We are literally obsessed with these 12 lip balms

A little shine, a lot of hydration, vitamins C and E in this formula take care of dry lips so they’re left feeling comfortable and silky smooth. The lip wax texture feels lightweight on lips and serves as a great base for lip makeup.

The review: “For my money, Mario Badescu Lip Wax is where it's at! It's buttery (not waxy as the name suggests), super hydrating, long-lasting, and a bargain at $6 a tube! I've used a ton of lip balms in my lifetime (including some very high-end lip balms), but the Lip Wax is hands down the most bang for your buck.” Lucrecia, SUPERcrew member

Cost: $6

When one of these products is sold every 28 seconds around the world, you know there must be something good about it. Your lips will love the conditioning plant extracts, nourishing shea butter and antibacterial honey in the formula. Any signs of flaking - especially in the middle of winter - will soon be a sweet, smooth memory. The formula also works to maintain your lip’s hydration levels so that chapped feeling doesn’t keep coming back.

The review: “I love the brilliant Nuxe Rêve de Miel lip balm. It is super comforting on the lips, helps repair chapped/dry areas AND leaves you with a matte, rather than oily/sticky, look and feel. I use it during the day, mixed with a little lip colour to give a ‘natural flush’ of colour to my lips, as well as using it religiously every night before going to bed. It might seem expensive but this little jar lasts for months, AND it can double as a topper for some of those long-wear liquid lip products that stay on well but feel like dried cement on.” Jacqui, SUPERcrew member

Cost: $19.99

If you’re not a fan of that waxy layer most lip balms leave on your pout, then a lip oil is for you. This one gives lips a shiny gloss-like finish, but the formula sinks in quickly so those nourishing ingredients like coconut oil, moringa oil and acerola cherry extract can do their thing to restore your dry lips back to soft and supple.

The review: “I’m so head-over-heels for the Kiehl’s Love Oil for Lips that I keep a couple of tubes in my bag and some in my bedside table. My go-to is the clear formula but it also comes in a variety of tinted finishes which are fun too. The super-nourishing formula contains a blend of oils that work to really impart deep hydration into the lips. It leaves your lips soft, shiny AND it has a delicious scent - kind of like a grown-up version of the fruity lip glosses we all loved as teenagers.” Isobel Larkin, Beauty Crew’s Beauty Assistant

Cost: $30

Turns out we’re not the only ones who are big fans of this lip balm. It has a 4.8 star rating with 201 five-star reviews on Mecca’s website alone. It’s a game-changer for those with super dry and cracked lips. Our top tip: Use it as an overnight treatment for soft, healed lips by the morning.

The review: “Philosophy Kiss Me Tonight is head, shoulders and lips above the rest. The super hydrating balm is perfect for all-day use, and also to give your lips a good base before applying lipstick. I stopped using this for about a month last year (none in stock) and my husband actually commented on my lips being dry. Clearly nothing else cuts it.” Anne, SUPERcrew member

Cost: $24

Do you like a little ‘flavour’ in your lip balm? This one comes in Mango Pie, Lychee Addict and Anti-oxidant Berry (don’t look at us - we’d get all three!). In the formula you’ll find nourishing shea butter, lip-plumping centella and a vitamin complex to repair lips so they’re less likely to become chapped in the future. Expect up to eight hours of hydration out of this budget-friendly buy.

The review: “I have used this product for years as it feels great on your dry lips, easy to apply and affordable. Great flavours to suit any age. Lips feel totally hydrated. I have them in the car, handbag, next to my computer.” Amanda, SUPERcrew member

Cost: $3.95

You know the cult Elizabeth Eight Hour Cream? Well this is it, just in a convenient lipstick bullet. It’s packed with hydrating emollients and vitamin E to leave your lips feeling silky soft, and broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect against UVA and UVB sun exposure throughout the day.

The review: “My OG go-to lip balm. Having a tube of the original Skin Protectant is basically a family tradition (and one I’ve probably brought up a million times) and I’ve always relied on it to hydrate my lips on the daily, but mostly when travelling. Since discovering the stick version, it’s become a handbag staple.” Carli Alman, Beauty Crew's Editor

Cost: $28

Yes, the price on this one is steep, but if you’re serious about curing your chapped lips, then this one’s worth the investment (plus, you get a bonus eye cream in this ultra-luxe compact and it is heavenly!). It’s not the sort of lip balm you need to keep reapplying - you’ll find your dry lips disappear, and stay gone, after just a few uses. Besides moisturising your lips and preventing flaking from striking again, this formula also gives lips an instantly fresher and more plump look. The glossy texture delivers an irresistible sheen to lips that is the perfect complement to a ‘no makeup’ makeup look.

The review: “I love slathering this thick yet incredibly nourishing formula when my lips are feeling extra parched, such as on a long-haul flight. Plus, the compact includes an eye cream gel to prevent the dry air from zapping hydration from my skin.” Iantha Yu, Beauty Crew’s Beauty Editor

Cost: $240

Who doesn’t have a pot of this gooey goodness in their household?! Made with 100 per cent triple purified petroleum jelly, it works by sealing the skin barrier to lock in moisture so your lips are transformed from sore to soothed. It also protects your pout throughout the day so it stays hydrated from start to finish and doesn’t succumb to environmental aggressors like wind, sun or heaters/air conditioning. One application in the AM will see you through to the end of the day - no reapplying necessary (unless you want to top up that glossy glow it imparts on lips).

The review: “Vaseline is one of those products I make sure I always have in my bedside drawer. I love popping a light layer on my lips every night to ensure I never wake up with dry lips. When I use it during the day, I love the dewy sheen it gives my lips.” Chelsea Tromans, Beauty Crew’s Contributing Editor

Cost: $4.49

We’ll be honest with you - we’ve never met a Burt’s Bees lip balm we didn’t like. From the tinted version that gives lips a beautiful stain of colour to all the many delicious flavours (there are nine), plus the selection of non-flavoured ones like the Beeswax Lip Balm and All-Weather SPF 15 Moisturizing Lip Balm, we guarantee you’ll find one to suit your lip balm criteria. The formulas vary slightly, but they’re all 100 per cent natural and free of parabens, phthalates, petrolatum and SLS.

The reviews: “Burt’s Bees Coconut and Pear Lip Balm is the ONLY lip balm I will use since discovering it. It ticks all the right boxes for me: 100% natural, smells absolutely heavenly (it's a struggle not to eat it!), leaves my lips soft and hydrated with no oily or waxy feel, and I truly enjoy using it.” Mandy, SUPERcrew member

“My favourite lip balm is the Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm. It feels super creamy and soft on the lips and not at all sticky and uncomfortable. I also love the tint it gives as it is subtle but still adds colour back to the face!” Alex, SUPERcrew member

Cost: $6.95

You can’t argue with a formula that’s 80 years old and still going strong! The original Carmex heals and hydrates with the help of cocoa butter and lanolin, and cools and soothes sore lips thanks to camphor and menthol in the formula. You can also get this cult lip balm in a variety of flavours as well as different applicators, like a lip balm stick with SPF 15, a wind-up applicator, a tube or a tub.

The reviews: “I’m a lip balm addict, and I’ve always been a major fan of Carmex – it’s a classic and it just works. It instantly soothes and moisturises my lips, making them feel comfortable and happy. Plus, I love that trademark tingling sensation when you first apply it. Carmex recently came out with a new watermelon flavour with SPF 15, and it’s honestly the best thing since Lip Smackers – it smells AH-MAZING. It’s also cheap enough that you can have it handy in a few different bags, your desk, your bedside table…” Erin Docherty, Beauty Crew’s Beauty Writer

“The best lip balm for me would be Carmex because it has a cooling mint effect on the lips which soothes, hydrates and softens the lips.” Tina, SUPERcrew member

Cost: $5.99

This multi-use balm has been made in Australia for over 100 years. And its formula has changed in all that time. Now that’s impressive! Made with fermented Australian papaw, its waxy texture melts into lips upon contact and gives you this beautifully healthy sheen. In addition to its exceptional ability to soothe dry lips, we also love slathering this formula on to heal anything from minor burns to nappy rash and insect bites.

The reviews: “My favourite lip balm is the Aussie classic Lucas Papaw. This little tube/tub (depending on your preference; I prefer to not have it end up all of my fingers) of goodness is a classic. It’s a super thick, hydrating and affordable balm that works wonders on lips and any dry skin!” Ruby, SUPERcrew member

“The best lip balm and the one that I always return to is Lucas’ Papaw Ointment. It’s the only balm that really hydrates my lips. When I apply it before bed and wake up in the morning, my dry lips are gone.” Aneta, SUPERcrew member

“My favourite lip balm is Lucas Papaw Ointment. It keeps my lips nourished and there is no bitter aftertaste. Works every time for me.” Sarah D, SUPERcrew member

Cost: $5.99

Another Australian multitasker for the win, this balm gets its name because of the 101 ways (give or take!) it can be used. Our favourite is definitely for sending dry lips on their merry way and leaving behind a soft, supple pout in its place. The hero ingredient is lanolin - actually, it’s the only ingredient. The 100 per cent ultra-pure medical grade lanolin in this natural formula is able to hold twice its weight in water, hence its amazing hydrating abilities. Safe for sensitive skin - babies included - this balm is free from artificial colours and fragrances, parabens, petrolatum, PEGs, mineral oil and sulfates. Good to know: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is a MASSIVE fan.

The reviews: “I swear by Lanolips 101 Ointment. It’s thick and deeply hydrating but not sticky and has no fragrance (very important!), so it’s comfortable to wear alone or layered over lipstick. I literally have one in every bag and drawer. It’s a great all-rounder for broken or cracked skin and dry cuticles, too.” Alex Noonan, Beauty Crew’s Digital Content Director

“I am fanatical about lip balms. As a ‘less is more’ kinda gal, a balm that nourishes my lips while giving a hint of colour is a staple in my everyday beauty routine. The Lanolips 101 Ointment is my go-to for dry lips and the Tinted Balm in Sheer Rose is perfect for when I need a little pop of (natural) colour.” Hannah Crawley, Pacific Magazines’ Digital Content Manager

Cost: $14.95

Are you interested in trying more organic, natural or vegan beauty products? Then you’re going to love our new natural beauty section.

Which lip balm gets your vote for the best lip balm ever? Share your lip balm reviews with us below - we’d love to hear what your fave is!

Main image credit: Getty