I think at some point, we’ve all suffered from dry, burning, peeling, and even bleeding lips at one time. Even here in hot, humid South Florida, my lips get dry! Sometimes, it’s hard for young women to keep that natural moisture. 

Our lips convey a sense of youth, attractiveness, and health. When they are dry, in addition to the aesthetic nuisance, we can also experience physical discomfort. This is because the lips are covered by a very thin layer of skin. This skin barrier is also the most exposed layer of protection we have in our bodies, so let’s take care of it in the most basic way.

And no, this doesn’t just mean slapping on some lip gloss or petroleum jelly.

In this post, I’m going to break down chapstick vs lip balm, what the main difference is, and the different forms and different ways you can care for your lips with inexpensive finds on Amazon. But first…

Why do our lips crack?

Lips have an ability to retain water, so environmental factors such as cold weather, wind, sun, cigarettes, extreme temperatures, etc. can cause the lips to become dry. Some medications also cause lip dryness, as is the case of many treatments for acne. Then, you have to consider the age factor. The good news? There are a variety of lip products that go a long way.

How do you treat dry lips?

Here are some useful tips for handling the problem of dry or cracked lips:

• invest in a humidifier
• exfoliate your lips
• do not remove the dry skin by hand, because this hurts the already fragile skin even more
• do not lick your lips, because saliva contains drying acids and will make the problem worse
• use lip sunscreen
• drink plenty of water 
• keep your lips moisturized

Say goodbye to chapped lips!

What is the best way to moisturize your lips? Honestly, it is up to you! There are plenty of options to choose from. Most lips moisturizers come in lip balms and chapsticks. We hear these two words used a lot, but is there a meaningful difference?

Lip Balm vs Chapstick

Generally speaking, there aren’t any discrepancies between lip balm and chapstick. The main thing to pay attention to here is the ingredient list. 

Ingredients in Chapstick

Chapsticks often contain a mixture of oils, water, and chemicals. They require some other things to hold them together and keep them fresh. Things like emulsifiers, which bind water and oil together, and preservatives for inhibiting bacteria growth. Without these mixtures, the shelf life of chapstick would be shortened.

Oil derivatives, like oil jelly, have been researched for years. For example, petrolatum is an inexpensive ingredient that the cosmetic industry uses. Formulas with petrolatums create a protective layer on top of the skin that prevents absorption of other things.

Ingredients in Lip Balm

However, when we talk about lip balms, it is more common for the ingredients to come from pure sources like beeswax, for example. That is because balms normally are concentrated formulas of pure vegetable or essential oils with a thickening ingredient, like beeswax. 

For this reason, lip balm is much more concentrated – meaning you can apply much less to get the maximum benefits.

On the other hand, there are some essential oils that are lip allergens and can make our lips drier. Citrus, mint, tea tree, eucalyptus, and camphor are some of the oils to avoid in lip balms. 

Applying Chapstick and Lip Balm

The ingredients list is not the only thing to mind when choosing a balm or a chapstick. As we apply lip balms with our fingers, there is a risk of possible infection since our hands and fingers house bacteria and germs. 

You can avoid these kinds of infections by changing your products regularly and washing your hands before applying lip balm to your lips if you use your fingers for application. As we deal with the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it may be easier to carry a chapstick while you travel for its practicality and keep lip balm at home. 

Pro tip: Since lip balm is highly concentrated, apply it before going to bed and wake up with the most gorgeous, moisturized lips!

In the end, you are the only one who knows what is best for you. Both are portable and will get the job done. Regardless of your moisturizer of choice (chapstick or lip balm), try to replace your favorite brands regularly.

Now, let’s get to the best brands!

10 Best Brands for Chapped and Dry Lips

There are several lip moisturizers available, but it is important to choose the one that will really bring the benefits you want including sun protection, high hydration, and practicality. These are different products with similar ingredients, but all are inexpensive and popular brands you can find at your local drugstore and on Amazon – my favorite place to shop! Some of these links are Amazon affiliate links.

7 Best Lip Balms for Chapped and Dry Lips 

1. Burt’s Bees 100% Natural Moisturizing Lip Balm

Buy two here for $6 on Amazon.

This is the most popular selling lip balm on Amazon. Use more butter and less wax in this ultra-conditioning Burt’s Bees formula that locks in moisture to comfort dry lips with rich kokum, shea, and cocoa butter for extra hydration and ultimate moisture. Just 1 swipe of this conditioning lip balm leaves your lips smooth and refreshed for up to 4 hours.

This type of lip balm has a pretty cool story behind it and might be the only lip balm on the list that was featured on the popular podcast, How I Built This because its original story is that cool. Click here to listen.

2. Aquaphor Lip Repair Stick

Buy two here for $8 on Amazon.

This lip balm immediately relieves dryness and soothes chapped lips in stick form. It provides effective and long-lasting hydration and is formulated with a special combination of vitamins, moisturizers, shea butter, and jojoba oil. 

3. eos Super Soft Shea Lip Balm

Buy it here for $3 on Amazon.

eos is a lip moisturizer with a 100% natural formula of vitamin E, shea butter, and jojoba oil. It also gives your lips protection against UVA and UVB rays. One difference is in the super cute packaging that facilitates the application and avoids waste. Because it is comfortable, efficient, and super practical, it remains one of the best-selling lip balms in the world.

4. USDA Organic Lip Balm

Buy six here for $8 on Amazon.

This set of lip balms comes in six fabulous flavors: Vanilla Bean, Creamy Coconut, Eucalyptus Mint, Bing Cherry, Citrus Blast, and Strawberry Breeze. It is really 100% organic and formulated with natural ingredients – without paraben, phthalate, and petrochemical.

5. Blistex Medicated Lip Balm

Buy it here for $3 on Amazon.

This Blistex Lip Balm set contains three long-acting protectors and maintains hydration of the lips to relieve dryness and prevent a recurrence of cracking lips. It also glides on smoothly to provide full coverage and prevent chapped lips from becoming even more irritated. Besides all that, it also comes with SPF 15 to better protect your lips from the sun.

6. Cliganic USDA Organic Lip Balm Set

Buy six here for $8 on Amazon.

Formulated with beeswax,  sunflower seed oil, coconut oil, and olive oil, this set of lip balms protects the skin and balances moisture levels. They come in six flavors: Mint Burst, Citrus, Beeswax, Eucalyptus Mint, Vanilla, and Coconut. Cliganic lip balms are free of parabens, phthalates, and petrochemicals. Also, all of their products are cruelty-free and never tested on animals. 

7. Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm

Buy it here for $8 on Amazon.

This lip balm offers moisturizing SPF 25 protection. It is enriched with skin conditioners, antioxidants, and has been carefully balanced with certified organic ingredients to soothe and relieve dry, chapped, and irritated lips. Unlike waxy sticks, it is formulated with green tea and vitamin E, and it’s available in multiple flavors.

3 Best Chapsticks for Chapped and Dry Lips

8. Chapstick Classic

Buy three here for $3 on Amazon.

This set of Chapstick Classic helps prevent and heal dry, chapped lips with three flavors: Cherry, Strawberry, and Spearmint. It is perfect for those who are searching for a basic Chapstick. This chapstick lip moisturizer for people with sensitive skin. (It’s one of my favorites!)

9. ChapStick Total Hydration Moisture + Tint

Buy it for $4 on Amazon.

This provides long-lasting moisture with a hint of color to enhance your natural lip color. (Two birds, one stone.) It is made with 100% naturally sourced ingredients, including raspberry seed and jojoba oils.

10. ChapStick Total Hydration

Buy it for $3 on Amazon.

ChapStick Total Hydration instantly smoothes and moisturizes to visibly renew delicate lips. It is clinically proven to provide healthier-looking, more youthful-looking lips and comes with unique hydrating formulas and flavors to help you meet your unique lip care needs with ingredients like botanical oils rich in omegas 3, 6, and 9.

Now that you have 10 great lip balm and chapstick to choose from available in stores and on Amazon, start trying some of these out and let me know how you like them on Instagram. Find me at @ChristinaAllDay and let me know what the best balm, lip mask, or lip butters are in your drawer. Do you prefer a traditional lip balm made of a wax-like substance or are you a long-time user of cosmetics with occlusive ingredients and hyaluronic acid?