"According to market data, approximately 1.1 billion units of lip balms are sold globally every year. Yet, a study found that 92 per cent of the participants complained about dryness. A damaged lip barrier is common, and can become susceptible to severe dryness, peeling skin, and chappiness. In some cases, lip infections, nicks and cuts, and inflammation could also occur. Using a lip balm for dry lips, albeit one that is specifically designed to alleviate dehydration is key. This is crucial in the colder months, when the risk to dryness multiples. What makes a good lip balm paramount for damaged lips? Lip balms in India aren"t intrinsically essential; kitchen staples like ghee, coconut oil, and honey can be used too. However, using these ingredients in a raw form may not be the most convenient. Approximately 1.1 billion units of lip balms are sold globally every year. Photograph: (Pexels) “The lips have a thin structure and less oil glands which makes them more prone to barrier damage and dryness. Also, certain habits like lip licking or excessive sun exposure and too much use of cosmetics can end up leading to lip dryness,” shares celebrity dermatologist Dr Madhuri Agarwal. “Lip balms work as occlusive agents, which helps sealing the trans epidermal water loss and forming a protective layer over the lips.” Lip balms help maintain the softness and health of your lips both on a daily basis and in the long run. The dos and don"ts of buying the best lip balm for dryness While picking lip balms in India, Agarwal recommends resorting to ingredients like ceramides, squalene, glycerin, colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, and beeswax since they are emollients and occlusives that can retain water in the skin and cut down environmental damage too. Besides, steer clear from irritants—some common ingredients such as fragrance and flavours are allergens that can quietly sabotage the health of your lips. “The lips can actually get drier when the wrong ingredients are used,” says Agarwal. “It"s best to avoid irritants on lips like cinnamon, peppermint, mint, camphor, menthol, citrus, and salicylic acid. These can cause lip inflammation, dehydration, and cause irritant-contact allergies. The lips don"t need harsh actives or ingredients.” Agarwal recommends verifying FDA approvals, and choosing chapsticks or tubes over pots since they can transmit bacteria and trigger infections or inflammation. 12 best lip balms in India for dry, dehydrated, and damaged lips Photograph: (Instagram.com/biodermaindia) 1. Bioderma Atoderm Lèvres Moisturizing Stick: The best lip balm for dry lips This good old chapstick-style lip balm combines the shea butter, sunflower seed oil, and avocado oil to create a nourishing formula. It ditches all sorts of nasties—just a simple yet effective formula to provide long-lasting nourishment for sensitive, chapped lips. Priced at ₹699 Available at Tirabeauty.com Photograph: (Instagram.com/laneige_in) 2. Laneige Lip Mask: The best lip balm for deep nourishment This viral Korean lip mask has secured a spot on every skincare enthusiast"s cabinet, courtesy a glaze-like texture that coats the lips evenly, leaving a soft finish. A combination of coconut oil, shea and murumuru butter, and vitamin C makes it deeply nourishing for the lips. Since the formula might feel heavy and goopy, it"s best to park it for your nighttime routine. Prices start at ₹540 Available at Amazon.in Photograph: (www.52sundaze.com) 3. 52 Sundaze Mango Butter Lip Balm: The best lip balm with SPF The capsule-shaped lip balm packs in SPF 30 and a rich blend of hydrators to moisturise the lips without overwhelming them. Mango butter, olive, coconut, avocado and castor oils, and shea butter give this lip balm a comfortable slip, making it ideal for daily use. Priced at ₹399 Available at 52Sundaze.com Photograph: (Instagram.com/indewild) 4. Inde Wild Dewy Lip Treatment: The best glossy lip balm Among the best glossy lip balms, this formula fuses traditional ingredients (ghee) with modern actives such as peptides, squalane, hyaluronic acid, and shea butter. Besides a slick shine, this lip balm also softens and plumps the lips within a few minutes of application. It comes in several tints, posing as a substitute for your everyday lip gloss. Priced at ₹799 Available at India.Indewild.com Photograph: (www.nykaa.com) 5. Dr Jart+ Moisturizing Ceramidin Lip Balm: The best lip balm for chapped lips Consider this lip balm as a potent treatment for chapped lips. It"s thick and provides your lip with an immediate boost of nourishment. It skips toxins like mineral oil, drying alcohol, SLS, and SLES. The made-in-Korea formula is the best lip balm for chapped lips—it heals and seals moisture. Priced at ₹1,450 Available at Nykaa.com Photograph: (fentybeauty.com) 6. Fenty LUX Balm: The best hydrating lip balm A chapstick loaded with antioxidants, this isn"t just the best hydrating lip balm but also one that repairs and treats damage and pigmentation. Sweet cherry seed oil, murumuru, cocoa, shea and cocoa butters, vitamin E, avocado oil, and soybean oil make this a storehouse of moisture that does the job without feeling greasy. Priced at ₹1,675 Available at Tirabeauty.com Photograph: (Instagram.com/dyou.co) 7. d"you Lip Nectar: Best Korean lip balm in India This lip balm glides like lip oil and nourishes like a lip mask. Packed with ceramides and camellia seed oil, it hydrates, treats, and heals the lips. Though lightweight, it"s robustly hydrating, making it a multipurpose formula for cuticles too. Priced at ₹850 Available at Dyou.co Photograph: (rukmini1.flixcart.com) 8. Himalaya Lip Balm: The best drugstore lip balm The most affordable lip balm on the list, this one from Himalaya is like a high-nourishing lip cream that features carrot seed oil, wheatgerm oil, and vitamin A to condition and soften the lips by preventing moisture loss. Priced at ₹40 Available at Amazon.in Photograph: (media.augustinusbader.com) 9. Augustinus Bader The Tinted Lip Balm: The best luxury lip balm This tinted lip balm is moisturising enough to reverse chappiness and poppy enough to provide your lips with a flush of colour. Loaded with shea butter, vitamins, amino acids, and peptides, this is the best luxury tinted lip balm for all skin types—including sensitive and maturing lips. Priced at ₹3,800 Available at Tirabeauty.com Photograph: (Instagram.com/eina_beauty_) 10. Prada Lip Balm: The best lip balm for daily use Packaged in a sleek, refillable Prada case, this is the best lip balm for daily use, given the weightless moisture and colour-enhancing properties. It fortifies the lip barrier, dropping the chances for extreme dryness and damage. It features lactic acid and jojoba butter to resurface and hydrate the lips. Priced at ₹4,550 Available at Ssbeauty.in Photograph: (Instagram.com/cliniquecanada) 11. Clinique Moisture Surge Lip Hydro-Plump Treatment: The best lip balm treatment A lip care formula from Clinique"s cult Moisture Surge range, this lip balm delivers a healthy dose of moisture to cop soft lips, courtesy shea butter, castor oil, ceramides, murumuru seed butter, and anti-inflammatory Sea Whip extract—minus any alcohol, fragrance, and parabens. Priced at ₹2,200 Available at Sephora.in Photograph: (www.juicychemistry.com) 12. Juicy Chemistry Blood Orange & Rosehip Lip Balm: The best organic lip balm in India Available in both mini jars and ergonomic tubes, this is among the best organic lip balms in India. ECOCERT-certified, this non-sticky balm contains 100 per cent organic ingredients—castor seed, jojoba seed, rosehip and blood orange oils. Priced at ₹298 Available at Juicychemistry.com "