Chapped lips can be a real bummer. As winter settles in, they tend to be worse and more frequent, thanks to cold winds and sunshine outside combined with dry air inside. With a million different chapsticks and lip balms on the market, it’s nearly impossible to know which one is going to heal your chapped lips best. If you’re looking for something more than your standard Chapstick brand balm, here’s a look at five of the highest rated chapped lip products on the market.
Natural Ice Mentholatum Lip Balm
Less than $1 a tube, Natural Ice’s mentholated lip balm is one of the highest rated chapsticks on the market. One of its best traits is the included sunscreen (SPF 15). While you want to avoid mineral oil on your skin because it can hinder the skin’s ability to produce its own oil, your lips don’t produce their own. Natural Ice contains lanolin, mineral oil, and petrolatum; an oil based chapstick is one of the best options for healing. A word of caution: while the mentholation may help soothe inflammation, if your lips are cracked and peeling, a mentholated balm may not be the best way to go. The icy freshness can be painful instead of soothing.
Neutrogena Lip Moisturizer
This famous beauty brand’s Norwegian formula is still on the less expensive end (about $3) but comes with a dermatological claim. While this balm also comes with an SPF of 15, it doesn’t have any fragrances--which is a good thing. Scents and flavors make chapped lips worse because it encourages you to lick your lips, which not only means the balm doesn’t last as long, but the frequent friction of skin and saliva on your lips will increase irritation. Additionally, if you have an allergy (even if you don’t know you do) to any of those flavorings, that may be exactly what is chapping your lips in the first place. Neutrogena’s Lip Moisturizer is a great option for dry, sensitive lips.
Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm
Jack Black’s balm is a little pricier (almost $8 for less than half as much), but with good reason. Not only is it made with shea butter and avocado oil (great natural moisteners!), it comes in a light lemon flavor. Add lanolin and beeswax and you’ve got a great protectant that will also seal in moisture and help restore your skin’s natural softness. In addition to an SPF 15, this intense therapy balm also includes green tea extract and vitamin E to help protect your lips from free radical damage.
DHC Lip Cream
This balm softens lips with the looks of a classy tube of lipstick. At $9.50 a tube, it’s made of aloe, olive oil, lanolin, and beeswax, which are all great for healing and protecting. As a nice bonus, DHC made their balm with the future in mind: with the addition of Vitamin E and other protective ingredients their Lip Cream is intended to help prevent “feather lines” from forming; it is also supposed to keep your lips firm by protecting against “collagen deflators.” If you’re looking for a balm that’s not only going to cure your chapped lips but protect them from damaging free radicals, DHC might have just the product for you.
NUXE Paris Reve de Miel
At about $15 for half an ounce, Reve de Miel comes with ultra-intense nourishing claims. Composed of beeswax, sweet almond oil, and shea butter extract, this balm has some of the best natural moisturizers all in one bottle. The included plant oils also help keep your lips supple, acting as a great healer and protector. According to NUXE, 96% of severely damaged lips were healed by their product.
