3 Best Lip Balm For Acne Prone Skin

Dry, chapped lips are sore at the best of times, but when you have acne prone skin, they can be even more painful.

Keeping your lips hydrated when you’ve got acne prone can be a challenge, but with the right lip balm, you too can have soft, hydrated lips.

If you’re on the hunt for the best lip balm for acne prone skin, I’ve got you covered.

Keep reading for my guide to the best lip balm for acne prone skin.

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OUR TOP PICK

Burt's Bees Lip Balm, Moisturizing Lip Care, for All Day Hydration, 100% Natural, Original Beeswax, Cucumber Mint, Coconut & Pear & Vanilla (4 Pack)

Choose this if you want a 100% natural product with no nasty ingredients that will be gently to your acne skin.

Burt’s Bees Moisturizing lip balm is made with 100% natural products, making it gentle to use on your acne prone skin.

With beeswax and fruit extracts packed into every lip balm, the Burt’s Bees lip balm is sure to moisturize your lips within seconds and keep them hydrated all day.

Featuring a matte finish and moisturizing balm texture, this tint-free and soothing lip balm glides on smoothly to nourish dry lips.

Pros

  • All Natural - Enriched with 100% natural origin ingredients, you can rest assured that there aren’t any hidden nasties
  • Multiple Flavors - Featuring multiple flavors, including original beeswax, cucumber mint, coconut & pear, as well as vanilla bean.
  • Value For Money - This value 4 pack is the perfect option to stock up on all of your favorite lip balms, meaning you’re never without a lip balm when you’re on the go.

Cons

  • Slow Delivery - One customer noted that these lip balms took longer than they were anticipating to arrive in the mail.

EDITORS CHOICE

Blistex Medicated Lip Balm, 0.15 Ounce, Pack of 3 – Prevent Dryness & Chapping, SPF 15 Sun Protection, Seals in Moisture, Hydrating Lip Balm, Easy Glide Formula for Full Coverage

Choose this if you want a lip balm with SPT 15 sun protection, that provides moisture and soothing to chapped lips, that won't have a negative effect on your acne.

The Blistex Medicated Lip Balm is perfect for relieving sore lips and restoring a healthy moisture balance.

It provides SPF 15 sun protection, so you can rest assured knowing that your lips are protected from the sun’s harmful rays no matter the temperature outdoors.

Blistex Medicated Lip Balm is designed to seal in moisture to soothe and protect your lips.

Pros

  • SPF Protection - The Blistex Medicated Lip Balm is SPF 15, meaning that it not only nourishes but also protects your lips during the day.
  • Easy Application - This lip balm glides on your lips comfortably to provide complete coverage for all day hydration.
  • High Quality - This Blistex lip balm is a go-to lip care product that you can trust to keep your lips hydrated and soft no matter the season.

Cons

  • Packaging - One customer claimed that they didn’t like the packaging of this particular lip balm.

BEST VALUE

Carmex Lip Balm Tube Classic Medicated 0.35 Ounce (6 Count)

Choose this if you want to restore hydration to your lips, protect chapped lips from the cold or dry hear, containing soothing ingredients that will help not hurt your skin.

Carmex Lip Balm is great for restoring hydration to dry lips and is the ultimate lip therapy essential to carry in your pocket.

The Triple Force Formula helps protect your lips from the cold, wind and dry weather, no matter the temperature.

This lip balm contains camphor and menthol, which work well to cool and soothe your dry, sore lips when nothing else seems to be working.

Pros

  • Years Of Experience -  Carmex has a whopping 80 years of experience in the industry, meaning you can trust them to take care of your dry, chapped lips.
  • Soothing Ingredients - This lip balm contains cocoa butter, camphor, and menthol to soothe your lips.
  • Tripe Force Formula - The Triple Force Formula is designed to provide your lips with the ultimate protection, no matter the elements that you’re faced with on a daily basis.

Cons

  • Wrong Item Received - One customer noted that when they ordered this lip balm, the wrong item was delivered and received.

RUNNER UP

Aquaphor Lip Repair Ointment - Long-lasting Moisture to Soothe Dry Chapped Lips - .35 fl. oz. Tube

As the #1 Dermatologist recommended lip care brand, Aquaphor Lip Repair Ointment is great for soothing dry lips even with acne prone skin.

This lip balm is specially formulated with nourishing vitamins, Shea butter, and soothing Chamomile essence, making it great for sensitive lips.

The Aquaphor lip repair ointment is proven to relieve dryness and soothe chapped, cracked lips.

Pros

  • Free Of - Aquaphor Lip Repair Ointment is fragrance free and paraben free, making it ideal for sensitive skin.
  • Moisturizing - This lip balm works to seal in moisture and provides effective, long-lasting relief, so lips feel and look healthier.
  • Packed with Vitamins - Containing nourishing vitamin C, E, and Provitamin B5, Aquaphor lip balm is known for its high quality ingredients that are sure to provide you with all-day hydration.

Cons

  • Sticky Formula - One customer noted that they found the formula of this lip balm to be a little more sticky than they would have hoped.

RUNNER UP

Bioderma - Atoderm - Lip Stick - Hydrating, Soothing and Renewing Lip Stick - for Dry Lips

The Bioderma Lip Conditioner for Dry Lips is perfect for soothing and hydrating your lips.

With a shea butter and vaseline base, this Bioderma lip balm is non-sticky and non-irritating, leaving your lips supple and soft throughout the day. 

Containing vitamin E, Shea butter, and Laminaria extract to nourish and soothe your chapped lips, this product is ideal for acne prone skin.

Pros

  • Years Of Experience - Bioderma is a NAOS brand that has been passionate about serving skin biology for 40 years, meaning that you can rest assured knowing that this is a reputable brand you can put your trust into.
  • Raspberry Flavor - This particular lip balm is a subtle raspberry flavor that is perfect for everyday use.
  • Creamy Texture - The creamy texture of this lip balm has a very creamy texture, meaning it glides effortlessly onto your lips whenever they need a boost of hydration.

Cons

  • Unsealed - A few customers noted that this product came without a secure sealing.

Buyer’s Guide

There are a few things that you will need to consider when purchasing lip balm for acne prone skin.

However, it primarily comes down to moisturization, ingredients, and quality.

Below, I’ve put together a helpful buyer’s guide on the factors you should consider before purchasing lip balm for acne prone skin.

Let’s get into it.

Ingredients

One of the main factors you should consider before purchasing lip balm for acne prone skin is the ingredients.

As you already have sensitive skin, you don’t want to purchase a product that is likely to break out your skin or cause you to have a painful reaction as a result of using it.

Bearing this in mind, it’s essential to check the ingredients list to flag any potential ingredients that could trigger your skin, or any ingredients that you’ve had trouble with in the past.

You should look out for soothing and hydrating ingredients, such as shea butter, which you’ll find in the Aquaphor Lip Repair Ointment, which is designed to relieve pain and irritation as well as moisturize your lips.

Aquaphor Lip Repair Ointment - Long-lasting Moisture to Soothe Dry Chapped Lips - .35 fl. oz. Tube
Check Latest Price

Alternatively, you could opt for the all natural route of beeswax and fruit extracts, found in the Burt’s Bees lip balm.

Burt's Bees Lip Balm, Moisturizing Lip Care, for All Day Hydration, 100% Natural, Original Beeswax, Cucumber Mint, Coconut & Pear & Vanilla (4 Pack)
Check Latest Price

Everyone’s skin is different, and you likely will already have an idea of what feels good on your skin, and what breaks you out.


That being said, often we don’t know what will break us out until you trial and test a product.

Quality & Moisturization

One of the most important factors to consider when purchasing a lip balm is quality and moisturization.

To gain a better understanding of the quality and moisturization of a lip balm without buying the product yourself, it’s good to check the product reviews section.

The product reviews section allows customers to give their feedback on a product, good or bad, that gives you a better idea of whether you want to purchase the lip balm.

If a customer notices that the condition of their lips has improved since using the product, then they’ll likely tell you so in the product review section!

If no changes are noticed, they will also remark on this, and you can make an informed decision on whether it’s the right product for you.

For a super moisturizing lip balm, the Blistex Medicated Lip Balm is a good choice to soothe and hydrate.

Blistex Medicated Lip Balm, 0.15 Ounce, Pack of 3 – Prevent Dryness & Chapping, SPF 15 Sun Protection, Seals in Moisture, Hydrating Lip Balm, Easy Glide Formula for Full Coverage
Check Latest Price

Brand

A key consideration to bear in mind when choosing lip balm for acne prone skin is the brand.

While you might be someone that isn’t necessarily fussed by brands, it’s important to know that brands are often an assurance of quality.

After all, popular have years of experience, and have built up loyal customer relationships as a result of this.

If you’re unsure on which lip balm to go for, popular brands are a good place to start, as they already have that level of trust from people all over the world.

As you are looking for a lip balm that is suitable for acne prone skin, it’s good to put your trust into a well known brand that has years of experience in the field.

While it’s nice to support small and local businesses alike, when it comes to choosing a lip balm for your acne prone skin, opting for a well-known brand that is reputable is a good option to ensure that your needs are guaranteed to be met.

Formula & Application

A key factor to consider is the formula and the application of the lip balm in question.

Which formula you choose will depend on your preferences and your needs.

For instance, if you have severely chapped lips, you might be in the market for a heavier duty formula than someone who is looking for everyday moisturization.

For many people, a sticky formula is a deal-breaker.

You can usually gain a better understanding of the feel of a formula just by looking at the packaging.

For instance, if the lip balm comes in a stick packaging, the formula will be harder and different to one that comes out of a squeezy tube such as the Aquaphor Lip Repair Ointment.

Aquaphor Lip Repair Ointment - Long-lasting Moisture to Soothe Dry Chapped Lips - .35 fl. oz. Tube
Check Latest Price

For severely dry and chapped lips, you might want to opt for a heavy duty lip balm.

When choosing a heavy-duty lip balm, generally speaking you should opt for a medicated lip balm or one that is specifically formulated to help combat severely chapped lips.

For an everyday lip balm, on the other hand, you might want to consider a more lightweight formula.

While some formulas are easier to apply to your lips than others, you will need to be mindful to not over apply the lip product in question.

Generally speaking, if the product is good enough quality, you won’t need to apply lip balm to your lips more than twice a day - morning and night application should suffice!

SPF Protection

Another important factor to bear in mind when purchasing lip balm for acne prone skin is SPF protection.

SPF should be an essential part of your skincare routine, regardless of the weather outside.

The sun’s harmful rays can do damage to your skin even on a cloudy day, and the same principle applies to your lips.

As your lips aren’t as capable as the rest of your body when it comes to producing melanin, they need a little extra help to protect your skin from the sun’s rays.

For SPF protection, opt for a lip balm such as the Blistex Medicated Lip Balm.

Blistex Medicated Lip Balm, 0.15 Ounce, Pack of 3 – Prevent Dryness & Chapping, SPF 15 Sun Protection, Seals in Moisture, Hydrating Lip Balm, Easy Glide Formula for Full Coverage
Check Latest Price

Fragrance

The lip balm market is vast, and if you can think of a flavor, there is likely a lip balm fragrance out there somewhere to match.

There are a huge variety of lip balms on the market to choose from, no matter your preference.

The fragrances will depend on the brand of lip balm that you opt for.

While fragrance might make lip balm smell and taste better, when it comes to choosing lip balm for acne prone skin, simple is best.

You don’t want to opt for lip balm that is likely to irritate your skin, so make sure that you are mindful of how fragrances can impact this.

For a safe, simple choice, opt for Blistex Medicated Lip Balm.

Blistex Medicated Lip Balm, 0.15 Ounce, Pack of 3 – Prevent Dryness & Chapping, SPF 15 Sun Protection, Seals in Moisture, Hydrating Lip Balm, Easy Glide Formula for Full Coverage
Check Latest Price

Packaging

Something else you should consider when choosing the right lip balm for you is packaging.

The packaging you opt for will depend on you and your preferences, and will determine how convenient the application process is.

When you’re out on the go, tubs of lip balm aren’t the most convenient, as your hands come into contact with so many germs.

Bearing this in mind, if you travel a lot, then you might want to opt for a stick lip balm, such as the Bioderma lip balm, that you can safely store in your bag and apply without the need to apply with your fingers.

Bioderma - Atoderm - Lip Stick - Hydrating, Soothing and Renewing Lip Stick - for Dry Lips
Check Latest Price

Alternatively, if you’d like a lip balm that you keep by the sink and apply morning and night, then having your lip balm in a pot might not matter as much to you.

So, What's The Best Lip Balm For Skin Prone To Acne?

So, there you have 5 of the best lip balms for acne prone skin.

The Blistex Medicated Lip Balm is the best choice if you have severely chapped lips. 

This lip balm will help to restore moisture to your lips, maintain hydration, and won’t break the bank.

It also contains SPF 15, helping to protect your lips in the sun.

However, my top pick overall, is...

Burt's Bees Moisturizing Lip Care

Burt's Bees Lip Balm, Moisturizing Lip Care, for All Day Hydration, 100% Natural, Original Beeswax, Cucumber Mint, Coconut & Pear & Vanilla (4 Pack)
Check Latest Price

Why? It's all natural 100% origin ingredients, value for money in a 4 pack, has great natural flavours, and works to soothe agitated acne prone skin.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Often Should You Apply Lip Balm?

Having dry and chapped lips is frustrating for anyone.

However, no matter how much product you apply, you’re not going to receive the benefits of the lip balm if you’re consistently layering it on your chapped lips.

In fact, re-applying and over-applying lip balm can actually have the opposite effect, and often just leads to you wasting more of the product than you need to.

This comes down to the fact that many dermatologists believe that if you overuse lip balms, your lips can become drier due to the fact that they stop producing natural oils.

If the quality of the lip balm is good, then you generally won’t need to apply it more than twice a day.

While there’s not exactly a rule to say how much you should apply lip balm to your lips, you want a thin, even layer of product to keep your lips protected.

Is Lip Balm Good For Pimples?

A common place that many people break out is on their chin and jawline, and sometimes even on their lips.

Generally speaking, lip balm shouldn’t be used to help you manage these breakouts, as they can actually clog the surrounding skin around your mouth.

In addition to this, it’s worth noting that harsh products can irritate your lips and the surrounding areas if you’re not careful.

As a result, if you’re experiencing a breakout, make sure that you avoid using products that could irritate that area, such as a strongly scented lip balm.

Although scented products smell and taste better, it’s often better to opt for natural and unscented products when you have naturally sensitive skin.

Can Lip Balm Cause Acne?

Lip products, such as lip gloss, lipstick, and lip balm all have the potential to cause or worsen acne.

This is because the lip products can get into the pores that surround your lips, resulting in acne.

However, as keeping your lips hydrated is an essential part of a skincare routine, this shouldn’t put you off using your lip balm.

Provided that you’re careful with your application, your lip products shouldn’t cause too many issues.

To help prevent the problem from occurring, only apply your lip balm within the confines of your lips and be careful to not overdraw when applying your makeup.

Last update on 2023-06-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API