Lanolin wins in extreme cold

Lanolin provides the longest-lasting protection against chapping at -30°C.

It’s not even close. Lanolin is basically sheep sebum — it’s a thick, sticky occlusive that sits on top of your lips and doesn’t freeze or flake off like beeswax can in extreme cold. Beeswax is a decent barrier at mild temps, but when it’s -30°C, it gets brittle and cracks, letting the wind right in. Shea butter is a nice moisturizer, but it’s more of an emollient — it absorbs into the skin and won’t stay put long enough to form a reliable seal against frost.

If you’re going out in that kind of cold, reach for a balm that lists lanolin (or anhydrous lanolin, even better) as a primary ingredient. Brands like Lansinoh (yes, the nipple cream) or Bag Balm are cheap and work stupidly well. The downside? Texture is greasy. You’ll feel it. That’s the point.

Don’t bother with fancy flavored sticks. They’ll harden up and do nothing. Oil-based balms with lanolin will outlast anything else in your pocket.