8 Best Moisturizing Lip Balms

The Drunk Elephant Lippe Balm may be on the pricey side, but its blend of marula, cranberry seed, and avocado oils keeps lips hydrated without going on unbearably greasy.

Key features
Bonus points for ingredients. Marula oil present in this balm is particularly noted for its positive effects on the skin. A 2011 study, published by the South African Journal of Botany, suggested that the pressed oil (from the seeds of certain African trees) is rich with fatty acids, which help improve skin production.

Gets the retailer nod. This balm also receives the Clean At Sephora Seal of approval. In order to receive this endorsement, Sephora requires products to be formulated without a list of over 50 ingredients, including sulfates (SLS and SLES), parabens, phthalates, and more.

Considerations
While this lip balm boasts a blend of conditioning oils on its product label, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) also suggests that a couple of the ingredients might be irritating for some people:

tocopheryl acetate, or vitamin E, which is a skin conditioner
phenoxyethanol, which is used as a preservative in cosmetics against the growth of mold and bacteria

Key features
Propolis as an ingredient. The Lysine + Herbs Lip Balm from 100% Pure is formulated with lemon balm and propolis, which are said to be moisturizing and soothing to the skin. Propolis, in particular, is known for its antiviral and anti-inflammatory effect on acne, according to a 2017 review of studies.

Lysine for dry lips. This product also uses lysine, an amino acid used in some skin and hair care products as a conditioning agent. In this case, lysine is meant to help dry, chapped lips.

Considerations
Several 100% Pure user reviews stated that the balm can be irritating to existing cold sores, making it important to consult the advice of your doctor or dermatologist before you actually use it.