Lip balms and lip masks become non-negotiable the second the temperature drops. With the first day of winter creeping onto my Google Calendar, my lips have, seemingly on cue, shed every last drop of moisture. My fix is a laborious routine of exfoliating with a lip scrub, layering on a mask and sealing it all in for good measure, plus a fair amount of complaining about the dryness, which I’ll resist here.
Dermatologists back the sealing step, too. As explained in NewBeauty’s coverage of the best lip balms for chapped lips, Miami dermatologist Anna Chacon, MD suggests lip products containing ceramides, shea butter and petrolatum. That’s because lips have thin skin and no oil glands of their own, so they need ingredients that seal in moisture (petrolatum, waxes), soften (butters and oils like shea) and strengthen the barrier (ceramides, peptides).
Ahead, I’ve rounded up 11 of the best lip balms and lip masks at Sephora for dryness. My list of picks includes fan-favorite overnight masks, SPF-infused balms, the ever-trendy lip tints and peptide-powered treatments, with options from $10 to $50.
Best Overnight Lip Mask for Dry, Chapped Lips: LANEIGE Lip Sleeping Mask ($24)
If you’ve spent any time on the beauty side of TikTok, you’ve surely heard of (if not already own) LANEIGE’s Lip Sleeping Mask. The thick leave-on balm melts into lips overnight for softer, smoother lips by morning, and it’s a must-have for me, colleagues past and present, celebrities such as Cindy Crawford (who named the Gummy Bear shade among her desert island beauty picks in our interview) and countless others among the thousands who’ve rated it five stars. While berry is its best-known shade, it comes in plenty more, and the brand even drops limited-edition ones every now and then, to our delight.
Who It’s For: Very dry, chapped lips that need a rich overnight fix.
Skip It If: You prefer a lightweight, fragrance-free balm.
Best Lip Butter Balm for Shine That Isn’t Sticky: Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm Treatment ($24)
I’ve met countless beauty lovers who keep Summer Fridays Lip Butter in every bag, every shade, and every drawer. What people love is the high-shine finish without the stick, and it looks great layered over lip liner and lipstick. Shades range from clear Vanilla to sheer tints like Pink Sugar and Cherry.
Who It’s For: Anyone who wants a comfortable, shiny everyday balm with a hint of color (or none), especially to wear over liner or lipstick.
Skip It If: You prefer a matte or no-shine finish. This one is all about the shine.
Best SPF Lip Balm for Everyday Sun Protection: Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25 ($10)
Want sun protection and moisture in one swipe? This is the SPF balm to grab at Sephora. The broad-spectrum SPF 25 formula protects your lips from the sun, while shea butter, avocado oil and vitamin E keep them soft. The matte finish looks natural, even with no makeup on.
Who It’s For: Everyday wearers who want sun protection in a no-shine balm.
Skip It If: You’re sensitive to lanolin or added flavor, since the formula contains both.
Best Color-Changing Lip Balm for Your Natural Pink: DIOR Addict Lip Glow Balm ($42)
This icon has been in makeup bags for more than a decade, and Dior’s 2025 relaunch gave it a cleaner formula: 97 percent natural-origin ingredients, including cherry oil and shea butter, plus a wider shade range. It reacts to your lips’ own moisture and pH, so the pink looks a little different on everyone. Wear it alone for a polished, no-makeup look or put it on under lipstick as a primer.
Who It’s For: Makeup-light wearers who want a personalized flush of pink that doubles as a lipstick primer.
Skip It If: You want a predictable, true-to-the-tube shade, since the pink adapts to each wearer.
Best Luxury Lip Balm That Looks Like Lipstick: Prada Hydrating Lip Balm ($50)
This is a balm for anyone who wants lip care that feels as luxe as their lipstick. The newest shade in its lineup is Wisteria Gleams, a shimmery pinky lilac that’s pH-adaptive too, so it settles into a slightly different tint on everyone, with a fruity, floral scent. It hydrates and smooths while adding a hint of color, and the case is refillable.
Who It’s For: Lipstick lovers who want a sheer, flattering pop of color from a balm that feels polished.
Skip It If: You want a shade that looks the same on everyone, or you’d rather not spend $50 on a lip balm.
Best Fragrance-Free Tinted Lip Treatment: Rhode Peptide Lip Tint ($20)
Hailey Bieber’s Rhode makes a tint that’s a fan favorite because it works as a balm and a gloss in one. It feels comfortable, looks dewy and full, and never gets tacky. The color is sheer but buildable, so it flatters your natural lip shade instead of covering it, and the standard shades are fragrance-free. (Rhode also drops limited-edition scented tints now and then, so check the shade description if you want to skip fragrance.)
Who It’s For: Minimalists who want a no-fuss tinted balm with a dewy finish and no scent.
Skip It If: You want bold, long-wearing color, since the tint is sheer and needs frequent reapplication.
Best Gentle Exfoliating Lip Balm for Flaky Lips: EADEM Le Chouchou Softening + Smoothing Peptide Daily Lip Balm ($24)
This viral balm does more than moisturize. It pairs peptides with hibiscus enzymes and lactic acid, a gentle exfoliating combo that buffs away flakes while it hydrates, with no gritty scrub particles. Lips feel softer and smoother over time. The texture is soft and comfortable, with a subtle wet-look shine and a hint of color in some shades. It also comes in a cool, weighty metal applicator that feels as good as the formula.
Who It’s For: Flaky, rough lips that need a balm that exfoliates and hydrates in one step.
Skip It If: You have very sensitive lips, since the exfoliating acid and fragrance can irritate.
Best Peptide Lip Balm for Fine Lines: OLEHENRIKSEN Pout Preserve Hydrating Peptide Lip Treatment ($24)
Two peptides, palmitoyl tripeptide-1 and palmitoyl hexapeptide-12, are the stars of this lip treatment, and you’d normally find both in anti-aging serums. They’re meant to help skin make more collagen, which is why the brand says the formula smooths fine lines and makes lips look fuller.
Who It’s For: Skin-care lovers who want their lip balm to pull double duty on fine lines and fullness.
Skip It If: You’re after instant plumping or color, since peptides work gradually.
Best 2-in-1 Lip Balm and Overnight Mask: Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Find Comfort Lip Butter Balm + Overnight Mask ($18)
Rare Beauty’s lip butter is the one to grab if you’re tired of switching between a daytime balm and a separate bedtime mask. It glides on with a soft shine and a touch of color you can layer, and a thicker coat before bed works like an overnight mask.
Who It’s For: Anyone after a tube you can wear all day and sleep in.
Skip It If: You want a totally clear balm. This one adds a little color.
Best Vitamin C Lip Balm for Smoother-Looking Lips: Farmacy Lip Smoothie Vitamin C + Peptide Lip Balm ($22)
Farmacy named this one like a juice-bar order, and the flavors match: apple, mango and honey vanilla. People rave about the scent, but there’s more going on here: the brand says vitamin C and peptides help smooth the look of lip lines, which you wouldn’t expect from a pot that smells this good. It’s a clear gloss with no tint, so you can wear it over or under any lipstick, and you can put it on with a fingertip.
Who It’s For: Anyone who loves a fruity scent and wants a clear gloss that also targets the look of lip lines.
Skip It If: You want color, since this one is completely clear.
Best Lightweight Lip Balm for Daytime Shine: LANEIGE Lip Glowy Balm ($19)
This is the lightweight, daytime version of the brand’s cult-favorite Lip Sleeping Mask. Shea and murumuru butters give it a high-shine, glass-like finish, and it comes in sweet, flavored shades like Berry and Gummy Bear. It’s easy to carry, so you can reapply on the go.
Who It’s For: People who love the Sleeping Mask but want something lighter for daytime.
Skip It If: You dislike a sweet, candy-like scent.
