Best lip balms to treat and nourish dry, chapped lips

Celebrity-founded beauty brands often result in many a raised eyebrow, but Hailey Bieber’s rhode is worthy of your attention. The lip balms are among the brand’s bestsellers and come in a variety of flavours, from vanilla to watermelon and even salted caramel. For anyone who prefers their lip balm to taste less like a lolly, they’re an unflavoured option.

Peptides are the key focus for this balm/gloss hybrid. These help improve the elasticity in the lips, rebuild the skin barrier and reduce wrinkles, for a more plump pout that’s less prone to cracking. It also leaves a beautiful shiny sheen, giving the effect of gloss without the stickiness.

Read the full rhode skincare review

This budget buy is one of my all-time favourites. While it may not have the fancy ingredients or tasty flavours of some other options, it does deliver hydration that will help to soften and soothe, thanks to a blend of shea butter and panthenol (a moisturising agent derived from vitamin B5).

It works best when used every day, not a chapped lip crisis recovery balm, as it’s rather lightweight. The fact it comes in a multi-pack that works out at less than £2 per balm is quite a bonus. Tinted options are also available, although I’m yet to find a shade that suits me.

Most beauty products work in multiple ways. Even your most basic lip balm can most likely double up as a highlighter, cuticle conditioner or scab protector. But finding a product marketed as being multi-use can take away a lot of the guesswork. This L’Occitane petite remedy balm does exactly that, apparently offering more than 50 uses.

Made from a blend of sunflower oil, shea butter, sweet almond oil and beeswax, it’s one of the most hydrating products I’ve tried. It will not only leave your lips feeling soothed and soft but also your hands, elbows, knees and even hair. It’s a one-pot wonder, especially in winter.

This lip balm is a recent addition to my collection, but I’m already heavily hooked. If you’re a fan of the regular chapstick-style lip balm, this Caudelíe lip conditioner is a step towards a more luxurious find while still coming in at a pretty great price point.

Infused with sunflower oil, castor seed oil, beeswax, shea butter, grapeseed oil and limonene, it leaves the lips hydrated and nourished for hours. Plus, 98 per cent of the ingredients are from natural origin, meaning the ingredients list reads more like a smoothie recipe than your standard beauty product.

If you’re after a lip balm that will also score you serious style points, keep scrolling, as it’s safe to say E45 certainly isn’t a sexy find. However, if you’re after one that immediately soothes sore lips, can help heal cuticle cuts and seems to last a lifetime, you may want to pay more attention to this bargain beauty buy.

It’s suitable for sensitive skin, has multipurpose softening properties and falls nicely under the £10 price point. But, unsurprisingly, as it’s E45, the brand famous for straightforward skincare, you won’t find any fancy ingredients included here. Instead, petrolatum, lanolin and paraffinum liquidum help to deeply hydrate, no matter how dry your lips or skin may seem, while beeswax, castor seed oil and vitamin E add much-needed nutrients and help to retain moisture.

I’ve found it to be one of the most hydrating lip balms I’ve ever tried and it also really helps heal dry skin on hands and small areas of the face as well, earning it five stars.

Summer Fridays’s lip balms are certainly the buzzy product in the beauty sphere right now and for good reason. Coming in seven tinted shades (poppy being my favourite), the formula is a lip balm/gloss hybrid packed with a whole host of skin-loving ingredients.

Shea and murumuru really help to hydrate and nourish the lips, leaving them looking and feeling plump. The quick swipe of colour can pack a punch when wearing minimalist make-up, making it perfect for skincare fans who still want to accentuate their pout.

Of course, a Chanel lip balm isn’t exactly a necessity. In fact, I’d class this one as more of an accessory or an option for those who love luxury finds. Although, it does deliver on all lip-boosting requirements needed to make a lip balm a great beauty buy.

Sitting inside a super-sleek black case complete with the Chanel logo, this is an ultra-soft lip balm that melts instantly once it touches your mouth. The ingredients list all make it incredibly moisturising, and it leaves a lovely, non-sticky sheen, too.

I usually use mine when out at dinner or on days when I’m feeling a little fancy. One application offers a hit of hydrating for around four hours, so it’s lasted me a good few months, too.