Best: Overall

Rating: 9.5/10

It’s not just our tester who fell madly in love with this balm – it’s one that many fellow beauty editors love (and have used right up to the last squeeze) too. The vegan formula is buttery but not greasy, and is packed with shea and murumuru butter alongside plant-based waxes that work to deeply hydrate lips. It adds a slight sheen but nothing too obvious, and it smells delicious. We also loved that it’s available in either a clear formula or a slightly tinted, sheer beige shade. Plus, the tube is now made with bio-resin and has an applicator tip which makes applying on the go even easier.

Best: Overnight treatment

Rating: 9/10

Created by Dr Tijion Esho, the self-proclaimed “king of lips”, his range of products has been designed to hydrate, volumise and sculpt lips without the need for injections, if that’s what you’re tempted by. Our tester’s favourite product is “coat”, an intensive treatment that works to soothe and repair dry, cracked lips. Formulated with squalane and golden jojoba oil, it absorbs quickly and easily instead of sitting on the surface. We applied a generous layer before bedtime and by morning lips our lips were smooth, hydrated and super soft. The effects are definitely cumulative – the more we used it, the more we noticed how much it improved the overall feeling and appearance of our lips (and lipstick definitely started to sit better, too).

Best: Lip mask

Rating: 8.5/10

Clinically proven to replenish moisture, smooth lines and boost lip radiance over time, this leave-on mask from BareMinerals is powered by papaya enzymes that work to gently slough away dead skin, while the brand’s own phyto-retinol – a plant-based alternative to the powerhouse ingredient – encourages the skin’s own natural collagen production while being mild enough to use on lips. The formula is good for generously slathering on at nighttime, and the inclusion of hyaluronic acid works to help nourish lips and replenish lost moisture. It’s hydrating, smoothing and leaves lips feeling very well-loved.

Best: Variety

Rating: 9/10

You cannot go wrong with Glossier’s now-iconic balm dotcom – a product that’s now become synonymous with the brand. Reasonably priced, coming in cute packaging and with a colour and flavour to suit everybody and every mood, they’re great to keep in your bag and use throughout the day. Our favourite is cookie butter; not just because it smells like Biscoff spread, but because the “melted caramel” tint is a your-lips-but-better shade. Made using castor oil, beeswax and lanolin, the waxy texture does harden in cold weather (but can quickly be melted down with the heat of your hands) and it stays in place for a relatively long time, leaving lips feeling moisturised but not greasy or shiny.

Best: For hydration

Rating: 8/10

A much-loved hero in the lip balm world, Nuxe’s balm harnesses the nourishing properties of honey to soothe dry, damaged lips, alongside beeswax to protect against cold, windy weather. It melts into lips for immediate and intense hydration – and while it won’t be to everybody’s taste, we really liked the zesty lemon and grapefruit scent. The formula also contains sweet almond and musk rose essential oils that work to replenish lost moisture and prevent dryness.

Best: SPF lip balm

Rating: 8.5/10

A good lip balm with added sunscreen is a must-have for just about everybody, and Ultrasun is probably the very best available. A brand that prides itself on effective and technologically advanced sun protection, this nourishing balm protects the lips from damaging UV rays. Formulated with white meadowfoam and blackcurrant oil, it’s the perfect size for travelling but it’ll also fit neatly in your pocket – because protecting your lips against the sun all year round is just as important as protecting the rest of your face. We liked that this was super easy to use, took seconds to apply and sank in nicely without leaving any sticky residue in its wake.

Best: For chapped lips

Rating: 8.5/10

If you’re somebody who suffers from chronically dry or chapped lips, this gently soothing formula may be the product you’ve been looking for. Every item in Avene’s extensive range is made with sensitive skin in mind, and this fragrance-free balm is no different. It simultaneously protects against external, often-aggravating aggressors while also nourishing and repairing dry skin. The water-resistant formula makes it longer-lasting than most, and the blend of anti-irritating ingredients will work wonders. However, be warned that it does apply white, so you need to gently massage it in to help it absorb into lips, but that’s a small price to pay.

Best: Tinted lip balm

Rating: 9/10

These tinted balms are the best we’ve found: they can be worn sheer or easily built up for a more intense pop of colour, and are made with a blend of shea butter, mango and jojoba seed oils that work in tandem to smooth and hydrate lips. We love the range of shades available, from deep grape to bright red and neutral pink, and there’s a clear one too if you want the benefits without the tint. They feel super comfortable on lips, and add a shine without looking too much, plus they’re super easy to wear and top-up when necessary.

Best: Lipstick prep

Rating: 8.5/10

Sometimes no amount of balm can work, and when that happens it’s time to employ a gentle scrub to get rid of any product build-up and bits of dead skin. Bite’s sweet-smelling scrub is made with agave nectar and golden sugar to cleanse, exfoliate and condition lips in one fell swoop. Not all scrubs have added squalane though, so this one acts as a one-and-done scrub that our tester has incorporated into her routine once a week for immediately softer, smoother-looking lips. However, anybody who’s used a lip scrub before will know that they can be a bit messy to use, so our tester recommends keeping this little jar in the bathroom so you can use it in the shower – being able to wash away the residue effortlessly after application is a real game changer.

Best: For sustainability

Rating: 8.5/10

It might be surprising to hear that Hotel Chocolate (yes, the chocolate brand) has branched out into beauty products, but the entire range is well thought out and makes an excellent addition to the brand. It’s inspired by the brand’s cacao farm and rainforest spa in St Lucia – nourishing and revitalising, the honey and chocolate scent is reason enough to try this, but throw in the blend of natural ingredients (which includes cacao seed butter, obviously) and the reusable bamboo tub that it’s housed in, and this really is an underrated must-have.