Years 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 will be just as exciting, if not more so, than any new colour cosmetics 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 full-on lip treatments that you can wear all day. They have a lot of moisturising ingredients, plumping peptides, and tinted glossy finishes.
Also, trendy lip balms from brands like Rhode and Summer Fridays have become status symbols in their own right. These trendy lip balms are now as exciting as many other beauty launches.
How Team Cosmo Tests Lip Balms
We at Team Cosmo always test lip balms on our own dry, chapped lips to find the best ones. We probably have at least 50 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 formulas.
Cosmo’s beauty editors have picked the best lip balms to keep your lips soft and hydrated. Read on to find out more.
1 Best Lip Balm Overall
Peptide Lip Treatment from OleHenriksen Pout Preserve
What we love about it: This lip balm is very moisturising thanks to mango butter, lactic acid, and peptides. But the best part is how shiny it is.
The finish is as glassy as most lip oils or glosses, and the thick consistency coats your lips beautifully and keeps them soft for hours.
One editor at Cosmo says, I’m in a long-term, committed relationship with this lip balm from now until forever. It feels so fancy, but it’s also easy to throw in my bag.
And the levels of moisture are high and the formula feels super comfortable daily. — BETH GILLETTE, EDITOR OF BEAUTY
A Quick Look at the Features
| Important parts | Shades |
|---|---|
| Peptides, mango butter, and lactic acid | 6 |
2 Best Lip Balm to Splurge On
ANFISA Skin AN-GLOSS Ceramide Lip Treatment
What we like about it: The ANFISA Ceramide Lip Treatment is the best lip balm for a shiny, pretty look. This lip balm will deeply hydrate your chapped lips.
It also looks great on top of your favourite lipstick or liner while giving a glossy finish and maintaining deep lip moisture.
One Cosmo editor says I know $45 is crazy for lip balm, but this is by far the best I’ve ever used.
It really helps my lips heal and get stronger, not just temporarily moisturise them. The applicator with the metal tip feels very luxurious. — LAUREN BALSAMO
A Quick Look at the Features
| Main ingredients | Shades |
|---|---|
| Squalane, murumuru butter, and ceramides | 3 |
3 Best Budget Lip Balm
The Ordinary Hydrating Lip Balm
The Ordinary makes the best classic lip balm just like all of its simple skincare products. The formula includes a lot of healthy ingredients.
Ingredients include squalane, jojoba extracts, amino acids and many hydrating skin nutrients that support lip barrier repair.
One Cosmo editor says This lip balm is very moisturising so I use it when my lips really need moisture.
Especially during the winter months when dryness becomes worse. The slim packaging makes it easy to fit in any purse pocket. — Jasmine Hyman
A Quick Look at the Features
| Important ingredients | Colours |
|---|---|
| Squalane, jojoba, amino acids, sodium PCA | 1 |
4 Best Lip Balm for Exfoliating
EADEM Le Chouchou Lip Softening Balm
Why we love it: It has the moisturising benefits of a lip balm and the shiny finish you want in a gloss.
It comes in a lot of very pigmented colours and chemically exfoliates with lactic acid to make lips soft every time.
One editor says If you walk into my apartment you will definitely find an EADEM Lip Balm somewhere.
This is my favourite lip product that I can use once because this one formula does it all. — JH
A Quick Look at the Features
| Important parts | Shades |
|---|---|
| Peptides, lactic acid, Brazilian açaí, African mongongo butters | 8 |
5 Best Tinted Lip Balm
Glossier Balm Dotcom
Why we like it: There is some debate about whether Glossier’s famous Balm Dotcom started the whole lip balm craze.
It comes in more than a dozen pigmented colours including limited edition shades and classic everyday colours.
The formula includes castor seed oil, bee’s wax and vitamin E ingredients that keep lips healthy while wearing.
Balm Dotcom is the original tinted lip balm that went beyond a clear formula and will always be an icon.
Quick Look at the Features
| Important parts | Shades |
|---|---|
| Castor seed oil, bee’s wax, vitamin E | 16 |
How to pick the best lip balm
Know what to look for in the ingredients.
The point of lip balm is to make your chapped lips feel better, right? To get the most hydration benefits you should check ingredients.
Dr. Lal says that balms with petrolatum, beeswax, shea butter, cocoa butter and sunflower oil glycerin are among the best options available.
Know what ingredients to stay away from.
You may have heard a lot of talk about how some lip balms can actually dry out your lips.
According to Dr. Lal some lip balms contain agents like menthol or fragrance that can be irritating and inflammatory.
Dr. Lal also says if you’re using a lip balm that makes your lips look fuller you should watch ingredients like cinnamon.
Meet the expert
Karan Lal, MD, is a double board-certified dermatologist for adults children and cosmetic issues at Affiliated Dermatology Scottsdale, AZ.
Why should you trust Cosmopolitan
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan and has been writing and editing skincare and makeup stories for more than six years.
She regularly tests and analyses lip balms on her own lips and works with the best dermatologists to evaluate new formulas products.
Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmopolitan and has been writing about makeup and skin care for more than three years.
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