A stellar lip balm will often include vitamin E oil. Why? “Vitamin E oil has humectant properties, which means it helps to hydrate, and emollient properties, which means it helps to support the skin barrier,” says board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, M.D. This means vitamin E can both coat the area with moisture and plump the fragile skin with the hydration it needs. 

Remember, your lips do not contain oil glands, so they do not have natural moisturizing capabilities—that’s where vitamin E comes in handy, as it conditions lips and keeps them plush. And because vitamin E can aid in wound healing (as we discussed above), it can also help heal chapped areas, soothe uncomfortable lip cracks, and even smooth lip lines.

Essentially: Vitamin E really elevates your lip products (you’ll likely see it listed as “tocopherol”). I’d argue mindbodygreen’s lip balm formula wouldn’t be the same without it—when paired with shea and cocoa butters, it feels like silk.