THINK ABOUT IT: you’re washing your face, you’re using moisturizer on the daily, you might even be dipping into advanced grooming goods (serum, anyone?), but if you’re not taking that same care with your lips, then you’re leaving out an important step. Chapstick might be on your radar during the dry, cold months to combat chapped lips, but the best way to use chapstick is to prevent your lips from getting dry in the first place. And chapped, dry lips can happen no matter what the season.
Best Chapsticks
- Best Lip Balm With SunscreenSunscreen Lip Balm SPF 30Read more
- Best Overall Lip BalmLip Protectant + Broad Spectrum SPF 30Read more
- Best Natural Lip BalmLipcare SPF 25Read more
“Lip balms are designed to form a seal over the skin to maintain barrier function, enhance hydration, and protect the lips from the environment,” says Joshua Zeichner, M.D., director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
There’s also another reason to use chapstick: sun protection. You might not realize it but the skin on your lips is super thin, which makes it especially susceptible to UV damage. Sun exposure is one of the leading risk factors in lip cancer and the best way to guard against it? You guessed it—sunscreen. That’s what a lip balm with SPF comes in—it’s way easier to apply, and more comfortable to wear, than slathering sun lotion on your lips every few hours.
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So, even if you’re not trying to impress your date with a smooth pucker, it’s worth scoring one of the best lip balms with ingredients like SPF, plumping hyaluronic acid, and antioxidant botanicals, while avoiding anything that can cause skin irritation such as salicylic acid, camphor, menthol, and fragrance. To sort through the endless offerings on the market, we turned to Dr. Zeichner to find the best chapstick and lip balm brands for men.
What To Consider
Lip balms are one of those products that really just need to do one thing: hydrate your lips and prevent them from getting chapped. But these days, you’ll also find other ingredients like antioxidants that help bolster the formulas. When you’re choosing a chapstick, consider the ingredients first to make sure it’s going to do what you need it to do, but then you should also consider what form it’s in and whether it’s one you can tolerate.
Ingredients
Generally, lip balms are going to be packed with moisturizing ingredients because, well, that’s what they need to do. These can take the form of everything from glycerin, plant butters and oils or old-school-but-very-effective petrolatum. You’ll often find heavier moisturizers than you would in, say, your daily moisturizing lotion because not only do lip balms need to moisturize skin – and sometimes heal very dry or cracked lips – but they also need to protect it from drying out. These heavier moisturizers are what we call occlusive, meaning they form a barrier on top of your skin that helps lock in moisture. You’ll also want to look for sun protection because lips do get sunburned (quite often) and you can never have too much sun protection.
Format
You’ll mostly find lip balms in sticks, tubes and pots. Sticks will often contain waxes or other ingredients that help them maintain a solid form. Tubes will usually contain more liquidy formulas like ointments that are easier to spread over your lips. Pots will usually have ointments or slightly more solid textures, but the downside is that you need to dip your finger into them to apply the balm, which means they could be slightly less hygienic and you’ll get the balm on your hands. We favor sticks and tubes for a hands free application, but it’s really up to you.
How We Selected
For the past four years, we consulted with Men’s Health‘s Grooming editors and writers on the best chapsticks to apply for optimal hydration and comfort. Experts, including our Grooming Editor Garrett Munce, put a number of chapsticks to the test and evaluated their ingredients, scent, and application. He also consulted with dermatologists on the best chapsticks that offer a dose of SPF for full protection.
Best Lip Balm With Sunscreen
Sunscreen Lip Balm SPF 30
Pros
- Contains sunscreen
- Small enough to slip into pocket and take anywhere
- Comes in multiple flavor options
Cons
- Some flavors are tinted
Even if this balm stick didn’t contain sun protection, it would still be at the top of this list. The ultra-moisturizing coconut oil base both protects and moisturizes your lips for hours and the addition of aloe and Vitamin E increase it’s hydration factors exponentially, as well as giving it a soothing element that’s welcome on dry lips, especially if they’ve been out in the sun.
But since it does have sunscreen (dermatologist-approved SPF 30, in fact), we can’t help but stan. It’s the perfect double-duty lip balm that not only moisturizes your lips but protects them from the damaging UV rays of the sun. It’s absolutely a beach day essential, but we recommend using it every day, just like you would your facial sunscreen, to help prevent cumulative damage in the long term (and keep your lips hydrated to boot).
| Key Ingredients | Coconut oil, aloe, Vitamin E, sunscreen |
|---|---|
| Format | Stick |
Best Overall Lip Balm
Lip Protectant + Broad Spectrum SPF 30
$5 at Amazon$9 at Walmart$4 at Ulta Beauty
Pros
- Ideal for super dry lips
- Contains sunscreen
- Fragrance-free
Cons
- Can be greasy if too much is applied
This near perfect lip balm checks all the boxes you want in a balm. It’s so moisturizing that it instantly soothes and protects even the driest, crustiest lips thanks to the tried and true ingredients in the formula. “The combination of lanolin and purified petrolatum has long been used for extra-dry skin,” says Dr. Zeichner. This balm contains both, plus a helping of shea butter for good measure. Yes, it’s good for dry lips, but your lips don’t have to be extra dry to use it and get a benefit. It also help protect lips from drying out.
There’s also SPF in the formula, which other similar lip ointments don’t typically have, which is what makes this balm our best overall pick. Whether you’re applying it in the depths of winter to heal chapped lips or in the summer to prevent lip sunburn, it’s your all-season, all-weather best bet.
| Key Ingredients | Lanolin, petrolatum, shea butter |
|---|---|
| Format | Ointment |
Best Natural Lip Balm
Lipcare SPF 25
Pros
- Made from natural ingredients
- Comes in a multi-pack
- Contains sun protection
Cons
- May need to soften before applying
“Made with all-natural ingredients, this stick uses aloe along with cocoa butter and sunflower seed oil to moisturize and soften the lips,” says Dr. Zeichner. “Plus, vitamin E offers antioxidant protection against UV light.” Not to mention, of course, the hybrid chemical and mineral sunscreens in the formula that give the SPF 25 sun protection. For the record, dermatologists usually recommend at least an SPF 30 in sunscreen, but some sun protection is always better than none.
If you prefer natural ingredients, this is a great natural-based option that doesn’t compromise on function or sun protection. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that it tends to get very stiff, so you may want to give it a moment and soften it up before using it so it spreads across your lips more easily.
| Key Ingredients | Aloe vera, cocoa butter, sunflower seed oil, Vitamin E |
|---|---|
| Format | Stick |
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Best Luxury Lip Balm
Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25 Duo
Pros
- Pleasant scent
- Contains sun protection
- No waxiness
Cons
- Pricey for a single tube
Sometimes it can be difficult to justify paying higher prices for something like a lip balm that feels so small and inconsequential. But then you use a higher quality lip balm and you wonder how you could ever go back to the cheap stuff. The glide on this balm is unparalleled, with a smooth finish that’s free of any waxy clumps or weird stickiness. The elevated scent-slash-flavor is minty but not overpowering or fake feeling.
The secret to the formula is the mix of petrolatum, shea butter and avocado oil, which give it a rich and emollient feel without stiffness or waxiness. There are also antioxidants like Vitamin E and green tea which help to protect skin from free radicals that can lead to signs of aging and other damage. Think of this tiny powerhouse as a fancy moisturizer for your lips and less of your generic balm.
| Key Ingredients | Shea butter, avocado oil, Vitamin E, green tea, petrolatum |
|---|---|
| Format | Ointment |
Best Healing Lip Balm
Vaseline Lip Therapy Advanced Healing Lip Balm Tube
Pros
- Heals very dry and cracked skin
- Ideal for daily use
- Hands-free tube
Cons
- No sun protection
There’s a reason Vaseline has been around for so long (since 1870 to be precise) – it’s still one of the most healing and moisturizing products on the market. It’s ideal for especially dry and cracked skin and can help heal it like new with lightning speed. It’s because the petrolatum not only moisturizes skin but also forms an occlusive barrier that helps prevent water from evaporating out (yes, that’s a real thing) and prevents bad stuff from getting inside.
Inside this tube, you’ll find classic Vaseline like the find you get in a tub, though this is much better because you don’t need to get your fingers greasy in order to use it (we’d venture to say it’s more hygienic also). Plus, the tube is way easier to carry around in your pocket.
| Key Ingredients | Petrolatum |
|---|---|
| Format | Ointment |
Best Lip Balm with Shea Butter
L’Occitane Shea Butter Lip Balm Stick
Pros
- Ultra-moisturizing
- Shea butter is ideal for very dry skin
Cons
- Does not contain sun protection
Let’s be realistic: most of us really only apply lip balm when our lips feel dry or chapped, so moisturizing ability is the most important thing to consider when choosing a lip balm. This stick is very straightforward in its moisturizing and softening abilities. “High concentrations of shea butter soften rough cells on the surface of lips and help repair dry skin,” Dr. Zeichner says. “It’s great for extra-dry, chapped lips.”
You’ll also find castor oil in the formula, yet another moisturizing and protective agent, as well as a couple different kinds of natural waxes, which help it retain its stick shape but also pull double duty as moisturizers. So you see, if what you’re really after is an effective and protective moisturizing stick for your lips, this one is one of the best.
| Key Ingredients | Shea butter, castor oil, candelilla wax, beeswax |
|---|---|
| Format | Stick |
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Best Multi-Purpose Balm
Doctor Rogers Restore Healing Balm
Pros
- Can be used on other parts of the body
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- Plant-based
Cons
- Costly for one small tube, but made for all skin types
When something comes with this sort of price tag, it’s always good for it to provide multiple uses. On that front, and more, this one really delivers. “This plant based balm is great for anyone with dry lips, and it can even be used if you are extra sensitive,” says Dr. Zeichner. “It’s free of parabens, phthalates, and fragrance, and can also be applied to dry skin, cuts, or burns.”
The simple formula contains only three ingredients – castor seed oil, glycerin, and castor wax – all of which are highly effective moisturizers that not only help to heal and moisturize the skin, but also protect it from both water loss and the outside elements, allowing it to heal more effectively. Keep this ointment around for your lips, of course, but also when you get little burns, scrapes or cuts to help them heal with minimal scarring.
| Key Ingredients | Castor seed oil, glycerin, castor wax |
|---|---|
| Format | Balm |
Best Lip Balm with Mineral Sunscreen
UV Lip Balm BroadSpectrum SPF 36
$17 at Dermstore$16 at Walmart$17 at Skinstore
Pros
- Formula has antioxidants for additional protection
- Contains sun protection
- Water-resistant
Cons
- Expensive compared to other lip balms
Typically, lip balms rely on chemical sunscreens to give their formulas sun protection. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but if you’re a fan of mineral sunscreen for whatever reason, this one contains both. That means not only do you have sensitive skin-friendly mineral sunscreens, but it uses less chemicals to offer a lot of sun protection (the most on this list).
In addition to the sunscreen component, this incredibly hydrating formula is also packed with antioxidants Vitamins C and E which help to give additional protection against signs of aging and an innovative ingredient called Hydromanil that offers immediate and long term moisture to even very dry lips. While you can definitely consider this a sunscreen for your lips, and use it when you’re going to be in the sun, it’s moisturizing enough to use every day.
| Key Ingredients | Zinc oxide, glycerin, Vitamins C and E, hydromanil |
|---|---|
| Format | Ointment |
Best Hydrating Lip Balm
Coola Classic Liplux Organic Lip Balm Sunscreen SPF 30
$12 at Dermstore$12 at Nordstrom$12 at Ulta Beauty
Pros
- Moisturizes and smoothens lips
- Formula includes antioxidants
- 70% organic ingredients
Cons
- May have to reapply after 80 minutes if you’re in the water
Yes, this is a lip balm made by a sunscreen brand, so all of your classic sunscreen things apply here. There’s broad spectrum SPF 30, it’s water resistant up to 80 minutes, and it uses chemical sunscreens to provide protection. That’s all great, but it’s – shockingly – not the main reason we chose it.
Even with the sun protective factors, this lip balm is one of the most hydrating we tried. The hydration comes from natural plant butters and oils, which deeply moisturize skin while also leaving your lips feeling smooth and supple. Plus, the formula is packed with antioxidants that help to further protect your skin from the aging and skin-damaging effects of the sun’s UV rays.
| Key Ingredients | Cupuaçu butter, raspberry and jojoba seed oils |
|---|---|
| Format | Stick |
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Meet the Experts
- Joshua Zeichner, M.D., is a director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, NY
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2024 Men’s Health Grooming Awards | Best Sunscreens | Best Sunscreen Sticks | Best Moisturizers with SPF | Best Hand Creams
