lip balm is a product which is put on lips so they will not dry when a person is outside in the sun and wind. lip balm is usually made from petrolatum. some types of lip balm also include sunscreen to protect the lips from sunburn. lip balm comes in tubes and small pots with screw-on lids. lip balm is often used during the winter, because the cold winter winds can dry out a person's lips so that they are cracked and hurting (this is called having "chapped" lips).