Want super soft & gorgeous lips?! Discover the difference between lip gloss vs lip balm so you can perfect your lip game. ????
There are SO many different types of lip products.
From lip gloss, to lip stick, to lip balm, to chapstick, and the list goes on and on.
If you're anything like me, I LOVE collecting all sorts of lip products. There's nothing like swiping on a little lip gloss to perfect your makeup look.
However, it's important to understand that not all lip products are the same. Each lip product has its own set of benefits to enhance your lip game.
That's why in this post you'll learn more about the difference between lip gloss vs lip balm so you know which to use when to achieve absolutely gorgeous lips.????
What’s the Difference Between Lip Balm and Lip Gloss?
It's important to understand that lip balm and lip gloss are two different types of lip products.
A lip balm works to hydrate and moisturize dry, chapped lips. Meanwhile, a lip gloss is designed more for cosmetic purposes to make your lips look AMAZING.
While some lip glosses can have other qualities like hydration or plumping effects, most lip glosses are simply used to enhance your makeup look.
Think of a lip gloss's purpose similar to that of a lip stick, just with a slightly different consistency and look.
Because the overall purposes between a lip balm vs lip gloss are different, inevitably their formula and consistency differ as well.
Lip balms are more smooth and creamy on the lips whereas lip glosses feel more sticky on the lips.
All in all, the primary difference between lip balm and lip gloss is their purpose.
Lip balms are designed to heal & hydrate dry lips, whereas lip glosses are applied more for cosmetic reasons.
What is Lip Balm?
Lip balm is a wax-like lip product used to help hydrate and moisturize your lips, especially for people struggling with dry, chapped, and/or cracked lips.
Lip balm can also serve like a protective layer to protect your lips from harsh weather conditions such as some lip balms having SPF to protect your lips from the Sun.
Overall, lip balms are used more as a healing purpose to hydrate & protect the lips.
But, just because lip balms are made for health reasons doesn't mean they're boring.
Lip balms can vary based on different flavors and scents. They can also have different qualities that give off a certain effect to your lips.
For example, while most lip balms are clear, there is such a thing as tinted lip balms which can give a nice added touch of color to your makeup look. While also working to hydrate your lips too!
Therefore, lip balm acts as a hydrating and moisturizing lip product to rehydrate dry, chapped lips (or can be applied to normal lips to maintain hydration too!).
Lip balms work especially too to help reduce inflammation and irritation caused by cold sores or sunburns in and around the lips.
Top Lip Balm Recommendations
What is Lip Gloss?
Lip gloss is used mainly for cosmetic purposes to give the lips a glossy finish.
Some lip glosses may even give your lips a hint of color too! Or, simply be clear/ transparent.
Lip gloss has way more of a sticky consistency compared to the more buttery, creamy consistency of lip balm.
Plus, lip glosses CAN have some added benefits; however, this is dependent on the lip gloss.
For example, some lip glosses may give your lips a plumping effect, or have a super hydrating formula.
However, the plumping lip glosses are of course temporary, and lip glosses aren't nearly as hydrating as applying a lip balm.
That being said, swiping on some lip gloss can be a super quick & easy way to elevate your makeup look!
Top Lip Gloss Recommendations
1. Too Faced Lip Injection Maximum Plump Extra Strength Lip Plumper
Is Lip Balm and Chapstick the Same Thing?
Yes and no. Chapstick is a popular brand of lip balm.
So, while technically lip balm and Chapstick cannot be used interchanably because lip balm is a type of lip product and Chapstick is a brand, they essentially are the same thing.
Both are lip balms that act to hydrate and moisturize the lips!
Can Lip Gloss Be Used As Lip Balm?
Technically, no, While a lip gloss may have a hydrating formula and provide moisturizing properties, a lip gloss will (most likely) never compare to that of a lip balm.
This is because again a lip balm is designed to heal and hydrate the lips while a lip gloss is made for cosmetic purposes.
While you can certainly use a hydrating lip gloss to add some hydration to your lips, a lip gloss cannot replace a lip balm.
This is especially true if you are struggling with extremely chapped and dry lips, a lip gloss simply cannot replace the healing & hydrating powers of a lip balm.
Is there a Lip Balm and Lip Gloss In One?
While there's no formal term that combines the powers of a lip balm and lip gloss in one product, there is a product that comes close: a hydrating lip gloss.
A hydrating lip gloss will give you nearly the best of both worlds: a glossy finish with some added hydration to your lips.
Is Lip Gloss Good for Dry Lips?
It depends on both the type of lip gloss you use and how bad, or dry & chapped, your lips are.
Obviously, if you have really chapped, dry lips you'll want to apply lip balm ASAP and apply the product frequently.
However, if your lips are just a little dry, applying lip gloss, especially if it has a hydrating formula, shouldn't do any more damage (aka, dry your lips out even more!).
That being said, you should try to apply lip balm rather than lip gloss to dry lips as lip balm is designed to moisturize dry lips in the first place.
Final Thoughts: Lip Gloss Vs Lip Balm
Overall, neither lip gloss vs lip balm is better or worse than the other.
It just depends on what your purpose is in using either lip product.
If you want to hydrate and moisturize your lips, then use lip balm.
However, if you want to add to your makeup look and give your lips a gorgeous glossy finish, use lip gloss.
Both lip products can do wonders to hydrate and make your lips look AMAZING.
Just be sure to stick with lip balm when your lips are dry & chapped! Trust me, your lips will thank you.
