There are a few things you should never leave home without — wallet, keys and a good lip balm. Maybe subtract the wallet and keys. After all, sometimes a moisturized lip is all you need. Lip balms have always been around, but the sheer amount of different ones on the market now can make it feel impossible to choose. Here is a guide to having the juiciest lips, and at what cost.
All About That Gloss
With lip balms, glosses, tints and serums popping up on the market every day, the selection can get overwhelming. However, there’s a few fan favorites that stick out from the rest.
“Lip balms I use now are Laneige; I mean classic, it is the best. I use Summer Fridays, obviously, and Naked Sundays lip oil and Glossier and Rhode are good too,” said Ellen Haghighi, a public health and psychology major.
“I use Aquaphor, Rhode, Summer Fridays, Fenty, Charlotte Tilbury and Refy,” said junior Claire Keebaugh.
Flavors
The lip balm market has taken new flavors, formulas and colors to a whole new level.
Senior Bella Carlzon said that she prefers flavored balms, specifying that she currently uses Laneige’s gummy bear flavor.
“I prefer unflavored but don’t mind mint or vanilla. I don’t like the super sweet ones,” said Carlzon.
Chapped Lips
No one enjoys dry, chapped lips. There are several common causes to this unfortunate state. Environmental factors, like cold weather, wind and sun exposure, can all damage delicate lip skin.
The sun’s UV rays can also cause irritation, peeling or even sunburn. To protect your pout, dermatologists recommend lip balm with SPF 30 or higher. Look for ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to shield against sun damage. Everyday habits can also contribute to dryness. Licking your lips, smoking or not drinking enough water are all sneaky culprits.
Lip Balm Trends:
Once spring has sprung, a surge of warm pastel colors occupy the fashion and beauty landscape. A light lavender or baby pink can be a soft yet bold look for this upcoming trend.
Lip tints are also making a major comeback. These stains stick around through meals and social events. The classic Benetint has paved the way for brands like e.l.f. and Milk to jump on. One product making waves on TikTok is Sacheu’s Peel Off Lip Liner STAY-N — a liquid stain that dries in minutes and peels off to reveal long-lasting color.
Speaking of TikTok, celebrities use this app amongst other social media platforms to influence people to buy certain products.
Keebaugh said she has bought lip products because of celebrity endorsements or social media trends.
“I bought Rhode because of celebrities. I also get influenced from TikToks,” said Keebaugh.
Ingredients
Ingredients can be an important part of why people pick a certain lip product, or even just an added consideration.
“I don’t look for ingredients,” said Haghighi. “I will buy it again if it moisturizes my lips and lasts long. And it’s cute looking. I’m gonna buy that shit again.”
Not reading ingredients tends to be common. As Keebaugh said, “I don’t look for anything specific in balms or glosses, but don’t like when they have flavors. So [I] look for unscented.”
Some companies are taking a healthier approach to the lip balm trend. By infusing lip and skin care into their formulas to create a two-in-one: look-good and feel-good sensation. Products like Hailey Bieber’s Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment contains the following great ingredients: shea butter with vitamins E, D and A, a peptide that reduces fine lines, cupuacu which improves skin elasticity, and babassu which produces natural lauric acid.
Whether it’s a gloss, balm, oil or tint, there are hundreds of options. Finding the right combination of ingredients, moisture and flavor can help create the perfect product for you. Use these tips to shop smart and keep your lips looking and feeling their best.
Lip Balms
- Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment = $18
- Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm = $24
- Lineage Lip Glowy Balm = $19
- Aquaphor Lip Balm = $5
- Refy Lip Gloss = $20
- Dior Lip Glow Oil = $40
- Burt’s Bees = $5
- Naked Sundays SPF50 Go + Glow Lip Oil = $22
- Fenty Beauty Lip Gloss = $22
- Gisou Honey Lip Oil = $28
- NYX Fat Oil Lip Gloss = $9
words_ lucy carlson-pietraszek. photo_valeria barbaglio. design_charlotte deangelis.
This article was published in Distraction’s Summer 2025 print issue.
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