Is a Hyaluronic Acid Lip Balm the Key to Soft Lips? Here’s What Experts Think
Pucker up.
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Whenever you think about skin care, the first things that come to mind are probably products like cleansers, serums, or moisturizers. However, one aspect of skin care that is often left out of the conversation is lip care. Just like the skin on your face and body, your lips require some tender love and care to keep them feeling soft, smooth, and hydrated. But because the skin on your lips cannot produce natural oils like the rest of your body, it is much more suceptible to drying out. Other factors, like licking your lips, insufficient water intake, and even cold weather, can also play a role in chapped lips. Luckily, there are a variety of ingredients to help treat cracked, dry skin—and hyaluronic acid is one of them.
Hyaluronic acid, a hero skin care ingredient that draws water to the skin and locks in moisture, is the perfect thing to look for when shopping for new lip balms. “When included in lip balms, hyaluronic acid brings significant benefits to the lips and ensures that they remain moisturized and plump,” says Dr. Amy B. Lewis, a New York-based board-certified cosmetic and medical dermatologist at Lewis Dermatology. “It also has healing properties to help restore dry or cracked lips, making it an excellent choice for lip care.”
Whether you're stretching your lips for a smile or puckering them for a kiss, it’s important to keep them nourished and moisturized. To ensure that your lips are always hydrated, we've compiled a list of 10 of the best hyaluronic acid lip balms for a soft, supple pout.
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 at all times. Thanks to its blend of hyaluronic acid and ceramides, this balm keeps your lips smooth throughout the day 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.
Sephora rating: 4.4/5 stars
Size: 0.5 oz
An ELLE editor says: “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 feeling is soothing and the thick consistency keeps my lips feeling smooth all day without it feeling too sticky. This instantly became a staple product for me—my mom and aunt bot 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, made with squalane and firming peptides, attracts and retains moisture while treating fine lines in cracked, dry lips.
Amazon rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Size: 0.33 oz
An Amazon reviewer says: “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.”
Glow Recipe Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Acid Lip Balm
Pros
- Smooth texture
Cons
- Some don't like the scent
Similar to how your skin feels plump and bouncy after using serums and moisturizers, this glossy balm leaves your lips feeling nourished and hydrated. Though hyaluronic acid is its hero ingredient, this balm is also infused with Kakadu plum to smooth lines and raspberry extract to help combat moisture loss.
Amazon rating: 4.6/5 stars
Size: 0.5 oz
An ELLE editor says: “This balm is a recent addition to my stash and I'm already gearing up to repurchase it. This balm is extremely softening and feels like it literally melts into my lips. I personally love to apply a thick layer of this at night so that I wake up in the morning with smooth plump lips.” — Tasha Nicole Smith
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 can be said about the skin on your lips. This lip balm uses sugarcane-derived squalane to lock in hydration and support the lip’s moisture barrier, which helps the lips retain moisture.
Sephora rating: 4.6/5 stars
Size: 0.5 oz
A Sephora reviewer says: “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!”
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 after applying it makes it stand out. The Blackberry-flavored balm helps to restore lost moisture with a luxurious silky application and glossy look.
Strivectin rating: 4.7/5 stars
Size: 0.3 oz
A Strivectin reviewer says: “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.”
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare DermInfusions Plump + Repair Lip Treatment
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 is infused with a peptide complex to volumize the lips and fade fine lines or creases caused by dryness.
Sephora rating: 3.5/5 stars
Size: 0.33 oz
A Sephora reviewer says: “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 you lips in a layer of hydration, Ilia has you covered. For those who don’t want an overwhelming shine, this vegan balm gives you a soft sheen as it plumps and replenishes your lips. With additional ingredients like sea succulent and prickly pear, this moisturizer also helps to strengthen the moisture barrier.
Revolve rating: 3.5/5 stars
Size: 0.23 oz
An ELLE editor says: “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
- Moisturizing
Cons
- Some feel the formula is not long-lasting
This balm uses ceramides and blue lotus wax to replenish dry skin and protect the lips from dehydration, as cocoa extract moisturizes and soothes the skin. This balm is perfect to throw in your everyday bag to ensure your lips are soft and moisturized lips all day long.
Macy's rating: 4.9/5 stars
Size: 0.5 oz
A Macy's reviewer says: “This brilliant product slides on and gives hours of moisture and hydration. I suffer with very dry lips and this works every time. I have one at home, one in the car and one in my handbag at all times, and now my daughter and mom use it too. Once you have this in your life, you will wave goodbye to chapped, dry or sore lips”
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 that is left on your lips after applying it 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.
Ulta rating: 4.5/5 stars
Size: 0.41 oz
An Ulta reviewer says: “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 that uses a supercharged hyaluronic acid formula that attracts and absorbs water, allowing your lips to retain moisture.
Size: .34 oz
Our expert says: “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.”
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.
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