My sister loves lip balm. Don’t we all? Perhaps yes, but I'm willing to bet that nobody loves it quite like my sister does. As a beauty writer, if there’s one thing I have plenty of, it’s exactly that.
Fortunately for her, lip balm has always been something I could take or leave. But when Prada’s Universal Lip Balm – intensely covetable with its pistachio-hued bullet and weighty silver casing – first arrived in Red’s office last summer, it slipped straight into my own bag and has lived there ever since.
A lot of people fell hard for this £40 balm - pop music’s it-girl Sabrina Carpenter included - having featured the product in one of her recent videos. The hashtag #PradaLipBalm had 1.7m views on TikTok in just two months. Had Prada anticipated the fanfare? ‘Actually, yes,’ says the brand’s global creative makeup artist, Lynsey Alexander. ‘It took 10 rounds of formulation and three years to get it right,’ she tells me. A lip balm obsessive, Alexander took a particularly fastidious approach to the creation of this one. ‘I wanted it to be unisex, so it had to be matte. The finish needed to be ultra-hydrating but not so slippery that it changed the lipstick that sits on top of it. And the colour? It soothes you just to look at it.’
Since Prada broke the seal with its perfectly carved pistachio bullet, this hasn’t been the only high-performing, ultra-luxe balm I’ve withheld from my sister; they’re coming from all corners and usually coming home with me. Why? Well, what I should also these much-adored tubes of gloop work better than ever before, with brands such as Prada, Dior, Tatcha et al approaching their lip-care formulas with the same verve and tenacity as they would a targeted skincare serum.
I ask the experts why they're so much better than their predecessors.
What makes a good lip balm?
For Dr. Hiba Injibar, dermatologist, it's all in the ingredients. 'The best new lip treatments respect a balance of occlusives, humectants and emollients,’ she says. ‘Occlusives, such as lanolin and beeswax, sit on the lips and stop hydration being lost; humectants like hyaluronic acid draw water into the skin; and emollients such as shea butter soften and smooth. It’s the mix of all three that is effective.’
Do I need a lip balm?
I find myself applying these new treatments absentmindedly. Do I actually need one? Dr Injibar unknowingly validates me. 'There are no oil glands on the lips,’ she says. ‘Without a treatment, they’re getting no moisture at all.’
What lip balm should I buy?
A thrilling question. My lip balm collection is now larger than my sister's. I've tried too many lip treatments - balms, oils, serums - to count. Theses are the buys that I've used until the last drop and repurchased, time and time again. Try one of the below, and you'll agree: lip balm has never been better.
Shop: The best lip balms, oils and treatments, 2025
The lip balm that started my love affair.
I love a matte lipstick, but know that I need to give my lips some attention before diving straight in. Where most lip balms give a glossy finish and take a fair while to soak in, Prada's matte finish means that lipsticks with the same texture can be applied directly on top without looking shiny. Don't be alarmed by the colour: it sits invisibly and actually makes my own lips look a tad more pink. It's refillable, too.
The first drop of this lip balm sold out so quickly that it created a waitlist of thousands. I was one of those on it, and have collected most shades of Hailey Bieber's lip balm offering.
The Peptide Lip Treatment is impressive. Yes, it softens and gives a cushiony, protective layer, but it also performs like skincare. A peptide works to soften fine lines on the lip over time, while lactic acid gives gentle exfoliation so that lips are constantly smoother and fresher.
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This jelly mask doesn't just have shelf appeal; the formula inside is so great for lips that need total restoration. It's full of seed oils and fruit extracts that properly cushion tired skin that needs hydration from the inside out.
Despite the formula looking thick, you'll be surprised at it's comfort and ease of wear. Leave it on while you sleep; lips feel softer and more pillowy by morning.
Ok, best 'pH-reactive lip balm' might seem a bit niche, but trust me: this is stellar and unlike anything else. DIOR's lip balm offering has all the nurturing properties you'd come to expect from a lip treatment, but with added tech that makes it one of the best additions to your makeup bag.
They're very subtly tinted (with shades ranging from a ballet slipper pink to a jammy plum) and work with the pH of your lips to create a shade that's almost unique to you. The finish is satiny and plush, and the subtle colour pulls together a bare face so beautifully. Love, love, love.
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My previous editor carried a pot of this French favourite with her wherever she went. It's a tried and true classic that's thick enough to lend some instant relief to sore, chapped areas, but hydrating enough to penetrate deeper to stop further moisture loss. Despite the honey in the name, there's no stickiness to mention: instead, a dreamy, melty texture that's really pleasing. One pot will last you an age, too.
If you've got an Instagram account, chances are you will have seen this product on your feed. The lip mask comes in a variety of 'flavours' (berry, vanilla, gummy bear) and is a lovely way to keep hydration levels in the lips topped up consistently. I wouldn't reach for this if my lips were needing something intensive (look to NUXE for that), but it's great to apply nightly when you just want something to keep lips happy.
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What causes dry lips?
Your lips don’t have oil glands, so naturally, they’re prone to dryness and require additional hydration. Plus, the skin on your lips is thinner and more sensitive than elsewhere, making chapping much more likely.
Many factors can leave your lips feeling dry and sore – anything from a random cold spell to central heating, not to mention licking your lips, eating salty foods or not drinking enough water.
A cosseting balm will help nourish and condition your lips, but it will also create a barrier to protect them from pollution and UV rays (for the best defence, look for SPF lip balm).
