"Whether you’re a gloss girl or are balm-obsessed, there’s one thing we can all agree on: chapped lips are an unwelcome part of cold weather. No one—and I do mean no one—enjoys the feeling of cracked and peeling lips. Especially as the weather gets chillier and the lovely combo of dry indoor heat plus cold wind takes a toll on our skin, there’s no better time to crack down and add lip products that actually keep your lips hydrated to your routine.
Plus, you can pick them up at your local CVS right now!
To make the process of searching for your go-to hydrating lip balm of the season easier, we’ve rounded up our team’s all-time favorite balms, masks, glosses, and oils that keep our lips flake-free through every season. These are the hydrating lip products our editors swear by to give you a healthy, plump lip look (and feel!) all year long. And yes, it is socially acceptable to wear a lip “sleeping” mask during the day.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: The Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm is hands-down the best hydrating lip product on the market. The thing that makes it stand out to me is the wear. I can go several hours without reapplying it and still feel like my lips are super hydrated, and still slightly glossy and tinted. I personally am partial to the vanilla beige shade because I love the tint, but their clear vanilla shade is just as wonderful. And yes, for those who are curious—this balm does earn compliments from smoochers. At this point, I’m considering investing in every single color of these lip balms.
—Emma Ginsberg, Podcast & Editorial Assistant
You know how most people find hair ties and bobby pins in every bag they own and in every room of their house? Well, I have that problem except it’s with this chapstick. It’s under $4, which is part of the reason why I justify buying more of them than I need, but I also don’t want to ever be without it. There’s something about the simplicity of it that keeps me coming back for more—it doesn’t have any synthetic ingredients, it’s naturally fragranced with peppermint oil, and it’s the most hydrating lip product that I’ve ever tried. Plus, it’s not just for lips; you can use it for dry hands, cuticles, and more, which is a blessing in colder months.
—Hailey Bouche, Assistant Editor
I am addicted to having some kind of product on my lips at all times—I would rather have lip balm with me than my phone. So I need something that is extremely hydrating, stays on for a long time, and doesn’t dry out lips. My favorite product I’ve ever tried is this overnight lip plumping mask from Lawless. It is truly the most hydrating product I’ve ever tried and stays on literally until you take it off (like I will wake up and it is still on in the morning). It doesn’t feel sticky at all, and has a plumping effect without being painful or tingly. I use it at night and basically all day, but I also love it over a lip color when going out (it provides a really pretty sheen).
—Josie Santi, Wellness Editor & Podcast Host
This is by no means glamorous, but Vaseline is my holy-grail skincare product that gets me through the colder months. As someone with dry, sensitive skin, I have to be careful around certain ingredients and fragrances, so the biggest plus for me is that it’s fragrance-free, non-irritating, and hypoallergenic. Since Vaseline helps lock in moisture, I apply it before bed on top of my favorite natural honey lip balm (which I buy locally, sorry) and it helps keep all those great hydrating ingredients sealed in until morning.
—Jessica Friedhoff, Lifestyle Editor
If I’m not wearing the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm, I’m wearing the Laneige Sleeping Mask. I got my first Laneige lip mask in a stocking years ago, and I haven’t looked back since. At one point, I had multiple of these floating around in my bag, on my bathroom counter, and on my bedside table, so I could ensure that I was never without the super-intense hydration that it provides. This is the lip product that got me through the driest of dry winters in Colorado. If you’re looking for something a little heavy-duty that still has a slight sheen and tint, this is the perfect product for you.
—Emma Ginsberg, Podcast & Editorial Assistant
I have made it a personal goal of mine to try every mint-scented lip balm out there. So far, this lip balm holds the spot for my #1 contender. It has the texture and hydration of Aquaphor, but also has SPF in it, which is always important to me as a Californian who spends lots of time in the sun. Basically, this lip balm checks all my boxes, and I literally cannot go anywhere without it in my pocket.
—Bella Gil, Editorial Fashion Assistant
I have super sensitive lips—like the uber-popular Hourglass and Summer Fridays lip balms burn and blister my lips. Finding lip products that work for me has involved a ton of (very painful) trial and error. One product that’s never led me astray? The Sugar Lip Balm Hydrating Treatment from Fresh. I always have a tube of the clear on me and love the shade Honey (a warm terracotta) for when I want a little bit of color.
—Garri Chaverst, Senior Managing Editor
My love for this lip balm runs deep—if you took a look around my apartment, it could be an i-Spy game for how many you could spot. I stumbled upon this in another chapstick roundup a few years ago, and have absolutely sworn by it ever since. I have very, very dry skin, which means my lips are really dry, too, and this is the only thing that helps them during Chicago winters. Wheras most chapsticks make you feel like you need to re-apply them every hour, this chapstick is so good that I actually apply chapstick less. The best part? A 3-pack runs you $10.
—Madeline Galassi, Fashion Editor