How to choose a lip balm you’ll love

We chatted with a few makeup experts to get the scoop on how to choose a balm that’ll have your mouth begging for more.

Figure out what type of packaging you want

The first thing you need to consider when purchasing a lip balm is how you want to apply your product, says celebrity makeup artist Julia Papworth. If you want to use your fingers to dab it on, a pot or a jar is probably the way to go. If you like to squeeze it out, a tube is definitely your best bet. And if you prefer swipeing a solid balm across your lips, a stick is the best way to go.

Consider the smell and flavor

Some people love the fruity smell of a lip balm, while others are totally turned off by anything aromatic, notes Julia. Think about what you like, try out some of your friends’ products or just experiment on your own with a couple of balms to determine what scents and flavors (if any at all) appeal to your senses.

Look for multi-tasking products

When searching for the perfect lip balm, makeup artist and creative director for e.l.f. Cosmetics Achelle Dunaway, recommends looking for products that perform double, or even triple and quadruple, duty. “For example, a lip balm that has SPF with key nourishing ingredients to help hydrate and moisturize your pout, a minty flavor to help freshen breath and a tint to give lips that just-bitten natural look, is a definite must-have.”

Pick a balm with benefits

The whole point of lip balm is to make your mouth look and feel divine, so remember — it’s okay to be picky! TV and film makeup artist and the CEO/founder of Advanced Mineral Makeup Annie Mayo, suggests a lip balm with high grade oils, such as sweet almond oil, tea tree oil, sage oil and vitamin E, which will soothe and moisturize your pout without leaving you with that greasy feeling. She also says to make sure it contains an SPF of at least 15 and is free of parabens.