Best lip balms 2020: chapped, dry lips begone!

One of the cheapest balms in our list comes from Palmer's, among the high street’s more popular moisturiser brands. Made with pure Cocoa Butter and Vitamin E, it helps prevent and protect chapped, cracked or wind-burned lips for next to nothing. It even has SPF 15 thrown in for good measure, adding protection against ultraviolet rays and all for under two quid. Bargain.
Best for value

The rich texture and warm floral scent of Dr Hauschka’s Lip Balm make it a good option if you’re looking to lard up your lips with a great smelling balm. It's packed with plant extracts, said to help repair the lips as well as heal cracks at the corners of the mouth, for an all-rounded remedy.

Made 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.

Recommended by the Herpes Viruses Association, LipQ Liquorice Balm claims to not only nourish dry lips but also help to reduce the severity and frequency of cold sores. This is thanks to a cold sore-fighting ingredient in liquorice called glycyrrhizic acid, which targets the genes required to maintain the virus in its latent state by interfering with the production of special proteins that feed the infected cells. Two birds, one stone.
Best for battling cold sores

This vegan and cruelty-free lip balm is infused with hemp-derived Cannabis sativa to not only moisturise sensitive lips but to offer a calming effect for wearers. Containing sunflower seed oil, meadow-foam seed oil, and jojoba oil and hemp seed oil, it’s an amino-rich mixture that helps hydrate and condition the skin while soothing it at the same time.
Best for calming skin

This New York-based skincare brand is known for its high quality and minimally-packaged products that resonate with the cool kids. The firm’s hydrating lip gel absorbs quickly to ensure it doesn’t transfer nor require constant reapplication, helping to replenish dry lips with a blend of fatty acids that offer a layer of protection all day long. It’s also cruelty-free.
Best for long-lasting protection

Ecooking is one of the fastest-growing skincare brands in Denmark. Its balms are formulated with completely organic and natural raw ingredients, including organic argan oil, olive oil, beeswax and organic shea butter, all of which are so natural the brand says the balm is safe to eat. Best of all is the fresh-smelling mint edition, which makes your mouth smell like you’ve just cleaned your teeth.
Best for masking bad breath

Ashley&Co’s Lip Punch is an intensive balm that protects and heals a dry or chapped pout with the help of some natural beeswax, arnica and essential oils. It’s also lightly fragranced with natural perfumes Costa Rican tuberose, Ylang Ylang and wild jasmine to make a lovely floral smelling yet dense and buttery lip balm.
Best for super chapped lips

Jack Black’s Intense Therapy Lip Balm is an emollient packed with skin conditioners and antioxidants that soothe and relieve irritated lips in a flash. Unlike waxy sticks, it penetrates deeper and faster to provide instant relief. With bonus SPF25 sun protection, it also guards against temperature extremes and windburn.
Best for quick relief

You'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’s Lip Protection stick provides transparent SPF30 UV protection to block the harsh effects of the sun, which can wreak havoc with your smackers if left exposed. Enriched with blackcurrant seed oil to moisturise deep into your rims, it offers protection in all temperatures. It also comes in SPF50 for those really concerned about sun damage.
Best for warmer climes

Made in the UK, the Dr Paw Paw balm contains heaps of natural ingredients, the main one being - of course - fermented Pawpaw, the fruit of the plant Carica Papaya. This plant has been found to have natural healing qualities and is believed by many to be the finest natural medicine there is. A great, multi-purpose formula that you can use on any body part in urgent need of a grease job.
Best for multipurpose use

Vegan 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.

Elizabeth Arden's Eight Hour Cream is one of the holy grails of beauty. And now you can get it for your lips. Apply to dry, chapped lips for intensive moisturising.

In a quirky little package, this organic lip balm does a lot. Containing shea and cocoa butter, you'll never have dry lips again.

This vegan balm is made using pure plant butters, which not only make it smell good enough to eat but give lips a delicate gold, shimmery finish. And for those thinking glossy lip balms are just for women; think again. Even the tinted variety are being shown some man love of late. According to Panasonic Grooming’s 2020 Trends Report, almost one fifth of guys now wear makeup (17%) – so a little bit of shine definitely nothing to be afraid of.
Best for a bit of shine

Okay, so 50 quid for a lip balm is a little steep, we admit, but if you’re serious about your lip health then this is the one. Using botanical extracts and antioxidants including hyaluronic acid, vitamins C, E, and B5 as well as shea and cocoa butter, Youth Lip Elixir can visibly improve the overall appearance of dry and dehydrated lips by softening and plumping for a juicer look.
Best for lip plumping

Lip 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 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.

One 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.

Great 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.

Alright, 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.