HOW TO CHOOSE A LIP BALM: FIND YOUR LIP BALM PERSONA
Updated: 13/11/2026
Confession: there’s a lip balm in every coat pocket, bag and bedside drawer we own. No regrets. But with so many textures, tints and treatments out there, finding the one that’s right for you can feel like a lot. Balm or butter? Oil or mask? Tinted, plumping or SPF?
Here’s the good news: the right lip balm for you comes down to what you want from it. So we’ve broken it down by lip balm persona, from comfort seekers to gloss obsessives. Find yours, then stock up (one for every pocket is a totally reasonable number). Want to see the full line-up? Head to our lip balms.
In this article
- Lip balm, butter, oil or mask: what’s the difference?
- The comfort seeker: rich lip balms and butters
- The colour lover: tinted lip balms
- The gloss obsessive: lip oils
- The beauty sleeper: overnight lip masks
- The volume chaser: plumping lip balms
- The sun seeker: SPF lip balms
- The conscious shopper: vegan lip balms
- Lip balm FAQs
Lip balm, butter, oil or mask: what’s the difference?
Before you pick your persona, a quick guide to the textures you’ll come across:
- Lip balm: the classic. A stick or pot that sits on your lips for everyday comfort.
- Lip butter: richer and creamier than a balm, usually in a pot or squeezy tube.
- Ointment: thick and dense, brilliant for very dry lips and overnight use.
- Lip oil: lightweight and glossy, with a juicy shine and often a hint of colour.
- Lip mask: an extra-rich formula, usually worn overnight.
- Lip treatment: a targeted formula, such as a peptide balm for smoother, fuller-looking lips.
The comfort seeker: rich lip balms and butters
Your lips feel dry more often than not, and you want something that feels cushiony and stays put. Start with the cult-classic Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm, a rich, butter-packed formula in a range of scents and sheer tints. The PATRICK TA Major Moisture Smoothing Lip Balm has a cushiony, mask-like feel, while Anastasia Beverly Hills Kiss Theory Lip Balm is a gel-balm with glassy, non-sticky shine.
Prefer something a little more luxe? The Hermès Rouge Hermès Lip Care Balm is a translucent daily balm, BY TERRY Baume de Rose Lip Balm is a long-standing favourite and Gucci Beauty Baume Nourissant Universel is a fragrance-free multi-use balm for lips, skin and nails. If your lips are really parched, our guide to the best lip balms for chapped lips has even more picks.
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The colour lover: tinted lip balms
You want the comfort of a balm with a wash of colour, minus the commitment of a full-on lipstick. The Hermès Rose Hermès Rosy Lip Enhancer sits halfway between a balm and a lipstick for a natural-looking flush, while the MAKE UP FOR EVER Artist ColorGlow Lip Balm adds luminous colour with a soft, cushioned feel. For sheer, juicy shine, try the Kosas Wet Stick, or swipe on Sculpted by Aimee Hydralip, a balm and lip tint in one. Find more in our tinted lip balms and treatments.
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The gloss obsessive: lip oils
Shine is non-negotiable, but sticky gloss is a no. Lip oils are your answer: lightweight, glassy and comfortable to wear all day. The Gisou Honey Infused Lip Oil is a cult favourite, infused with the brand’s signature honey, and the Kosas Wet Lip Oil Gloss gives a glassy finish in a range of shades. Saie’s Glossybounce Hydrating Lip Oil sits somewhere between an oil, a gloss and a balm, and Huda Beauty’s Faux Filler Jelly Oil adds a juicy hint of colour. Treating yourself? The Hermès Hermèsistible Infused Care Oil gives a dewy wash of colour in an array of shades. See every shade in our lip oils.
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27.12€
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23.00€
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25.30€
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24.15€
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63.25€
34.50€
403
29.90€
The beauty sleeper: overnight lip masks
You’d rather let your lip care work while you sleep. Overnight lip masks are richer than your daytime balm, so you wake up to softer, smoother-feeling lips. The LANEIGE Lip Sleeping Mask is the one everyone knows (and loves), in a line-up of sweet flavours. RMS Beauty Lipnights Overnight Lip Mask melts into a balmy layer, the PATRICK TA Major Glow Softening Lip Masque leaves a pearly sheen and the Hermès Rouge Hermès Repairing Lip Mask has a velvety, balm-like texture. Discover more in our lip masks.
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24.15€
406
24.15€
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34.50€
19
23.00€
2
86.25€
12
29.90€
21
14.95€
The volume chaser: plumping lip balms
You’re after a fuller-looking pout with every swipe. Peptide lip treatments and plumping glosses combine comfort with a smoother, plumper look. The OLE HENRIKSEN Pout Preserve Peptide Lip Treatment comes in a whole menu of delicious flavours, and The INKEY List Tripeptide Plumping Lip Balm is a clear, peptide-powered balm that’s easy to throw in your bag.
Want instant oomph? Plumping glosses like the Danessa Myricks Beauty Glosswork 4D Ultra Shine Plumping Gloss and Kosas Lip Pulse Glassy Lip Plumper pair high shine with a fuller look, while the Kosas formula adds a warming tingle. Find every option in our lip plumpers.
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The sun seeker: SPF lip balms
Your lips need sun protection too, so if you’re heading outdoors, reach for a lip balm with SPF and reapply regularly, especially after eating, drinking or swimming. Naked Sundays SPF50 Glow & Go Lip Oil is a non-sticky, glossy lip oil with SPF50, the Lanolips Tinted SPF30 Balm adds a sheer tint, and the Aesop Protective Lip Balm SPF30 has a smooth, buttery texture. Packing for a beach break? The Sun Bum Original SPF 30 Sunscreen Lip Balm is made to slip into any pocket. Find more in our SPF lip balms.
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The conscious shopper: vegan lip balms
You want your lip care to match your values. Plenty of lip balms contain beeswax or lanolin, so if you’re vegan, check before you buy. A few favourites from our vegan collection: the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm and Dream Lip Oil, 19/99 Beauty Lip Ointment for a dense, overnight-style balm, and Sweed Le Lipstick, which feels more like a tinted balm than a lipstick.
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25.90€
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29.90€
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20.70€
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26.00€
Lip balm FAQs
How often should you apply lip balm?
Whenever your lips feel dry. For most of us, that’s a few times a day, plus after eating or drinking and before bed. If you’re using an SPF lip balm outdoors, reapply regularly.
Lip balm vs lip oil: which is better?
It depends on what you want. A balm gives longer-lasting comfort and is great for dry lips, while a lip oil is lighter and gives more shine. Many people use both: a rich balm or mask at night, and a lip oil for glossy lips during the day.
Can you wear lip balm under lipstick?
Yes. Apply a thin layer, give it a few minutes to sink in, then blot before you apply your lipstick. This helps your colour go on smoothly without sliding.
Should you exfoliate your lips?
A gentle lip scrub once or twice a week can buff away flaky bits and leave lips feeling smoother. Try the Ole Henriksen Pout Preserve Sugar Melt Lip Scrub, then follow with your favourite balm. For a full lip care routine, read our ultimate guide to lip care.
Found your persona? Stock up on your new favourites in our lip care collection. We won’t judge how many you buy.
