Cracked, peeling lips usually come from dry weather, licking your lips, mouth breathing or a reaction to a lip product, such as one with fragrance, menthol or cinnamon flavour.
What helps is a simple, fragrance-free balm with soothing ingredients (panthenol, bisabolol), occlusives (waxes, butters, oils) and, for daytime, SPF.
Sore, cracked corners of the mouth (angular cheilitis) are a little different. They are often infected with yeast or bacteria, or linked to low iron or B vitamins, ill-fitting dentures or drooling during sleep. A barrier balm helps comfort, but if the corners do not heal within two weeks, see a doctor, as you may need an antifungal or antibacterial cream.
Tips:
- Stop licking your lips, as saliva dries them more.
- Avoid flavoured or minty balms while healing.
- Apply a thick layer at night.
These are the balms we rate most highly.
Quick Comparison
| Product | Key Actives | Best For | Price | OraeSkin Score | Amazon Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aquaphor Lip Repair | Shea Butter + Panthenol | Cracked Lips, Chapped Lips | ₹474 (10ml) | 8.5/10 | Check Price on Amazon.in |
| Minimalist SPF 30 Lip Balm with Ceramides | Avobenzone & Uvinul Filters + Ceramide Complex | Lip Pigmentation, Sun Damage | ₹253 (8g) | 8.7/10 | Check Price on Amazon.in |
| WishCare Lip Balm SPF 50 (Untinted) | SPF 50 PA++++ + Kojic Acid | Dark Lips, Sun Protection | ₹239 (5g) | 8.4/10 | Check Price on Amazon.in |
| Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask | Shea Butter + Vitamin C | Chapped Lips, Dry Lips | ₹539 (8g) | 8.4/10 | Check Price on Amazon.in |
Prices and ratings were checked on Amazon.in in November 2026 and change often. Scores come from our formulation-based scoring method.
1. Aquaphor Lip Repair — Best for Cracked Lips
A fragrance-free repair balm with panthenol, shea butter and bisabolol, rated by 43,000+ buyers.
- Key actives: Shea Butter, Panthenol, Glycerin, Bisabolol, Castor Oil
- Texture & finish: Soft Balm (tube) — glossy, cushioned
- Fragrance: Fragrance-Free
- Price: ₹474 for 10ml (₹47.4/ml) · 4.2★ from 43,000+ Amazon India ratings
- Skip it if: you avoid beeswax.
Pros: Fragrance-free, made for sensitive lips. Cons: No SPF, so pair with an SPF balm in the day.
📖 Read our full Aquaphor Lip Repair review · 👉 Check live price on Amazon.in
2. Minimalist SPF 30 Lip Balm with Ceramides — Best Ceramide Lip Balm with SPF
Ceramides and hyaluronic acid with SPF 30 for daytime.
- Key actives: Avobenzone & Uvinul Filters, Ceramide Complex, Hyaluronic Acid
- Texture & finish: Non-Sticky Butter Balm — natural sheen
- Fragrance: Fragrance-Free
- Price: ₹253 for 8g (₹31.6/g) · 4.2★ from 3,400+ Amazon India ratings
- Skip it if: you strictly prefer sweet flavored or strongly tinted colored lip glosses.
Pros: Certified SPF 30 broad spectrum UV protection specifically for lips. Cons: Requires reapplication every 2 hours if drinking hot beverages.
📖 Read our full Minimalist SPF 30 Lip Balm with Ceramides review · 👉 Check live price on Amazon.in
3. WishCare Lip Balm SPF 50 (Untinted) — Best SPF 50 Option
A ceramide balm with SPF 50 PA++++.
- Key actives: SPF 50 PA++++, Kojic Acid, Niacinamide
- Texture & finish: Smooth Stick — natural, untinted
- Fragrance: Fragrance-Free
- Price: ₹239 for 5g (₹47.8/g) · 4.3★ from 5,900+ Amazon India ratings
- Skip it if: you want a rich overnight treatment rather than a daytime balm.
Pros: SPF 50 PA++++ in a lip balm. Cons: Despite the ‘ceramide’ product name, the listed ingredients mention only kojic acid and niacinamide.
📖 Read our full WishCare Lip Balm SPF 50 (Untinted) review · 👉 Check live price on Amazon.in
4. Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask — Best Overnight Mask
A thick overnight layer while lips heal. It contains fragrance, so skip it if your lips are very sore.
- Key actives: Shea Butter, Vitamin C, Berry Fruit Complex
- Texture & finish: Thick, Balmy Mask — glossy overnight layer
- Fragrance: Added Fragrance
- Price: ₹539 for 8g (₹67.4/g) · 4.5★ from 16,000+ Amazon India ratings
- Skip it if: your lips react to fragrance or flavouring.
Pros: Thick texture seals in moisture overnight. Cons: Only 8g for ₹510 — expensive per gram.
📖 Read our full Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask review · 👉 Check live price on Amazon.in
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the best value?
Minimalist SPF 30 Lip Balm with Ceramides works out cheapest at about ₹32 per g (₹253 for 8g). WishCare Lip Balm SPF 50 (Untinted) is next at about ₹48 per g. Prices were checked on Amazon.in in November 2026 and change often.
Are any of these fragrance-free?
Aquaphor Lip Repair, Minimalist SPF 30 Lip Balm with Ceramides and WishCare Lip Balm SPF 50 (Untinted) are fragrance-free. Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask contains added fragrance or flavour. Fragrance is a common cause of irritation, so choose a fragrance-free option if your skin is sensitive or broken.
Which is best for sensitive skin?
Aquaphor Lip Repair and Minimalist SPF 30 Lip Balm with Ceramides are the picks here that suit sensitive skin, going by each formula and its listing. Even gentle formulas can irritate, so patch-test a new product on your jaw for a few days first.
Which is the most popular on Amazon India?
Aquaphor Lip Repair has the most ratings of these picks, with 43,000+ at 4.2★. Ratings show popularity, not whether a product suits your skin, so check the “Skip it if” note for each pick above.