One of the most telling signs of the arrival of the cold weather is - dry lips. Since we suffered from chapped and stubborn lips, especially in winter, our greatest victory was discovering the perfect lip balms for our lips. With not every formula being created equal, finding the lip balm involved a lot of trial and error. We not only looked at the objective of the specific balms but also the ingredients, texture, and more. And there's no better place to try out lip balms than Target, which is nothing less than a magical wonder zone where drugstores meet luxury. The top, bestselling lip balms from here helped keep our lips in tip-top shape. What's more, we found a great selection that we loved for a fraction of the price outside.
Since chapped lips could be caused by many factors, including certain medications, frequent licking, dehydration, and dry weather, we looked for products that hydrated and soothed our lips with ingredients that locked in moisture. With wind chills rising and temperatures decreasing, why should our lips pay for that? Check out the best products that we found at Target.
Carmex Classic Lip Balm Medicated Stick
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Retailing for just USD 5, the Carmex Classic Lip Balm Medicated Stick is a nice lip balm. Wrapped in 100% recycled packaging, this lip balm helped protect and soothe our chapped and dry lips. The ingredients of this multi-purpose lip balm included cocoa butter and white petrolatum, which gave our lips a soothing feeling. Since it came in a pack of four, we didn't have to worry about missing taking this stick everywhere. We'd keep one at home, one in our daily bag for commuting to work, and one in our designer crossbody bag for when we'd go out. All in all, this cruelty-free product was perfect for keeping our chapped lips hydrated and locking in the moisture for a long, long time.
Pros
- Since it comes in a stick form, it was very portable.
- The outer packaging is 100% recyclable.
- It's a multi-purpose lip balm and comes in a pack of four.
Cons
- Some people said that the balm had a waxy feel to it.
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Lanolips 101 Ointment Superbalm
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The Lanolips 101 Ointment Superbalm lives up to its name - and how. Made from purified Aussie lanolin, the award-winning lip balm worked as a natural alternative to petroleum-based balms and was just as versatile. Not only was it dermatologically tested and safe to use, but also, the thick formula deeply penetrated our skin and sealed in moisture. In fact, we applied the balm to our damaged and dry lips before bed and were pleasantly surprised when we woke up to soft and healed skin. Moreover, the dense ointment was smooth without being sticky or greasy, which was very important to us as we didn't want any marks on our pillowcases - and there weren't. Despite not being tinted, the lip balm brought a soft sheen to our lips, which we loved.
"We haven't seen many amazing, multi-use balms, but this Lanolips one took the cake. We could apply it to cracked heels and dry cuticles, mix it with our foundation and moisturizer, and even used it to keep our eyebrows in shape!"
WOW Travel
Pros
- This product has been dermatologically tested and is a TSA-approved, travel-friendly product.
- It's cruelty-free.
- It's 100% natural.
Cons
- Some people might not like squeezing the tube to use the product.
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Vaseline Lip Therapy
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Featuring just three ingredients, the simple yet effective powerhouse of a lip balm that is Vaseline Lip Therapy was our favorite. The non-sticky formula includes shea butter and petrolatum, both of which are proven moisturizers that melt onto our lips. Together, they helped support the natural recovery of our dry lips by locking in moisture. We especially loved the rosy lips shade and hue, which came with a pretty, medium-pink tint. That was perfect for our lips. Finally, the iconic packaging of the small tin was great for hydrating on the go and during travel, as they fit easily in our purses and even our pockets. And due to it being in a more solid form, we didn't have to worry about leaks either.
Pros
- The small tin is convenient for staying on the go.
- The lip balm is simple, with only three ingredients.
- It's very affordable, costing just USD 3.5.
Cons
- It could be difficult to open the tin.
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Chapstick Total Hydration Sea Minerals Overnight Renewal Lip Balm
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The classic lip balm brand of Chapstick gets an update with the Chapstick Total Hydration Sea Minerals Overnight Renewal Lip Balm. This hydrating nighttime version is free from phthalates and parabens and instead features natural ingredients such as sea ingredients rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. In fact, the ingredients themselves combine botanical shea butter, aloe, sea algae, and blue sea kale, which worked together to hydrate and soften our lips as we slept. What amazed us, though, was the compact container that the balm came in, which allowed us to easily stash it in our Target makeup bag. So we could keep our lips hydrated on the go as well. Given our amazing experience, we're sure you're going to make this lip treatment a part of your nighttime skincare routine, too. It's no wonder it's one of the best lip balm moisturizers for travel.
Pros
- This lip balm immediately softened our lips.
- The flavor isn't overpowering.
- It contains natural minerals and no parabens.
Cons
- Some said that the color might be too bright.
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Aquaphor Healing Ointment Mini Jar
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Given how often dermatologists recommend the Aquaphor Healing Ointment Mini Jar, it doesn't matter that the product isn’t technically "medicated." What struck us about this product was that it was excellent for all skin types, including the most sensitive and hypoallergenic ones. What's more, this Aquaphor lip balm is highly occlusive, forming a protective film and locking in moisture. Not only does it contain beeswax and shea butter that replenish and lock in moisture, but it also has chamomile and vitamin E that soothe and repair cracked, dry lips. The fact that it's available in three sizes, namely 0.25 oz, 14 oz, and 3.5 oz, meant that we could keep separate packs for travel and for home use. And since it was different from a body lotion, the water-free formula of this amazing ointment soothed our skin and created a protective barrier for healing.
Pros
- It's very affordable.
- It comes in three sizes.
- It's perfect for even sensitive skin.
Cons
- Some felt it was on the greasy side.
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Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm
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Sitting at the top of the list is the fabulous all-rounder that is the Burt’s Bees Original Beeswax Lip Balm, which has been around for more than 30 years! This beloved lip balm features vitamin E, beeswax, and a hint of peppermint oil and has long been regarded as one of the best natural lip balms around. Plus, it's also our best budget pick, as it's easily at pharmacies and stores and is accessible online too. That's what makes this no-frills balm so amazing. It's matte and translucent, so our lips weren’t shiny or glossy. Moreover, when we reapplied the balm every few hours, the minty flavor or fragrance wasn't overpowering. Besides being natural and paraben-free, this 100% natural lip balm moisturizes, revitalizes, and beautifies our lips. The best bit? We could tuck this into our purses or even our pockets.
Pros
- It comes in a pack of two.
- It's tint-free and glided smoothly along our lips.
- It's natural and free from parabens.
Cons
- None.
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How To Choose The Best Lip Balms at Target?
Ingredients
Some go-to ingredients that add and lock in the lips' moisture include Vitamin E, which increases blood flow and restores moisture; ceramides, which restore the skin's natural barrier; and beeswax, one of the world's oldest moisturizers. You can also go for ingredients with shea butter, lanolin, and the silicon-based ingredient of dimethicone. Of course, the topmost ingredient to look for will always be white petroleum jelly, which is a mixture of triple-purified mineral oils and natural waxes that moisturize and prevent moisture loss.
When we're talking about ingredients to look for, there's also a list of ingredients to avoid. These include flavors like peppermint, mint, citrus, and cinnamon, fragrances, eucalyptus, and menthol/camphor.
SPF
Another factor to look for while choosing a lip balm is SPF. Just like with body and face sunscreens, it's a good and wise idea to apply SPF lip balm, too. That said, many people don't like the taste of SPF, so we looked for a mix of lip balms, both with and without SPF. Are you headed outdoors for more than five minutes? Better switch to an SPF lip balm.
Application style
When it comes to application styles, it comes down to individual preferences and the kind of packaging, of course. These are the different ways in which lip balm can be applied:
- Stick: Stick lip balms are usually wax-based and the simplest and least messy to apply, carry, and store. However, you need to be careful about rolling the product back into the shell before closing it properly.
- Tin: While metal tins are more sustainable than plastic sticks, the container could get messy in very hot climates when the lip balm might melt. Also, it could get under your fingernails.
- Tube: Tubes are easy and lightweight to carry around since most are made from plastic. In fact, now they come with slanted application tips that make it very easy for us to apply the balm directly on our lips. Also, if you're sharing your lip balm, the slanted applicator is the easiest to sanitize.
You might also want to look into the best travel-sized moisturizers for winter.
How long does lip balm last?
Usually, effective lip balms shouldn't need to be reapplied often. However, you can apply lip balms after meals, and maybe more often if it's dry and cold.
Does lip balm expire?
Yes. Lip balms expire, like all cosmetics, as the ingredients degrade over time.
How do I choose a good lip balm?
Strictly avoid ingredients like salicylic acid, menthol, and phenol, which dry out lips.
Some images on this article are copyrighted by Target.
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