Here’s a curated list of the best Korean lip balms you have to try! We reviewed the best lip balms from Korean brands. All you have to do is pick the one that suits you best!
We’re no strangers to the 10-step Korean skincare regimen. What’s still a little under the shadows is how the Koreans never have chapped lips.
Best Korean Lip Balms — Quick Summary
| Best Korean Lip Balm | Purpose/best for | Ingredients |
| TONYMOLY Liptone Lip Care Stick Rose | Moisturizing, Light Tint | Squalane, Castor Oil, Rose Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Shea Butter |
| ETUDE HOUSE Cherry Sweet Color Lip Balm | Tint, Moisturizing | Nourishing oils, Cherry Extract |
| isoi Bulgarian Rose Lip Treatment Balm | Treating dry, dehydrated and chapped lips; Tint, Moisture | Jojoba seed oil, Macadamia ternifolia seed oil, Beeswax and Candelilla wax |
| Hanyul Lip balm | Moisture | Beeswax, Synthetic Wax, emollient compounds |
| TONYMOLY Mini Peach Lip Balm | Gloss, Moisture | Berry Complex, Peach Extract, Witch Hazel, Shea Butter |
| I’M MEME Pep! Balm | Multipurpose use, tint, matte finish | Triethylhexanoin, Silica, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone |
| SKINFOOD Tomato Jelly Tint Lip | Tint, Moisture, Slight sheen | Vitamin E, Tomato Extracts, Jojoba Oil, Macadamia Nut Oil |
| KAJA Mood Balm | Tint, Moisture, Fun with make-up | Squalene, Synthetic Wax, other emollients |
| Laneige Lip Glowy Balm | Moisture, gloss, slight to none tint | shea butter, candelilla wax and murumuru butter |
| Bubi Bubi Lip Balm | Overnight moisture, intense hydration | Hyaluronic Acid, ceramide |
| Sulwhasoo Essential Lip Serum Stick | Tint, moisture, acts as lipstick | Safflower complex, Camellia oil, apricot kernel oil |
But before we get into it, there could be other reasons your lips are chapped. Notice if you bite or pick your lips often? If you do that, I think we have the solution right there — don’t do that. But this is not one of the reasons why your lips are chapped, then this piece is for you.
How to choose the best Korean lip balm?
For me, personally, I like a lip balm that can do multiple things. The ability to keep my lips moisturized is a must; sun protection is negotiable, depending on what my day looks like, although it is preferable. When it comes to gloss and tint, they are important factors to consider because you don’t want to wear the wrong lip balm at the wrong place. Too much gloss in the day can be gaudy.
So when you’re choosing the lip balm, keep these certain characteristics in mind, so you can have one lip balm for the summer and another for the winters and even switch between night and day.
Top Korean Lip Balms 2023
What ingredients should you look for in a Korean lip balm?
- Hydrating: hyaluronic acid, coconut oil, vitamin E, shea butter, and squalane
- Reversing Dark lips: Good SPF, avocado oil
- Sensitive lip solutions: Shea butter, coconut oil, other natural ingredients
- Vegan options: Agave, Green Tea Seed Oil, Jojoba Oil, and Argan Oil
How to choose the right Korean Lip Balm for you?
You can obviously prioritize what the most damning issue for you is and base your purchase decision on that, but here are some points to take into consideration when you’re choosing a lip balm:
-
Sun-protection: I can’t emphasize this enough — prevention really is better than cure. If you buy a lip balm that has an SPF 15 or more, you’re already doing your part for your lips. You’re protecting against dryness, tanning and general harm.
-
Natural ingredients: Choosing a lip balm with only natural ingredients is especially important for those who have sensitive lips. Lip balms with berry extracts and natural oils act slowly but efficiently.
-
General ingredients: This is rare, but stay aware of the ingredients you’re allergic to and avoid buying lip balms that have it. It is possible that it may cause a reaction to your lips.
-
Non-sticky: A thick layer is one thing and sticky is another. Some lip balms, despite a thin layer, seem to create a sticky layer on the surface of the lips, making the application uncomfortable. Make sure to choose one that is lightweight.
- Long-lasting: Lastly, a lip balm that doesn’t wear off simply because you had a sip of water is important. There are lip balms that feel good on the lips for a few minutes and have no effect on the deeper layers of the lips. That’s why make sure to choose one that keeps your lips hydrated and moisturized all day.
All the Korean lip balms I have reviewed above fall on the affordable side of your budget. Feel free to experiment and do a switcheroo from time to time. It can be fun experimenting with different flavours, vases, textures and tints. I hope this guide helped you choose your next lip balm.
The lesser-known Korean Lip care routine:
Have you ever been envious of the supple, soft, hydrated and kissable lips that you see? Or is it just me? In all honesty, it is not that hard to achieve. It might just take about ten minutes of your day’s time.
Step 1: Like any other skincare routine, make sure you clean up the rea first. Making sure you clean your lips with some micellar water will ensure that you got rid of all the bacteria and make-up from the day.
Step 2: Take a hot textured towel and gently rub it against your lips. This helps start the exfoliation process, making it ready for the next step.
Step 3: Place your lips in front of a steamer, not too close, and steam your lips for about a minute or two. Steaming in general is a very important step in the Korean skincare process. This step in the lip care regimen is in fact the most important step. It helps soften the dead skin cells on the surface of your lips and make way for the revival of your lips.
Step 4: Scrub! Now that all the dead skin cells on your lips are loose, a gentle scrub on your lips with help you get rid of them and soften your lips. After 30 seconds of scrubbing, wipe it off with a towel.
Step 5: Take an ice cube and slowly run it all over your lips. You can instant;y feel your lips plump. The cold from this ice after the heat from the steam is going to act as a blood circulation booster. By this point, you can see a huge difference in your lips. Pat it dry and make way for the next step!
Step 6: Finally, a lip mask! This step is to provide intense hydration to your skin. You can either use lip sheet masks and leave them on for 15 minutes or use a balm-like sleeping masks and leave it on overnight.
In 6 steps and 10 minutes of your time, you’ve got fuller lips and a whole new motivation to take pouty pictures!
Tips for Lip Care for Soft and Smooth Lips:
- Exfoliate your lips: exfoliating your lips to get rid of flakiness, dryness and chapped lips is great. You can exfoliate by using a wet washcloth to remove dry and dead cells from the surface of your lips once a week. You’ll feel your lips are smoother, softer and better in no time.
- Lip Balm all the time: Carry your lip balm along with you and keep applying it whenever you feel like your lips are dry and dehydrated. Lip balms are easy to carry and apply so you don’t have to worry about it, just keep it in your bag.
- Use the right lip products: Choose your lip products very carefully and make sure all your lip products are free of toxic ingredients and are formulated with natural ingredients. Tinted lip products are nice but try to look beyond it as it’s not the priority for your lip care.
- Overnight lip hydration: Your lips need hydration even when you’re asleep. Make sure to apply lip balm and moisturise it just like your face before going to bed.
ETUDE HOUSE Cherry Sweet Color Lip Balm
Best Korean Lip Balm for Dehydrated Lips
One thing we’re often afraid of when it comes to roll-up lip balms is that they’ll collect in the lip lines and give you an unsophisticated look. But that’s not the case with this lip balm.
I chose the Cherry Sweet BE101 variant, but there are 4 others to choose from. The tint that comes from this lip balm suits my complexion well.
In fact, even with just one swipe, you get a decent amount of tint. Along with the tint, the lip balm has a certain shimmer to it that comes in the form of gloss and a little bit of glitter.
The many, many nourishing oils in the lip balm act as a great moisturizing agent, and the fruit extracts make it feel fresh and plum.
All in all, I was also impressed with the length of the stick, since it was comparably longer than the others.
Pros:
- Moisturising and hydrating
- Long lasting
- Glossy colour
- Sweet smell
Cons:
- Not for extremely dry lips
My ratings:
- Ingredients: 4/5
- Hydration and moisturization: 4/5
- Fragrance: 5/5
- Colour: 5/5
isoi Bulgarian Rose Lip Treatment Balm
Best Korean Lip Balm with Tint
This comes in two variants, pink and rose. I usually chose light shades, so I went with the pink one. Although my sister did buy the deep red one. I was under the assumption that it would be heavily pigmented, but it just left a nice, breezy tint.
I can’t tell you how well it worked for me last winter. I did not go to any family gathering without this. The tint made it seem natural and like I’m not trying too hard while also keeping my lips moisturized. Thanks to the Bulgarian damask rose oil, castor seed oil and the near-perfect combination of beeswax and candelilla, putting the lip balm on just one time was enough.
This lip balm works to the extent that it will work on your skin and exfoliate the dead skin cells. This is one of my personal favourites and will definitely keep purchasing till they stop making this!
Pros:
- 24/7 hydration
- Natural ingredients
- Sweet smell and tinted colour
- Exfoliating and healing formula
Cons:
- No value for money
My rating
- Ingredients: 4.5/5
- Hydration and moisturization: 4/5
- Fragrance: 4/5
- Colour: 5/5
- Related: Best Korean Lip Tints
- Related: Best Korean Lipsticks
- Related: Best Korean Lip Scrub
Hanyul Lip Balm
Best Korean Lip Balm for Super Dry Lips
Grab this before it goes out of stock again — trust me. Even if I have a drawer full of lip balms and sleeping masks, I will buy this lip balm every time it comes back in stock.
Owing to my obsessive habit of putting on lip balm every time my hand goes into my pocket, I can’t get enough of it. It doesn’t help that this is super affordable! On top of that, after 3 months of use, this lip balm was not even half over.
The lack of high shine and gloss and only a slight tint makes it great for everyday use. The texture it leaves on your lips is creamy and buttery, making your lips look lustrous.
The ingredients might be a turn off for you — nothing special about them, it’s a lot of wax. Beeswax and synthetic max and many emollient compounds make up the whole lip balm. But, it does the job. One thing to consider during the purchase is the fact that it does not have any kind of SPF.
Pros:
- Shine free
- Naturally moisturising
- Pleasant smell
- Sturdy packaging
- Creamy texture
Cons:
- Might not suit everyone
My ratings:
- Ingredients: 4/5
- Hydration and moisturization: 4/5
- Fragrance: 4.5/5
- Colour: 1/5
TONYMOLY Mini Peach Lip Balm
Best Korean Lip Balm with SPF
I purchased this for two reasons — in this particular order — the cutest packaging and the brand Tony Moly. I already included another one of Tony Moly’s lip balms in this review and loved it. This one — I have mixed feelings.
Let me list everything I love about it first — the completely addictive sweet peach scent is to die for. It’s not strong enough to linger, so that’s good. It is loaded with fruit extracts of all kinds. So many berries — Strawberry, Cranberry, Blackberry, Blueberry, Raspberry, Strawberry. All of these have antioxidant properties that help keep the lips nourished and healthy. Add shea butter and witch hazel to that and you’ve got day long hydration!
When it comes to how it looks, it adds a good layer of sheen with just a small dab on your fingers. That’s where I find it a bit irksome. I am not a fan of lip balm in pots. This will last you a really long time, and if you’re good with pots, do buy this. There’s nothing else not to like about it.
Pros:
- Hydrates and protects the lips
- Cute packaging
- Pleasant scent
Cons:
- Small quantity
My ratings:
- Ingredients: 3.5/5
- Hydration and moisturization: 4/5
- Fragrance: 4/5
- Colour: 2/5
I’M MEME Pep! Balm
Best Korean Lip Balm with Matte Finish
It’s time to diversify that makeup drawer of yours. Efficient and affordable are only two of the many things I want to call this. Is it a lip balm or liquid lipstick or cheek tint? Who can tell? I won’t lie, it was an influencer’s Instagram story that made me buy this. I got influenced!
I am not disappointed with my purchase at all and also supremely impressed with the packaging. When applying make-up can resemble squirting paint out of a tube, it makes you feel artistic. The pigment of the balm-cum-cheek tint is very strong. Despite that, I found that it wore off quite quickly, but left a splash of colour on my lips
Even though the balm wasn’t exactly moisturizing, it didn’t dry my lips either. I found that the best way to use this lip balm was to wear another lip balm with sheen under it and wear this on top or colour.
As a cheek tint, it isn’t the best — it doesn’t spread as easily with the brush and if you’re not used to makeup it will just be messy. But if your purpose really is to buy a lip balm that helps keep your lips hydrated — I wouldn’t recommend buying this, it’s just not moisturizing enough.
Pros:
- Natural ingredients
- Non-sticky and non drying
- Simple to use
- highly tinted
Cons:
- Not for super sensitive lips
My ratings
- Ingredients: 4/5
- Hydration and moisturization: 5/5
- Fragrance: 4/5
- Colour: 5/5
SKINFOOD Tomato Jelly Tint Lip
Best Korean Lip Balm with Glossy Finish
I was quite unimpressed with the packaging, but honestly, the balm made up for it. The simplicity of the packaging just describes how simply and wonderfully the lip balm works on your lips. Before we go ahead, I’d like to say that this lip balm is particularly excellent for those with light lips, if you really want the tint to show.
The lip balm stained my lips well and kept them hydrated for the most part of the day. The balm seemed to tackle the flakiness on my lips. In addition to that, if you roll up the lip balm, you can see some glitter. But on your lips, you can’t see much of it.
Ingredients wise — It is simple and it does its job. The combination of Vitamin E, Tomato Extracts, Jojoba Oil, and Macadamia Nut Oil helps keep your lips moisturized and nourished.
After buying one shade, I bought the other shades too, because of how good it looked on my lips. I was shocked by how same all the shades looked on my skin. So while it definitely is worth buying one, anyone for that matter, it is not worth buying another shade.
Pros:
- Long lasting
- Plumpy and revitalised lips
- Simple to use
- Natural and benefitting ingredients
Cons:
- Less tinted
My ratings
- Ingredients: 4.5/5
- Hydration and moisturization: 4.5/5
- Fragrance: 3/5
- Colour: 3/5
Laneige Lip Glowy Balm
Best Korean Lip Balm For Chapped Lips
I don’t know why I added this so far below in the list. This is one of my favourite brands and definitely one of my favourite lip balms. It can be a bit too pricey though. For me, it is worth it because of how luscious and lip-smacking my lips feel after applying this.
I love how easy it is to use this. The top of the tube comes with a slanted application, as you may have seen on the older lip balms. Out of it comes a creamy gel-like balm that glides oh-so-smoothly on your lips.
The lip balm is buildable, and a perfect base for matte lipsticks. It keeps your lips hydrated and ensures you don’t have any dry patches that make you look awkward.
The lip balm’s main ingredients include shea butter, candelilla wax and murumuru butter. Ah, such a wholesome load of moisture and hydration. As it comes in four flavours, the add-ons for each flavour would be berry extracts, peach, grapefruit and pear.
Pros:
- Long lasting
- glossy
- Natural and benefitting ingredients
- Lightweight
My ratings:
- Ingredients: 4.5/5
- Hydration and moisturization: 5/5
- Fragrance: 4/5
- Colour: 5/5
Bubi Bubi Lip Balm
Best Korean Lip balm for Intense Hydration
Just like the previous lip balm, this also comes in a tube but doesn’t have that angled applicator. The Bubi Bubi lip ampoule is a flavourless, scentless clear gel that in no way provides testament to its effectiveness.
The main ingredients of the lip balm include hyaluronic acid and ceramide. While the hyaluronic acid acts as a hydrating agent, the ceramide acts as an agent that builds a protective layer on top of the lips to make sure it remains hydrated.
This can feel a bit heavy for daytime wear since the consistency is a bit thick, but in my opinion, it would also work best at night. Owing to its ingredients, texture and consistency, I’d say it could also be classified as a lip sleeping mask that provides intense hydration overnight.
Pros:
- Hydrated, nourishing and moisturising
- Best for dry skin
- Glossy effect
- Lightweight
My ratings
- Ingredients: 4.5/5
- Hydration and moisturization: 3.5/5
- Fragrance: 3.5/5
- Colour: 3.5/5
Sulwhasoo Essential Lip Serum Stick
Best Korean Lip Balm for Multi purpose use
I had no idea this existed until my love for K-drama led me to it. I was watching the show “Encounter” in which this lip balm cum lipstick is featured as Song Hye-Kyo’s go-to lipstick.
I know I am referring to this as a lipstick, but if you take a look at how it works on my lips and the ingredients it has, you’ll be sure it qualifies as a ‘serum’ for the lips. Best of all, while this does come in a radiant red, it also comes in clear, no colour stick for those who prefer that. You’ll have about 14 options.
The ingredients include camellia oil and a safflower complex. The combination acts to relieve all kinds of flakiness and dryness on the lips while also creating a protective layer on top that retains the moisture. The lipstick also has apricot kernel oil that acts to make your lips look plump and vibrant.
The lip balm itself doesn’t have much sheen. So, if you’re going for a hydrated, moisturized and well-pigmented look, you have your option. It can be a little heavy on your pocket though.
Dr. Jart+ New Ceramidin Lipair
Dr Jart+ New Ceramidin Lipair is one of the best lip balms that I’ve ever used especially for my lip conditions which are extremely dry and flaky. This lip balm is highly moisturising and keeps my lips hydrated for long hours without repeatedly using it. It’s also dermatologically tested and is safe to use for all lip types.
It was recommended to me by my doctor and I’m glad that I started using this lip balm. It protects and moisturises lips intensely. It’s formulated with babassu seed, avocado, jojoba seed, coconut and pomegranate seed. The best part is that it doesn’t contain phthalates or parabens that will harm your lips.
Pros:
- Suitable for all lip types
- Dermatologically tested
- Natural and benefitting ingredients
Cons:
- No tint and fragrance
My ratings
- Ingredients: 5/5
- Hydration and moisturization: 5/5
- Fragrance: 3/5
- Colour: 3.5/5
Innisfree Soft Lip Balm
Another Korean lip balm that will keep your lips hydrated and moisturised for the longest hours is the Innisfree soft lip balms. This is a combo of two which are formulated with jeju tea and canola oil respectively and both of them work superbly on chapped lips.
They glide on lips and provide maximum benefits on the lips. The scent and taste of these Innisfree lip balms are extremely mild and are lovely. It’s extremely handy and can be carried along anywhere. I particularly loved it’s texture and how it works on my lips.
Pros:
- Suitable for all lip types
- Maximum hydration and moisture
- Long lasting
- Creamy texture
- Pleasant smell and taste
My ratings
- Ingredients: 5/5
- Hydration and moisturization: 5/5
- Fragrance: 4.5/5
- Colour: 2.5/5
Why You Should Trust BestKoreanProducts?
All our editors including the author of this article, Jih Yun do extensive research on the products reviewed and recommended in the article. We also use these products ourself to give you accurate, first hand information without any prejudice or bias. BestKoreanproducts has also got a team of medical reviewers and skincare experts to help give accurate advice and provide research-based facts concerning a product, its formulation or ingredients.
Also Read:
