Best lip balms 2020: chapped, dry lips begone!

Keep your lips hydrated with these fantastic lip balms.

Best lip balms 2020: chapped, dry lips begone!

The winter months can be pretty tough on the lips, the part of the face which is often forgotten about when it comes to moisturising - well, until they’re already chapped and you start looking for the best lip balms to remedy this.

This happens because there are no oil glands within the lips, explains Tijion Esho, cosmetic doctor and founder of the Esho Clinic.

“Lips lose both heat and moisture easily, which can leave them susceptible to becoming dry and cracked if we don’t take care of them”, he says. “This is exacerbated by the harsh weather where extremes of temperature and winter winds strip the surface of moisture.”

Esho adds that balms can help protect against this in two ways, first by providing a protective coating to the surface of the lips to help prevent the loss of moisture and secondly to help encourage healing and repair of chapped lips.

Here are the some of the best lip balms - tried and tested - to keep your mouth well moisturised before spring arrives.

Best lip balms for dry lips

R&R Luxury Lip Butter
£4.80 at r-r-luxury.myshopify.comMade simply from Shea Butter, Bees Wax and oil from Lavender, Coconut and Peppermint, this lip butter is 100% natural. It comes in a tube for easy application and the lavender and peppermint are meant to soothe and repair dry lips - they also smell pretty nice, which is a bonus.
LipQ Licorice Balm
£7.95
Best for battling cold sores
ElfCalm Cannabis Sativa Calm Balm
£5 at tidd.ly
Best for calming skin
Malin+Goetz Lip Moisturiser
£11 at Malin + Goetz
Best for long-lasting protection
Ecooking mint lipbalm
£9 at tidd.ly
Best for masking bad breath
Ashley & Co Lip punch
£9 at shop-uk.ashleyandco.co
Best for super chapped lips
Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF25
£7.25 at tidd.ly
Best for quick relief
Burt's Bees Moisturising Lip Balm Twin Pack
£5.99 at AmazonYou'll almost certainly have heard of Burt's Bees – it's the gold standard when it comes to portable lip balms for your bag. This double pack is great value, but also gives you a bit of variety: you can pick from the classic beeswax version or a juicy vanilla bean.
Ultrasun Lip Protection SPF30
£8 at bit.ly
Best for warmer climes
Pawpaw original balm
£6.95 at tidd.ly
Best for multipurpose use
Le Labo Lip Balm
£11 at bit.lyVegan and petroleum free, this Le Labo lip balm is a non-sticky or glossy option for those who want something simple. Made with shea butter, olive oil and jojoba seed, it's deeply hydrating.
Eos Visibly Soft Smooth Lip Balm in Coconut Milk
£6.50 at AmazonIn a quirky little package, this organic lip balm does a lot. Containing shea and cocoa butter, you'll never have dry lips again.
Maybelline Baby Lips Balm
£2.90 at AmazonLip balm doesn't have to be boring. This Maybelline offering doesn't just hydrate your lips – it also provides a sweet tinted colour. Great if you want an all in one product.
Aquaphor Lip Repair Ointment
£1.54 at AmazonAquaphor is non scented and doesn't leave a shimmer or shine, so it's not a beauty product. But if you're looking to soothe dry lips then you can't get much better than this.
Aveda Lip Saver
£6.50 at bit.lyOne for those who like organic products, this Aveda lip saver balm is completely natural and cruelty free. The perfect little pick-me-up for anybody vegan.
Aesop Protective Balm
£13 at bit.lyGreat for summer as well as the winter, this balm contains UVA and UVB filters to protect lips from the sun while you're out and about. Plus, Aesop products are beautifully designed, so it'll look great in your make up bag or pocket.
Coca-Cola Lipsmacker Set
£8.99 at AmazonAlright, so this is more nostalgia than anything. But these Coke flavoured Lipsmacker lip balms may actually be better than you remember. They're not going to give you the hydration that a more expensive or specialised product is, granted. But they're lots of fun.