We're Editors Who Have Tested Hundreds of Lip Balms—These 13 Are the Best

Ingredients: Shea butter, peptides, babassu, cupuaçu

Shades: 4 clear, 5 tinted

I've long professed my love for Rhode's Peptide Lip Treatments since they landed in the UK. I've owned most of the flavours and tints and they never fail to disappoint. I'd describe them as a glossy lip balm with the sheen of a lip gloss, but all the hydration and nourishment you'd expect from a lip balm. I love the clear flavours day-to-day, which leave a long-lasting veil of plumping hydration on my lips (thank you, peptides). But on days when I want to wear a touch of colour, the tinted ones are perfect to pair with a lip liner as a lip combo. I use them every single day and find a little goes a long way, so a tube will last you a while. I highly recommend the clear Vanilla flavour and the Espresso tint (a sheer, toasted brown hue).

Ingredients: Evening primrose oil, glycerol and liquorice extract

Shades: One (clear)

I've flirted with many lip balms over the years, but having constantly dry and sensitive lips means many haven't met my skin's high-maintenance needs. It was only when I had an eczema flare around my mouth that I found my forever lip balm. Eucerin's Acute Lip Balm was made for sensitive and reactive skin and this was the only lip balm that soothed the eczema flare and eventually healed the cracked corners of my lips, too. It has a cushiony texture that's instantly soothing, while evening primrose oil and liquorice extract help hydrate and bring down inflammation. It also comes dermatologist-recommended for dry lips. In fact, a friend of mine taking Roaccutane (an acne medication, of which side effects can include very dry lips) also raved about this lip balm during her treatment.

Ingredients: Honey, sweet almond oil, shea butter

Shades: One (clear)

"I must have been at university when Nuxe Rêve de Miel became something of a buzzy beauty item amongst the early wave of beauty bloggers and YouTubers. I had never comprehended spending more than a couple of pounds on a lip balm before, but what can I say? I was influenced," says Mica Ricketts, Who What Wear UK beauty contributor.

"Thankfully, though, this lip balm turned out to be my one and only. I apply it every single evening before bed, as it's incredibly thick in texture. It uses antibacterial honey and nourishing shea butter to calm and nourish even the most chapped of lips, and I love that it doesn't have any hint of shine or stickiness. Plus, if you're in a pinch, then you can also use it to soothe dry cuticles and hydrate any parched areas of the skin."

Ingredients: Beeswax, castor oil, lanolin

Shades: 11

"My music teacher used to always shout at our class if we used lip balm, as she seemed to find them even more offensive than our giggling and terrible use of the recorder. So it has put me off lip balm for my whole life, and I've never used it," says Emma Spedding, freelance editor. "She claimed lip balm ruined your lips. (She was wrong.) My sister bought me three of the Glossier Balm Dotcoms for Christmas, and I am now obsessed. Yes, I'm partly giving in to the Glossier hype (down to the baby-pink packaging and the divine smell), but I also love how these slightly stain your lips, giving a subtler look for the day than a lipstick."

Ingredients: Candelilla wax, beeswax

Shades: One (clear)

"I have chronically dry lips," says Shannon Lawlor, Who What Wear UK beauty director. "Seriously, my lips are drier than just about anyone else's that I know. They're constantly uncomfortable, tight, sore and flaking. So, needless to say, I am a big ol' fan of lip balm. The concept of leaving my house without a lip balm is totally alien. And because I hate my dry-lip situation so much, I like lip balms that are luxe and spark some joy. And I'm using the word luxe in its purest form. I keep a bullet of Rouge Hermès Baume de Soin in my handbag to swipe on while I'm out and about. I get countless comments on how plump it makes my lips look."

Ingredients: Rose blossom essential wax, ceramides, vitamin E, shea butter

Shades: One (clear)

"Permanently attached to my dressing table, though, is By Terry Baume de Rose," says Lawlor. "It's rich and luxurious, and it's by far the most softening lip balm I have ever tried. (And I've tried them all.) Rose blossom essential wax, ceramides, vitamin E and shea butter are a winning combination in this lip balm, leaving lips soft and comfortable."

Ingredients: Ceramides, meadow foam oil

Shades: 12

"I've never been loyal to a particular lip balm. I always just slick on whichever happens to be in the bottom of the handbag I’m using. However, I recently tried Chanel's new Rouge Coco Baume, and while I don't want to get ahead of myself, this just might be the lip balm that I commit to," says Maxine Eggenberger, deputy editor at Who What Wear UK.

"In all fairness, it's more of a lipstick/lip balm hybrid—a super-hydrating formula with buildable colour. As soon as I slicked it on my lips, I could immediately feel its nourishing effects, so much so that I couldn't stop rubbing my lips together," she says. "In terms of colour, there are seven to choose from, ranging from translucent white to just-kissed cherry. My favourite, however, is a shade called Natural Charm, which, as soon as I applied it, seemed to give my entire face an instant jolt of radiance."

Ingredients: Petroleum, coconut oil

Shades: 6

This is a great basic balm that just does the job, and for less than the cost of a coffee. Honestly, I think it rivals a lot of the more luxury lip balms I've tried. The rich formula comes out of the tube as a thick texture, giving immediate hydration before forming a silky, buttery veil on the lips. I've tried Vanilla, Peach and Raspberry (which all have a subtle tint, too) and they've left my lips feeling so soft. And at that price, you really cannot complain. I'm keeping one in my bag, on my bedside table and on my desk.

Ingredients: Shea butter, murumuru butter

Shades: 10

If, like me, you're a flavoured lip balm connoisseur, then you don't want to skip the Summer Friday's Lip Butter Balm hype—they're like the grown-up version of Lip Smackers. With flavours like Brown Sugar, Cherry, Iced Coffee and limited edition flavours like Hot Cocao and Pink Guava, there's something for everyone. With their great taste and scents aside, you can also expect a buttery texture that drenches lips in hydration, leaving them soft, nourished and plumped.

Ingredients: Waxes, rapeseed oil

Shades: 9

You know how French women are renowned for that "just-bitten" kind of lip? This is that effect bottled in a lip balm and it's one of Violette FR's best products. It applies and feels like a lip balm, but has a matte finish with a subtle sheer tint that makes your lips look like they're naturally flushed. It feels silky and non-drying on the lips and is more low-maintenance than a traditional lipstick, making it great for swiping on-the-go.

Ingredients: Cherry oil, shea butter

Shades: 22

I've not met a beauty editor who doesn't love Dior's Addict Lip Glow. These lightweight, silky balms deliver a sheer pop of colour to your lips. But while you wear it, the formula reacts to the pH of your lips, so you're left with a bespoke tint long after the balm wears away. A great low-maintenance lip balm to keep in your bag. I highly recommend the Berry and Cherry shades for a sheer, punchy pop of colour.

Price shown is members' cost.

Ingredients: SPF 50, olive oil squalane, liquorice fatty acids, avocado oil, grapeseed oil, vitamin C

Shades: One (clear)

This affordable lip balm really does the job and has an impressive ingredients list for its £10 price tag. Ultra-nourishing with a delicious orange peel scent, it helps to shield lips from UV damage (a great lio balm to pack on holiday) while leaving your lips nourished and hydrated, no matter the climate.

Ingredients: Coconut oil, berry fruit complex, murumuru butter, shea butter, vitamin C

Shades: 7

Sometimes, you need to pull out the big guns for dry, parched lips. The Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask is a Who What Wear UK team favourite. You apply it as a thick layer overnight and come morning, your lips are left baby-soft, nourished a plumped without a hint of dryness in sight. A tub will genuinely last you an age (it takes me about six months to finish a tub) and they come in a range of fun flavours—I love the classic Berry, but the Mango also has a delicious scent.