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Cracked lips hurt. They sting when you eat, split when you smile and never seem to heal in cold, dry weather. Your lips have a thinner outer layer than the rest of your skin and no oil glands, so they lose moisture fast and can’t protect themselves the way your face can.
A good lip balm really does help. We looked at the lip balms people are actually buying right now, read the ingredients and the newest buyer reviews, and narrowed it down to five: healing cracked lips, overnight repair, a classic everyday stick, a little color, and a budget pick.
- Best overall: Aquaphor Lip Repair Ointment. Fragrance-free and made for chapped, cracked lips.
- Best overnight: LANEIGE Lip Sleeping Mask. A rich leave-on mask that works while you sleep.
Our top picks
- Best overallAquaphor Lip Repair Ointment
- Best overnightLANEIGE Lip Sleeping Mask
- Best classic stickBurt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm
- Best with a hint of colorSummer Fridays Lip Butter Balm
- Best budgetVaseline Lip Therapy Original
Aquaphor Lip Repair Ointment
Already cracked and sore? Use this. Aquaphor says its Lip Repair Ointment is clinically proven to relieve dryness and soothe chapped, cracked lips. It’s an ointment, not a wax stick, so it sits on the lips as a protective layer and keeps moisture in for longer. It’s fragrance-free and paraben-free, which matters when your lips are raw and sting easily. This listing is a value pack of two tubes, so you can keep one by the bed and one in your bag.
Why it stands out
- Made for chapped, cracked lips
- Fragrance-free and paraben-free
- Protective ointment texture
- Two tubes in the pack
What to consider
- Glossy, slightly thick feel
- No SPF, so add a lip sunscreen outdoors
LANEIGE Lip Sleeping Mask
This Korean favorite is a leave-on lip mask you put on before bed. LANEIGE says it delivers intense moisture and antioxidants while you sleep, using shea butter, murumuru seed butter and coconut oil, plus a Berry Mix Complex and vitamin C. Applied as a thick layer at night, it gives your lips hours to recover without being wiped off by eating or talking. By morning, flaky lips usually feel softer and smoother.
Why it stands out
- Rich, cushiony overnight texture
- Shea + murumuru seed butter + coconut oil
- This link opens the Berry version
What to consider
- Pricier than a drugstore balm
- Flavored, so very sensitive lips may prefer a fragrance-free ointment
- Some buyers find they need to reapply during the day
Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm
The classic yellow tube is still one of the most popular lip balms around. Burt’s Bees makes it with beeswax, vitamin E and nourishing oils, and a little peppermint oil gives it its familiar cool tingle. It glides on smoothly and leaves a matte finish, so it doesn’t look shiny. This listing is a four-pack, which makes it easy to keep one in your car, bag, desk and nightstand.
Why it stands out
- Beeswax + vitamin E
- Matte, non-shiny finish
- Four tubes in the pack
What to consider
- Peppermint oil can sting on cracked lips
- Lighter than an ointment, so reapply often in very cold weather
Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm
Want a bit of color with your moisture? Go with this one. Summer Fridays’ Lip Butter Balm uses shea and murumuru seed butters to condition dry lips, with vegan waxes for a smooth, glossy finish. This link opens the Pink Sugar shade, which adds a sheer pink tint and a sweet buttercream flavor. In a consumer study run for the brand with 39 people, all of them said their lips looked healthier right after applying it.
Why it stands out
- Moisture + shine + sheer color
- Shea + murumuru seed butters
- Vegan formula
What to consider
- Flavored, so skip it if your lips are cracked and raw
- Costs more for a small tube
Vaseline Lip Therapy Original
Nothing fancy here, and that’s the point. Vaseline Lip Therapy is built on petroleum jelly, which forms a seal that locks in moisture, plus vitamin E. Vaseline says it relieves chapped, cracked or damaged lips from the first swipe. This version comes as a non-sticky, non-greasy stick that’s easy to carry, and at this price you can keep one everywhere.
Why it stands out
- Petroleum jelly seals in moisture
- Non-sticky stick format
- Very affordable
What to consider
- Basic formula with no extras
- Thinner than an ointment for badly cracked lips
Why lips crack in cold weather
Lips don’t have oil glands, and their outer layer is much thinner than the skin on your face. Cold wind, dry indoor heat and low humidity pull moisture out of them quickly. Licking your lips makes it worse: saliva evaporates fast and takes even more moisture with it.
What to look for in a lip balm for cracked lips
- Occlusives (petrolatum, beeswax, lanolin) form a seal that keeps moisture in.
- Butters and oils (shea butter, murumuru seed butter, coconut oil) soften and nourish.
- No fragrance or strong flavors when your lips are cracked. Menthol, camphor, peppermint and cinnamon can sting.
- SPF for daytime outdoors. Lips can burn too. Use a lip balm with broad-spectrum SPF when you’re out in the sun or snow.
How to heal cracked lips faster
- Stop licking your lips. It feels like it helps, but it dries them out more.
- Apply a thick layer before bed. Night is when your lips can rest and repair.
- Don’t peel the flakes. Let the balm soften them instead.
- Drink water and run a humidifier if your home’s air is very dry.
- Reapply often, especially after eating and drinking.
How we chose
We started with the lip balms shoppers are buying most right now, then kept only those with strong ratings and consistently positive recent buyer feedback. We compared each one’s ingredients against what dry, cracked lips need, checked what the brand claims, and weighed the price. We don’t accept payment from brands. We haven’t run lab tests, and we tell you when a claim comes from the brand itself.
FAQs
What’s the difference between a lip balm and a lip mask?
A lip balm is for daytime and frequent reapplying. A lip mask is a thicker treatment you leave on overnight, like the LANEIGE Lip Sleeping Mask.
Is it bad to use lip balm all the time?
No. Reapplying a gentle, fragrance-free balm through the day is fine. If a balm makes your lips feel drier or tingle, try one without flavor or menthol.
Why are my lips still cracked after using lip balm?
You might be using a balm with irritating flavors, licking your lips, or not applying enough at night. Switch to a fragrance-free ointment and apply a thick layer before bed. For more winter skin help, see our best body lotions for dry, itchy skin.
This article is for general information only and isn’t medical advice. If your lips stay cracked for more than two to three weeks, bleed often, or the corners of your mouth split, see a doctor or dermatologist. Read our Disclaimer.