The Bottom Line

Currently the number one cosmetics company in America, Maybelline has been creating high-quality makeup and skincare products, like the Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm, since 1915. Their products not only keep up with the latest trends but are also affordable.  

The overwhelming majority of reviewers are extremely satisfied with the results. Comments often include “application is buttery smooth and gives a barely-there tint,” “very soft and silky, emphasizes healthily moisturized lips,” and “goes on smooth, feels great, and doesn’t settle into lip crevices.” The only complaints customers occasionally mentioned involved the “kind of artificial smell” and “comes off easy when you eat or drink.”

Maybelline Baby Lips contains petrolatum, considered the best occlusive moisturizing ingredient available, which is important to prevent or slow down water loss. (1) 

When you consider the low price and the fact that multiple reviewers point out that “this is the product I always come back to,” it’s easy to see that it is almost impossible to go wrong with this lip balm.

Thanks to its enormous number of positive customer reviews, low cost, and use of safe ingredients, Maybelline Baby Lips Moisturizing Lip Balm tops our list. As an added bonus, there are several shades available, making it perfect for anyone who prefers a natural look, as well as anyone who wants to add a hint of color to their lips.*

*Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.

The Bottom Line

Currently the top-selling lip balm on Amazon, Burt’s Bees 100% Natural Moisturizing Lip Balm adheres to the brand’s philosophy that anything you use on your body should be made from the best nature has to offer. As is the case with all Burt’s Bees products, this lip balm is free of parabens, phthalates, and more.

“This is the only lip balm I’ll buy,” say reviewers, because “it totally hydrates my lips and keeps them from getting painfully chapped.” Customers comment on how “long-lasting and soothing” it is. For the handful of people not happy with the product, the primary complaint involved the “overwhelming peppermint.” *

*Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.

The Bottom Line

For over 135 years, Vaseline products, including lotions and petroleum jelly, have been a mainstay in medicine cabinets all over the U.S.

Most reviewers report that Vaseline Lip Therapy Lip Balm leaves their lips feeling nourished and soft, without any of the burn that can be experienced with other lip balms. Other reviewers report that it is “horribly sticky” and “really thick with a nasty taste.”

Unfortunately, there is also a potential safety concern with this lip balm. Yellow 5 lake, which has been banned in several European countries, can trigger allergic reactions and has been linked to blurred vision, fatigue, and migraines. (2) It is not banned in the U.S.

While Vaseline is a respected and well-established brand, the addition of a potentially harmful chemical may not be worth spending money on this product. That said, the potential for trouble is very low and there are many positive reviews.*

*Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.

The Bottom Line

Nivea is well-known as a leader in the skincare field. To provide protection against the harmful effects of the sun, while also moisturizing your lips, Nivea Smoothness Lip Care includes sunscreen.

While some customers rave about it, at least two reviewers (who report they are longtime users) point out that the company changed the formula in 2017 and the results are far from perfect. Apparently, “it is no longer smooth flowing and a perfume has been added, leaving a taste in my mouth that I can’t get rid of.” A second reviewer referred to it as “a chemical scent.” It’s worth noting that the majority of customers reviews left since late 2017 are below average.

One reason may be the addition of octinoxate. There is evidence that octinoxate can disrupt the endocrine system or cause an allergenic reaction. (3)*

*Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.

The Bottom Line

Blistex is another company that has been introducing lip and health care products, like the DCT Daily Conditioning Treatment lip balm, all over the world for many years. Headquartered in Oak Brook, IL, the founding family’s third generation is currently running the Blistex company.

As previously discussed, octinoxate, which is also present here, has the potential to cause an allergenic reaction or disrupt the endocrine system. On the bright side, oxybenzone is one of very few FDA-approved ingredients that provide effective broad spectrum protection from UV rays. (4)

Almost all of the customer reviews gush about Blistex DCT, referring to it as an “excellent product that got rid of my dry lips.” Others compliment its “smoothness” and the “clear, hydrated look it gives.” On the flip side, there were customers who reported they disliked “constantly having to reapply it, like every 15 minutes,” as well as the fact it is very hard to find in stores.*

*Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.