Lip balm and lipstick may seem like the same thing at first glance, but they are two completely different products for your lips. The main difference is that lipstick is a cosmetic product that is also a protection for the lips. Lip balm, on the other hand, is used to help with ailments like dry lips, stomatitis, angular cheilitis, or cold sores.
Lipstick is most often the popular choice for women who are looking to apply color to the lips. Lipstick has become more than just a little dash of red or pink on the lips. With all of the different formulas and shades, lipstick has become a way to express individuality and personality through cosmetics. While the most popular lipstick colors for women are still in the red family, blues, greens, and purples have all become staples in a cosmetic line. Many lipsticks also come in different flavorings like strawberry, lime, or mint.
Believe it or not, lipstick has been around for quite a long time. The earliest suspected use of lipstick was in ancient Mesopotamia. There were mentions of the first lipstick being made out of crushed gemstones like garnet or the crushed shells of beetles. As time passed, formulas for lipsticks became less gemstone and more nourishing ingredients like oils and pigments. It was during the 19th century that the iconic red lipstick gained its popularity amongst the limited shade range of the time.
In contrast to lipstick, lip balm is more commonly used for routine care of the lips. Lip balm is primarily a wax-cream mixture that will provide hydration and repair for lips that are experiencing irritation, dryness, or cold sores. Lip balm is a necessity for anyone, whether they wear lipstick or not. Lip balms have various ingredients which can include dyes, fragrances, flavorings, sunscreens, and other ingredients like menthol and phenol. Lips are one of the most sensitive parts of a human being and can damage easily. This is why lip balms are essential because they can provide a barrier between the lips and the external environment. Many people experience some form of irritation on the lips during season changes or in general if the climate is dry or cold enough. Lip balms are also quite versatile in that they can be applied from a lipstick-like tube, a squeeze tube, or a tin with either a lip brush or finger.
Comparison between Lipstick and Lip Balm:
If you want to break it down into a simple comparison, the differences are even easier to see. Lipsticks were said to have been created in ancient Mesopotamia whereas lip balm was first recorded to have been produced for sale in the 1880s. Lipsticks are cosmetics that are oiled based and often have crayon-like properties while lip balms are primarily made with wax, butter, and oils and have a variety of applicators. There are many rich shades for lipsticks while lip balms often are sheer or barely pigmented. Lipsticks can often be drying, which can be a problem, but lip balms are almost always hydrating. Due to the pigmented nature of lipstick, it usually takes more time to apply than a lip balm.
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When it comes to your lips, there are loads of products to choose from — lip liners, liquid sticks, plumpers, and more. But are these products actually good for your lips, and do they provide any benefits beyond appearance? Or, are you better off with your faithful black and white tube of ChapStick? We get to the bottom of these questions by battling out two of the most popular products in the lip world: lip balm and lip gloss.
Lip gloss is primarily a cosmetic product designed to give your lips a glossy finish. Note: According to the FDA, cosmetic products are used to alter a person’s appearance, but they don’t impact the human body‘s structure or functions.¹
Lip glosses are typically liquid or semi-fluid and may come packaged in a squeezable tube for applying directly to the lips. Some lip gloss tubes come with a doe foot applicator (a sponge-tipped wand) instead.
Lip gloss can add a high-shine top coat to give your favorite lipstick a glass-like finish. Or it can be applied on its own to add a shine to your natural lip color. You can also buy tinted lip gloss, which comes in just about every shade imaginable. From metallic shimmers to subtle pinks, these liquids add a pop of color and glossiness to make your lips stand out.
Okay, but what’s the difference between lip balm and lip gloss when it comes to ingredients?
Every lip gloss has its own combination of ingredients, but these are some common ones:
Emollients moisturize and soften the skin. Synthetic and refined emollients include squalane and mineral oils. Lanolin and jojoba are natural, moisturizing emollients.
Thickeners help keep the gloss on your lips. They include waxes, like ozokerite, and clays, like kaolin.
Coloring agents, like dyes, pigments, mica, and iron oxide, create different hues and add sparkle.
Polybutene and polyisobutene² act as binding agents to create a sticky texture.
Finally, the million-dollar question: are there benefits to lip gloss from a medical perspective? This can depend on the product formula.
Some lip glosses have benefits due to additional ingredients, like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide (for sun protection), and moisturizing ingredients, like glycerin or jojoba oil. Other lip glosses, however, may have pore-clogging ingredients that can lead to acne around your mouth.
We recommend carefully reading each product label to know what ingredients you’re applying to your lips. If you’re ever uncertain about an ingredient, Curology’s licensed dermatology providers are here to help.
Lip balm is generally meant to moisturize your lips and treat and help prevent chapped and cracked lips. Most lip balms are wax-like substances packaged in sticks, jars, or roll-on containers.
Things get a bit technical when it comes to lip balm product classification. Your standard lip balm is a cosmetic product. But a lip balm with active ingredients that treat a medical condition is both a cosmetic and a drug.³ An example is a lip balm that treats cold sores.
And, unlike lip gloss, lip balm is not typically a makeup product. It’s generally considered a personal care product and skin protectant.
Here are some common ingredients that may be found in lip balm:
(Keep in mind that this is by no means an all-inclusive list. Different lip balm brands will have their own product ingredients.)
Beeswax and carnauba wax
Cocoa butter, shea butter, and palm butter
Petrolatum and petroleum jelly
Lanolin
Honey
Plant oils like jojoba, almond, and avocado oil
Vitamin E
Hemp seed oil and castor seed oil
Dimethicone
Coloring and flavoring agents
Most lip balms are made to give your lips the care they need. But are there any disadvantages of lip balm?
Lip balms made with certain ingredients may harm your lips by drying them out instead of moisturizing them.⁴ And, like lip gloss, some ingredients in lip balms may be comedogenic, potentially clogging the pores around your mouth.
Check out our helpful list of common pore-clogging ingredients to avoid.
Because the purposes of lip gloss and lip balm can differ, your final choice will depend on your goals. Although some lip glosses have hydrating and protecting benefits, they’re more often beauty products. For healthy, hydrated skin, lip balm is probably your best bet.
The good news? You don’t have to choose one or the other. Applying lip balm regularly will keep your lips healthy and create a smooth canvas on which you can apply beauty products like lip gloss.
Wondering which lip balm is best for daily use? Dermatologists recommend applying a non-irritating lip balm throughout the day and before you go to bed.⁵ When outdoors, apply a lip balm with SPF 30 or higher every two hours. Add some gentle exfoliation to the mix, and your lip care routine will be good to go.
Getting your lips to pouty perfection shouldn’t be a game of trial and error. If you’d like expert advice on how to use lip balm, Curology is here to help.
Our dermatologists have developed an acne-friendly, non-greasy lip balm to soften and soothe your lips. It’s packed with all the good stuff, like natural butters, plant-based oils, and even SPF 30!
Sign up for a Curology trial* and get your Curology lip balm along with other customized products picked for your skin goals. Take a quick quiz, send us some selfies, and kiss dry lips goodbye.
Is lip balm better than lip gloss?
This depends on what you’re trying to achieve with your lip product. If you want to relieve dry or chapped lips, a lip balm can provide your lips with the hydration they need. But if your motive is more aesthetic, lip gloss can make your lips shimmer.
Is lip balm healthy for your lips?
Lip balms with the right ingredients moisturize dry lips and help protect them from the sun. But some lip balms may contain ingredients that can harm your lips and cause irritation. Keep in mind that everyone’s lips are different.
Lip balm vs ChapStick vs lip gloss: Are they the same thing?
Nope, and let’s make this distinction clear. ChapStick is one of many lip balm brands, like Curology and Burt’s Bees. Lip gloss is a makeup product that adds shine and color to the lips.
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Melissa Hunter is a board certified family nurse practitioner at Curology. She received her MSN from George Washington University in Washington, DC.
*Cancel at any time. Subject to consultation. Results may vary.
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Our medical review process:
We’re here to tell you what we know. That’s why our information is evidence-based and fact-checked by medical experts. Still, everyone’s skin is unique—the best way to get advice is to talk to your healthcare provider.
Our policy on product links:
Empowering you with knowledge is our top priority. Our reviews of other brands’ products in this post are not paid endorsements—but they do meet our medically fact-checked standards for ingredients (at the time of publication).
Written byCurology Team
Medically reviewed byMelissa Hunter, NP-C