round of applause, please.

Score: 90/100

This “multipurpose superbalm” is certainly up there with some of the most moisturising products on the market. It’s thick and exactly what you’d imagine an ‘ointment’ to be, texture-wise, with many of our panellists praising its nourishing properties.

The brand claims these clever little tubes can be used to treat all patches of dry skin, including elbows, cuticles and lips, so our panel put the multi-use claims to the test, with impressive results. Some told us it softened nail cuticles, while others said it sorted out their dry elbows.

It’s also non-sticky and comfortable on lips, and it comes in an array of fun flavours (although we tested the plain one), including raspberry shortcake, glazed doughnut and coconut and mango sorbet. Mmm.

Score: 88/100

Elizabeth Arden’s Eight Hour Cream needs little introduction, but have you tried its nifty, SPF-enriched protectant stick counterpart?

“I loved everything about this. It was comfortable to wear, so hydrating and not at all sticky, like others I’ve tried,” said one tester, while another added: “I can’t get enough of this, especially when I’m on a plane, in air con or generally when I’m travelling.”

Others praised the design. “The sleek packaging made it super convenient to carry round in my bag, and it looks luxe,” they told us. Plus, with a smidge of SPF protection, your pout will stay plumper in the long run, too.

Score: 88/100

We’re now entering icon territory. Nivea, along with Vaseline and Burt’s Bees (below) are synonymous with this category. But, for the price, can Nivea’s small but mighty lip balm possibly cut it when compared to the competition?

Well, the short answer is yes. Many of our testers said it provided immediate relief from dryness and they liked that it’s pocket-sized and convenient. It also lasted a while before needing a little reapplication. Some said they used it as a primer before applying something pigmented, like lipstick, to help it last longer and ensure it didn’t look creased or fall into the cracks. A couple of testers mentioned the “cheap scent”, but it is extremely affordable, so one or two compromises are to be expected.

Score: 85/100

Hands up if you suddenly have visions of giant vats of Vaseline. Whether it comes in a portable little tin or a massive tub, this is a household favourite for salving chapped lips. Although it’s not at the top of our list, it still scored well for such an old-school formulation.

In our blind tests, people found it gave lips that signature shine, with lots of positive comments about the finish and texture. “It was glossy and the perfect lip balm for my cracked lips,” said one, while another added: “It had such a glossy finish.”

Some didn’t like having to scoop it out with their fingers, but that’s a common complaint for products that come in a pot. And we all know the rule with Vaseline is to use a light touch for application – when you lend it to a friend and they poke right to the bottom of the tin, you know they’re not to be trusted.

Score: 84/100

This is another iconic brand that seems to have stood the test of time. Although this one was far more popular when it came to the packaging than Vaseline – people love a twisty stick – it lost a few points for the hydrating effects being more short-term than others, plus a few were offended by the “beeswax taste”.

However, the negative comments were few and far between, and many loved how convenient this balm was to carry around, saying it was lightweight and not clammy on the lips. “There was no heavy waxy feeling, despite the beeswax in it, which is so hard to find with a nourishing lip balm,” said one person. If you’re after something light, compact and great value, Burt’s Bees clearly still lives up to the buzz.

Score: 84/100

This formulation is packed with ultra-nourishing, hydrating ingredients including hyaluronic acid, goji berry and shea butter, so anyone worth their skincare salt would expect it to lock-in hydration. But what did our panellists think?

The just-detectable yet noticeably delectable scents were a winner. “Nothing was too strong or overpowering,” said one tester. People praised the convenient squeezy, slanted applicator, and couldn’t get enough of the cute packaging. Some thought the tube was too small – they wanted more balm for their buck. But overall, it’s a solid option if you love a nourishing, nifty handbag hero.

Score: 84/100

This cute lip mask sits in a clear container with a tiny spoon to help you glide the product on. Some thought this was a little inconvenient, as it doesn’t stow away in the pot, but it helps to avoid mess if you’re using the mask at night and not for on-the-go.

The formulation contains Japanese peach and olive-derived squalane, designed to restore natural plumpness for healthy, happy lips. And our results backed this up. Panellists said their pout looked “fuller and more hydrated” as well as plumper after use, and they liked the premium packaging and silky texture of the mask. A good option for plumping lips overnight rather than an out-and-about balm.

• Carmex Classic Lip Balm Tube; £5.64 ; Score: 83/100
• Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Lip Balm; £3.60; Score: 83/100
• DR PAW PAW Original Balm; £3.95: Score: 81/100
• Tropic Lip Fudge Plumping Lip Balm; £12; Score: 76/100
• Glossier Balm Dotcom Lip Balm; £16; Score: 76/100
• Weleda Skin Food Lip Balm; £5.21; Score: 76/100
• NARS Afterglow Lip Balm; £27.00; Score: 73/100

We recruited a panel of over 380 at-home testers to try dozens of market-leading lip balms over a four-week period, before asking them to provide detailed feedback. We asked each panellist to assess the lip balm on how easy it was to apply, the texture and how well it hydrated and protected their lips from dryness.

Back in the beauty lab, our experts also assessed the texture of each balm as well as how often they needed to be reapplied throughout the day. They then measured how effective each product was at maintaining the skin's protective moisture barrier over a six-hour period after application.

The Good Housekeeping Institute has been testing products for over 100 years, from the best vacuums and the best bedding, to the best hair-growth tech.

Our testers are experts in their fields, whether that's home appliances or skincare science. They develop rigorous protocols to ensure we're putting every product through its paces in the lab. We also use our extensive at-home panel to try them in real life, to ensure they live up to their claims.

Senior Beauty Writer, Florence Reeves-White, has also been writing about beauty products for several years, which includes trying them herself at home and deciphering which efficacy claims live up to their promise, and which are just too good to be true.

Do you really need a lip balm?

Chapped lips are, contrary to popular belief, not solely a winter problem. The skin on your lips is delicate, so it’s naturally more prone to dryness, making a lip balm an everyday essential.

Do lip balms dry out lips?

No, they do the opposite. They're made with nourishing blends of oils, butters and other hydrating ingredients. Dry, cracked and peeling lips should be soothed in an instant without adding stickiness or leaving a bad taste in your mouth. As part of our review, we ran a lab test to see which ones hydrated lips the most.

GHI tip: run a soft toothbrush over your lips after brushing your teeth two to three times a week to remove excess skin cells, and then lather on your lip balm to lock in the moisture overnight.

Does lip balm expire?

It’s one of those staples that lies in the bottom of your handbag and seems to last forever. But, like all cosmetics, lip balm does have an expiry date. As a rule of thumb, you should replace your balm every year. The ingredients may still work after this time, but the natural oils and butters can start to deteriorate because of continual contact with the air.

The PAO (period after opening) symbol will give you the best indication of the exact expiry date for your product. If it expires in less than 30 months, you’ll see an egg timer symbol or an exact date on the packaging.

Are lip balms safe?

In short, yes. You may have heard about safety concerns relating to petroleum jelly (a common ingredient in lip balm) and carcinogens, but you can rest assured that all lip balms sold in the UK meet strict safety standards.