6 Best Lip Balms for Men in 2026, According to Esquire
<p>Good lip balm is available at any <a href=”https://www.esquire.com/style/grooming/a70438762/best-drugstore-skincare-brands/” target=”_blank”>drugstore</a> or specialty beauty spot. And don’t worry guys, we’re not talking shiny, tinted lip gloss. (Though having lips that look moisturized isn’t a bad thing, don’t be afraid, bro.) We mean hardy, <a href=”https://www.esquire.com/lifestyle/g69169506/best-moisturizers-for-men/” target=”_blank”>moisturizing</a> balms that don’t look like anything, don’t smell like anything, and don’t announce themselves—they just <a href=”https://www.esquire.com/style/grooming/g34988965/best-mens-body-lotions/” target=”_blank”>hydrate</a>, protect, and help repair those painful cracks. Ahead, we’ve rounded up the six best lip balms worth keeping on you at all times.</p>” data-next-head/>
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Jack Black
Commerce Editor Luke Guillory loves Lanolips’ 101 Ointment so much he wrote a full endorsement on the product. He will, also, talk anyone’s ear off about why it’s so good. The short is, there’s only one main ingredient: lanolin. (Look at that ingredients list compared to the rest in this story…)
Lanolin is a lipid that is produced by wooly mammals, like sheep, to protect their wool from water, help wounds heal, and keep environmental irritants out of the animal. When wool is processed, lanolin becomes a byproduct. It’s also a byproduct of shearing sheep—rub your hands in sheep’s wool all day, and you’ll have a waxy film of the stuff. It’s been used to treat dry skin for thousands of years, and in modern times it’s mostly known as nipple cream for breastfeeding women, thanks to its intensely hydrating properties. If you’re looking or something all-natural, this is your best bet.
Sure, $17 is a lot to spend on a tube of lip balm, but read the full endorsement. He promises it’s worth it.
Features at a Glance
Main Ingredients
Lanolin
Flavors
Unflavored
Size
0.52 oz
If you prefer to use vegan products or want something with some sun protection in it, check out Coola’s Liplux balm with SPF 30. It’s the perfect beach companion, since it provides great sun protection and is water-resistant for 80 minutes so you can wear it while going for a swim. It’s incredibly smooth, not at all sticky, and honestly just looks and feels luxurious.
Features at a Glance
Main Ingredients
Avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, raspberry butter, avocado oil, jojoba seed oil, castor see oil, coconut oil, sunflower seed oil, carnauba wax, rose hip fruit extract
Flavors
Naturally flavored
Size
0.15 oz
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Another Esquire editor-favorite lip balm is this one from Mario Badescu (yes, the brand that makes those iconic facial mists). It features thick coconut oil and shea butter, which help make it super smooth and nourishing. It also lasts for hours—even staying effective through meals and activities—so you won’t have to keep reapplying all throughout the day.
I have multiples of this Aquaphor lip balm—one for home, one for my office, one for whatever bag I’m taking out. I use it every morning and every night, and it really does provide immediate relief for dry lips, even in the harsh winters. Dermatologists love this lip balm and are always recommending it, so you can trust that it works—and is healthy for your lips.
Another great option with sun protection is Jack Black’s Intense Therapy lip balm with SPF 25. There are also a bunch of flavor options if you want something a little more fun than the plain, unflavored balms—this natural mint and shea butter flavor is intensely soothing without being too overpowering. If you’re not into mint, it also comes in black tea and blackberry, grapefruit and ginger, pineapple mint, and more flavors.
Features at a Glance
Main Ingredients
Avobenzone, octinoxate, petrolatum, shea butter, avocado oil, vitamin E, green tea
Flavors
Natural mint & shea butter, black tea & blackberry, grapefruit & ginger, lemon & shea butter, pineapple mint, shea butter & vitamin E
Size
0.25 oz
If you want a variety of fun flavors of lip balm without sacrificing efficiency, try one of the Burt’s Bees variety packs. Burt’s Bees lip balm is made from beeswax and a mix of natural oils that hydrate and richly moisturize, and at just $11 for a 4-pack, it’s a great deal. You may have to reapply more often throughout the day to keep the moisturizing effect going, and if you’re easily overwhelmed by flavors and fragrances, you might want to stick to the original beeswax lip balm flavor.