While everyone seems to be talking about lip balm in colder weather, the fact of the matter is that every season is lip balm season. Crusty lips are annoying and painful no matter the season, especially with the heightened possibility for sunburned lips in the summer. It's important to keep lips moisturized and healthy, and in order to do that, a good lip balm is imperative. While the following options are meant to give options (as well as recommend what not to use), lip products and makeup is personal. Experiment and see what works best for you—who knows, maybe you'll find the next cult favorite.
1. Glossier Balm Dotcom ($12)
Considering that this publication is read mostly by Millenials and Gen Z’ers it’s not surprising that Glossier’s Balm Dotcom is at the top of the list. The tube packaging isn’t just aesthetically pleasing, it’s also super effective in getting all the product out. The scents offered are great for different moods, with options for pops of color in cherry and rose, and birthday cake and coconut if you want a balm that smells as good as the food it’s scented as. The texture is super soft and the product itself is very versatile, which combined with the branding, makes it a no–brainer for the top cult lip balm on this list.
2. Smith’s Rosebud Salve ($7)
It’s hard to find someone who hasn’t tried Smith’s Rosebud Salve, which is why it’s near the top. It has a super subtle rosy color that looks great on the lips and can be used as a cheek tint in a pinch. The texture is soft without being greasy or oily, and it’s long–lasting on the lips. A little also goes a long way with the product, making it hard to blast through a tin unless it’s used a lot. The packaging is on point with its retro aesthetic as well, and combined with all of the other features of the product, takes it to cult status pretty easily.
3. Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment ($24)
It was necessary to include this bougie favorite, because although it costs a pretty penny, (save it for when you’re trying to really treat yourself) it really does its job. While the balm is pretty small and prone to breakage especially when it’s hot out, the formula is so creamy, moisturizing, and long–lasting that it makes up for its flaws. The variety of colors, scents, and types of balms they make are great, considering they give subtle color that still gives a little pop. Additionally, the packaging is super pretty, making it something that you want to take out and admire rather than just put on your lips.
4. Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm ($3.59)
Everyone seems to buy Burt’s Bees lip balm when they want to feel better about themselves and their environmental impact, like somehow buying lip balm made of beeswax helps the bees from going extinct. That being said, no matter how good you feel after buying Burt’s Bees lip balm, the best description one can give for it is… meh. The texture is pretty waxy and when compared to other lip balms, it’s just not as soft as it could be. A positive of this lip balm though are the great variety of scents and the options for color. The next plus is that it lasts on the lips, longer than Vaseline, that is.
5. Vaseline Lip Therapy ($1.89)
This one is last on the list because I truly do not understand why people use it by their own volition. Sure, everyone seems to own a tub of vaseline that they resort to if there’s nothing else around, but I’ll just never understand people that actually like the feel of Vaseline. It’s greasy and when you put it on, but sinks in so quickly that you don’t actually feel any moisturizing effect unless you slather it on in ungodly amounts. It also doesn’t really smell like anything, just a little plasticky. However, it is a cost–effective choice and the tub never really seems to run out of product, which makes it an easy option in a pinch.
