Our pick · Beauty
The best lip balm, tested
From a $5 cult classic to a viral lip butter — the balms worth keeping in every bag.
Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm — Amazon · details
A great lip balm is the smallest luxury that earns its place in a bag, a car, and a nightstand. We looked at the balms people actually rebuy. The Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm is the standout: deeply hydrating, glossy without being sticky, and the one that turns into a daily habit — with two excellent, cheaper runners-up.
Why the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm
It strikes the balance most balms miss: genuinely hydrating like a treatment, but with a glossy, polished finish you would actually wear out. It wears comfortably for hours, layers over lip color, and the texture is plush rather than waxy. It went viral for a reason — it is the one testers kept reaching for past the others.
The budget pick: eos
The eos sphere balm is the under-$5 classic that lives in every bag and cup holder. It is 97% natural, moisturizing, and the scents (the birthday-cake one especially) make it a small daily treat. Less glossy than the Summer Fridays, but unbeatable value and the easiest grab-and-go.
The natural pick: Burt's Bees
If you want simple, natural-origin care, Burt's Bees classics are the reliable staple — and the gift set is an easy, always-welcome present. Less of a glossy finish, more of a no-nonsense everyday balm.
Questions
What is the best lip balm for very dry lips?
A rich treatment balm like the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm works best for very dry lips — apply a thicker layer overnight.
Is eos lip balm good?
Yes — it is a long-running bestseller for a reason: moisturizing, mostly natural, inexpensive, and pleasant to use. It is our budget pick.