Sometimes a nourished lip is all you need to conquer a no-make-up day. And in our eyes, when it comes to products we buy, use to death, and buy again nothing beats the trusty balms that hide inside our handbags and populate our pockets all year round. Essential for SPF protection when acquiring a sun-kissed glow, but equally key for keeping lips luscious and hydrated when the weather eventually turns, lip balms have been a mainstay in our skincare routines this summer.

While there are plentiful options from beauty brands out there, from LANEIGE’s lip mask and Glossier’s cult Balm Dotcom to Burt's Bees Beeswax balm, fashion houses are also dipping their toes in the trend and offering investment-worthy balms that actually work. Gone are the days of scraping the edges of a tiny metal tin of Vaseline or squeezing out the last dribble of Carmex from a plastic tube, the humble lip balm has gained luxury endorsement by all the big brands. 

Givenchy’s Le Rouge Interdit Baume comes in both a natural transparent finish and a subtle tint that brings out your natural lip hue, while Gucci's sheer Baume à Lèvres comes in 4 delicate shades, but opt for  "Joslyn Clair" for a clear finish. Prada's new beauty line added a transparent (despite its mint green tinge) lip oil to its roster of skin-loving products, although his one leaves an uncharacteristic matte finish for those not looking for a dewy shine. Chanel, Dior and Hermes also give lip balms designer approval with their products packed full of rich natural ingredients and housed in flash containers that emulate mainline lippies. 

We couldn't go without mentioning Byredo’s sleek series of limited edition flavoured lip balms, which range from tingly mint and zesty lime to warm chamomile and a delicious newly launched juicy mango, sure to guarantee chic and nourishment from this season to the next! 

So, if you're looking to up your lip balm game here are the brands to shop now…