A long time ago, lip balms were boring. A clear formula with some shea butter couldn’t compete with the excitement of other beauty products, like eyeshadow palettes or a pigmented blush. But in 2026 the release of a new lip balm is just as exciting, if not more so, than any new colour cosmetic or fancy skincare. We don’t just put Chapstick on our lips anymore to keep them from getting too dry. The next generation of formulas is like a full-on lip treatment that you can wear all day. They are full of moisturising ingredients, plumping peptides, and glossy finishes that add colour. Also, lip balms from brands like Rhode and Summer Fridays that are popular right now 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. We probably have 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 products for your skin.
Peptide Lip Treatment from Pout Preserve
1 Best Overall Lip Balm
Why we like it: This lip balm is very moisturising, thanks to mango butter, lactic acid, and peptides. But the best part is that it is really shiny. The finish is as shiny as most lip oils or glosses, and the thick consistency coats your lips beautifully and keeps them soft for hours.
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One editor for Cosmo says, “I’m in a long-term 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
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Main ingredients Peptides, mango butter, and lactic acid
Shades 6
Ceramide Lip Treatment by AN-GLOSS
2. ANFISA Skin AN-GLOSS Ceramide Lip Treatment is the best lip balm to spend money on. It costs $45 at Revolve.
Why we think it’s great: The ANFISA Ceramide Lip Treatment is the best lip balm if you want a pretty, glossy shine. 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.
A Cosmo editor says, “I know $45 is crazy for a lip balm, but this is by far the best one I’ve ever used. It really helps to repair and strengthen my lips, not just temporarily moisturise them. I also like the applicator with the metal tip. “This is a total luxury, but it’s worth it for something I use all the time.”—LAUREN BALSAMO, BEAUTY DIRECTOR
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Important parts Squalane, murumuru butter, and ceramides are in this lip balm. It comes in three colours and is the best budget lip balm.
The Ordinary Hydrating Lip Balm is now 15% off, bringing the price down to $9. You can also find it at Nordstrom for $9 and Ulta Beauty for $9.
The Ordinary makes the best classic lip balm, just like all of its other simple skincare products. Squalane, jojoba extracts, and amino acids are just a few of the many good things in the formula.
One editor at Cosmo says, “I put this super moisturising lip balm on my lips when they really need some moisture, especially in the winter.” 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
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A Quick Look at the Features
The main ingredients are squalane, jojoba, amino acids, and sodium PCA.
Shades 1
Le Chouchou Lip Balm for Softening
4 Best Lip Balm for Exfoliating
EADEM Le Chouchou Lip Softening Balm costs $24 on Amazon.
Also think about Sephora for $24.
Why we love it: It gives you the mirror-like finish you want in a gloss while also moisturising your lips. There are a lot of very pigmented colours to choose from. It also has lactic acid in it, which chemically exfoliates the lips, so every time you put it on, they get softer.
One editor at Cosmo says, “If you come into my apartment, you will definitely find an EADEM Lip Balm on my bathroom sink, entryway table or makeup desk.” This is my favourite lip product that you 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
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Main ingredients Peptides, lactic acid, Brazilian açaí, and African mongongo butters
Balm Dotcom Shades 8
5 Best Tinted Lip Balms: Glossier Balm Dotcom
Why we like it: The Balm Dotcom from Glossier is probably 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.
One editor at Cosmo says, “Balm Dotcom will always be an icon. It was the first tinted lip balm that did more than just give you a clear formula or some colour without any moisture.” The pigment is rich and can be built up, so you don’t need to use a lot of lip products. This one balm does it all.—JH
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Castor seed oil, bee’s wax, and vitamin E are the main ingredients.
16 Colours of Emotional Support Lip Balm
6. The Best Lip Balm for Acne
Emotional Support Lip Balm for Personal Days: $24 at Revolve and $24 at Ulta Beauty.
Why we love it: If you have acne-prone skin, anything you put on your face can make it worse, even your lip balm! We love this hydrating and non-comedogenic formula if you have bumps or pimples around your mouth or chin.
One editor at Cosmo says, “I get acne around my lips (cool!!) and almost every formula has pore-clogging ingredients in it. This one from Personal Day, though, is different. It has a lot of moisture but isn’t too heavy, so it won’t cause breakouts. Big win.—BG
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Main ingredients Hyaluronic acid, squalane, and jojoba oil
Shades 3 Barrier Baste Moisturising Lip Balm
7 Best Hydrating Lip Balm
$24 for Dr. Idriss Barrier Baste Moisturising Lip Balm at Sephora
Why we like it: Dr. Idriss’s super moisturising lip balm will fix chapped and dry lips. Squalane, ceramides, and shea butter help keep moisture in, and colloidal oatmeal and panthenol calm the lips. We all know how bad it is when our lips get too dry and start to burn from irritation.
“I’ve followed Dr. Idriss’s “lip baste” technique for years (she recommends putting a chemical exfoliant on your lips, like an AHA toner, and then covering them with a thick, occlusive moisturiser), so it was only natural for her to make a lip balm one day. And I’m completely obsessed with it. This winter, it has been a lifesaver for my lips in the cold and dry air of my flat. I use it as a lip mask every night, and I also keep a whole tube in my bag for when I travel.—BG
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Features in a Nutshell
Squalane ceramides shea butter, and colloidal oatmeal are some of the main ingredients.
Shades 2 Peptide Lip Boost Plumping Lip Mask
8 Best Lip Mask
rhode Peptide Lip Boost Plumping Lip Mask for $23 at Sephora
Why we love it: This lip mask isn’t exactly a lip balm, but it’s great for moisturising and plumping your lips while you sleep. It has a lot of ceramides and hyaluronic acid to keep the moisture in, as well as peptides to feed your lips while you sleep.
“I know everyone loves Rhode’s lip tints, but I’ll be honest and say I’m not a big fan,” says one Cosmo editor. The colours are nice, but the formula doesn’t give my dry lips enough moisture, and the texture can be strange. But what about the brand-new Rhode lip mask? Totally worth being obsessed with. I’ve been using it all the time, and my lips have never looked or felt better. —LB
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Important parts Peptides, lactic acid, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid
Shades 1 Lip Butter Balm
9 Best Viral Lip Balm
Why we love it: You probably see this tube a lot on your social media or as a bag charm. People can’t get enough, which is why Summer Fridays keeps coming out with new colours and flavours. Murumuru, shea butter, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin E all help to keep skin moist. And the tints are so soft and light that they are great for everyday wear and add just a touch of colour. The bio-resin applicator tip gives off just the right amount of product and makes it very easy to put on again.
“I now know why the Lip Butter Balm is called the GOAT of lippies,” says one Cosmo editor. In short, the formula works well to nourish and repair lips, keeping them soft enough to kiss. The glassy finish is *chef’s kiss*, every version smells amazing, it gives lips a buildable tint, and the slim tube holds a lot of product, so it lasts for months.—MARY HONKUS, ASSISTANT EDITOR
