Is a Hyaluronic Acid Lip Balm the Key to Soft Lips? Here’s What Experts Think
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Pros
- Long-lasting
Cons
- Some don’t like the thick consistency
If you want your gloss to last all day, it’s best to keep a tube of Slick Salve nearby. Thanks to its blend of hyaluronic acid and ceramides, this balm keeps your lips smooth for hours without feeling overly sticky. With one swipe, you receive the hydration of a lip balm and the shine of a gloss. It’s also available in a new deep burgundy shade that’s perfect for anyone who loves the current cherry cola beauty trend.
Size: 0.5 oz
ELLE editor review: “If there’s one thing that I make sure to pack every time I leave the house, it’s this lip balm—it’s always with me. The minty fragrance and sensation are soothing, and the thick consistency keeps my lips smooth all day without feeling too sticky. This instantly became a staple product for me—my mom and aunt both actually used it as my stocking stuffer this past Christmas because of how much I talk about it.”— Tasha Nicole Smith, beauty assistant
Pros
- Improves texture of lips
Cons
- Pricey
Paula’s Choice is known for its skin-smoothing products, so it makes sense that its lip balm would leave your lips feeling soft. This treatment, formulated with squalane and firming peptides, attracts and retains moisture while smoothing fine lines and cracked, dry lips.
Size: 0.33 oz
Customer review: “My daughter has eczema that makes her lips extremely dry and itchy, so bad that it makes her not want to smile to prevent her lips from getting open wounds. Keeping her lips moist is a must, so I got anything you can imagine to help her. This is the only balm that stops her itch, restores her lips and helps to keep it moisturized, without giving her any allergies.”
Pros
- Subtle vanilla scent
Cons
- Must be reapplied frequently
By now, you’ve probably heard about how important it is to protect your skin’s moisture barrier. The same applies to the skin on your lips. This lip balm uses sugarcane-derived squalane to lock in hydration and support the lips’ moisture barrier.
Size: 0.5 oz
Customer review: “I’ve been using this for a few days and love it. My lips were dry and flakey, I wanted something that would hydrate, protect, and provide a bit of colour. This does it all! It has a glossy finish, which dies down to more of a balm. It has a faint vanilla-ish flavour which isn’t very noticeable after a few minutes. The color is relatively sheer, at least on my lips. I highly recommend giving this a try!”
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Pros
- Non-greasy
Cons
- Slightly sticky
The velvety texture of this balm is enough to make you swoon, but the feeling of nourished, soft lips afterward makes it stand out. The Blackberry-flavored balm helps restore lost moisture with a luxurious, silky application and a glossy finish.
Size: 0.3 oz
Customer review: “It just feels so nice on my lips. Not sticky or greasy, just a nice subtle hydration. I really love how it feels and looks! I put it on every night before bed and again in the morning. A little goes a long way and I’ve had this pot for almost a year and will be buying more.”
Pros
- Helps plump fine lines
Cons
- Not suitable for sensitive skin
Skip the uncomfortable, tingly feeling of a plumping gloss with this hydrating lip treatment. This formula infuses a peptide complex to volumize the lips and fade fine lines or creases caused by dryness.
Size: 0.33 oz
Customer review: “I have chronically dry lips that will peel and crack if uncared for and have my entire adult life. This is the only thing I’ve ever used where when applied at night my lips are actually soft and hydrated throughout the next day even without product. And to my shock, I let my botox wear off a month and a half ago and it looks like I still have a lip flip. The difference I can see and feel after using this nightly for 2 months is an insane game changer.”
Pros
- Clean ingredients
Cons
- Not very long-lasting
If you want to wrap your lips in a layer of hydration, Ilia has you covered. For those who don’t want an overwhelming shine, this vegan balm delivers a soft sheen while plumping and replenishing your lips. With additional ingredients like sea succulent and prickly pear, this moisturizer also helps to strengthen the moisture barrier.
Size: 0.23 oz
ELLE editor review: “The first time I tried this balm, it was on a whim. I’d lost my last balm and needed something to hold me over until I found it. But when I began using this balm, I didn’t even mind that the other one was gone. This balm is super moisturizing and has a silky texture that doesn’t feel heavy on my lips.”—Tasha Nicole Smith
Pros
- Pairs well with lip color
Cons
- Slightly greasy feeling
The sweet smell of naturally derived mandarin and mangoes is just one of the benefits of this lip oil. The soft, smooth feeling it leaves on your lips after application is another. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid, castor seed oil, and meadowfoam seed oil work together to hydrate and nourish the lips while adding shine. Nutrient-rich sea fern also encourages fuller-looking lips for an instantly plump result.
Size: 0.41 oz
Customer review: “This lip booster is truly luxurious and effective. It makes my lips feel smooth immediately after use. I love that I can use this by itself throughout the day as well as apply it over lip color if I want to. It gives me some shine and makes my lips actually look more plump. I don’t have to worry about dry lips anymore. I look forward to each time I apply the booster. It has a very light scent which I enjoy. I’d recommend this to anyone wanting softer, hydrated lips.”
Pros
- Deeply hydrating
Cons
- Small size
Here’s a silky salve with a supercharged hyaluronic acid formula that attracts and retains moisture to keep your lips hydrated.
Size: .34 oz
Expert review: “The Hydrinity LUXE Lip Hydrator is my favorite HA lip balm. It decreases the appearance of fine lines and promotes a fuller, more youthful look. It can help combat dryness by providing intense hydration, restoring moisture, and soothing dry lips.” —Dr. Amy B. Lewis, board-certified dermatologist at Lewis Dermatology
What are the main causes of dry lips?
Like your face, dryness on your lips can be caused by a variety of factors, including dehydration and weather. “Cold weather, wind, and dry air can strip moisture from the lips, leaving them cracked and chapped. Dehydration also plays a significant role, as insufficient water intake leads to dry skin, including on the lips,” says Dr. Lewis. “Licking your lips can exacerbate the problem, as saliva evaporates quickly, drying out the lips further.”
How does hyaluronic acid work for the skin on your lips?
Hyaluronic acid has been a hero ingredient in skin care products for years, thanks to its hydrating properties. “It works by drawing moisture into the skin, which is particularly beneficial for the lips,” says Dr. Lewis. “The lips, being more sensitive and prone to dehydration, benefit from HA’s ability to retain moisture, keeping the lips soft, plump, and hydrated. HA fills the space between skin cells, acting like a sponge to hold water, promoting a smooth texture.”
Beyond using lip balms, how do we ensure that we keep our lips hydrated?
Though topical treatments and products are great to help with moisture, there are many other habits that can help our bodies retain moisture. “Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water also helps maintain moisture in your skin, including your lips. Avoiding habits like licking your lips is key, as it can dry them out even more,” says Dr. Lewis. “It also helps to exfoliate your lips gently from time to time to remove dry, flaky skin, allowing for better moisture absorption. Some lip balms or oils have SPF, which is essential for protecting lips from damage when in sunny areas.”
Meet the Experts
Why Trust ELLE Beauty?
As a leading publisher of fashion, lifestyle, and beauty content, ELLE.com is committed to highlighting the best products in various categories by personally testing the latest and most innovative products, interviewing countless experts, and vetting customer-loved items. For this piece, beauty writer Tasha Nicole Smith consulted a dermatologist to learn about the benefits of hyaluronic acid for lips and the best lip balms containing the ingredient.
How We Test
For this piece, beauty writers Tasha Nicole Smith and Emma Aerin Becker consulted a dermatologist to learn about the benefits of hyaluronic acid for lips and the best lip balms containing the ingredient.
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