8 Best Nipple Creams of 2024 for a Less Painful Breastfeeding or Pumping Journey

If you’re planning on breastfeeding or pumping, you’ll want to stock up on the best nipple creams. Before welcoming a tiny human in need of nourishment into your life, you probably didn’t spend much time thinking about the delicate skin on your breasts, but — take it from moms who have lived it — the act of creating (and supplying) breastmilk will very quickly keep your nipples top of mind.

Constant friction and exposure to moisture can cause irritation, dryness, and painful cracking if you don’t properly protect and treat the skin barrier. Enter your new best friend: the nipple balm. “Nipple skin is thin and sensitive, so you should think of it as you would your face and be cautious with the products you use,” says Nava Greenfield, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. This is one skin-care scenario where you don’t want to reach for just anything. Nipple creams should be specially formulated to prevent friction, strengthen the skin barrier, and be safe for the baby to ingest — unless you want to wash your nipples 12 times a day before each feeding session (which you most definitely do not).

Our Top Picks

• Best Overall: Motherlove Nipple Cream, $13
• Best for Cracked Nipples: Swehl The Nips Duo, $22
• Best for Pumping: Ren Clean Skincare Evercalm Barrier Support Body Balm, $45
• Best Luxury: Hatch Nipple + Lip Rescue Balm, $28
• Best Nursing Cups: Silverette Nursing Cups, $60
• Best Vegan: Earth Mama Vegan Nipple Butter, $14

Like finding any skin-care product, it may take some trial and error to find the perfect combination of texture, effectiveness, and price point to make you truly fall in love. Since you don’t need to add one more thing to your new parent to-do list, we’ve researched for you. Here are the best nipple creams for breastfeeding and pumping, according to dermatologists and moms who’ve been through it all.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What should I look for in a nipple cream?
• What ingredients should I avoid?
• How do I prevent and treat cracked nipples?
• When and how should I clean my nipples?
• How we test and review products
• Our staff and testers

Best Overall: Motherlove Nipple Cream

Why It’s Worth It: At one point during Allure contributor Macaela Mackenzie’s breastfeeding journey (she exclusively pumped for five months), she calculated that she was spending five hours (!!) a day pumping. “When I say I put a nipple balm to the test, trust I put it to the test,” Mackenzie says. “I found Motherlove’s organic herbal nipple balm after a couple of months of pumping and immediately recognized it as the nipple cream to rule them all.” After she started using this Motherlove cream, the nipple irritation ceased. Mackenzie adds that texture is key to a nipple balm’s performance and Motherlove’s is nonsticky, not overly greasy, and doesn’t cause buildup.

Perhaps more importantly, it supports the skin barrier at every level. Olive oil and shea butter, both emollients packed with fatty acids and antioxidants, moisturize while “beeswax is used for its protective properties. It is an occlusive ingredient that prevents moisture loss on the skin,” explains Claire Chang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at UnionDerm in NYC. To further reduce irritation, Motherlove’s balm also includes calendula flower, an extract with “soothing and anti-inflammatory benefits for the skin,” says Dr. Chang.

Editor Tip: Unlike other balms containing shea butter — a scent many including Mackenzie find slightly cloying — Motherlove’s silky balm has a subtle herbal scent that’s vaguely spa-like. The nonsticky formula doubles as an excellent lip balm and cuticle oil, to boot.

Key Ingredients: Extra virgin olive oil, beeswax, shea butter, marshmallow root, calendula flower

Best for Cracked Nipples: Swehl The Nips Duo

Why It’s Worth It: Irritation is inevitable whether you’re pumping or breastfeeding. When irritated nipples become cracked nipples, you want to heal them ASAP. “Cracked nipples can cause several risks for both the mother and her baby,” says Dr. Chang. In addition to being painful and, in some cases, impacting your ability to breastfeed comfortably, cracked nipples also open you up to the risk of infection. Cracked nipples “can lead to cellulitis, a skin infection, and mastitis, which is inflammation of the breast tissue,” says Dr. Chang.

Thicker nipple balms like Swehl’s Balm de Nips which have anti-inflammatory properties, like shea butter and olive oil here, can help speed up healing. Balm de Nips also contains coconut oil, “a natural moisturizer that may have antimicrobial properties,” says Dr. Chang. The balm works well and isn’t overly sticky; the texture is akin to an overnight lip mask, thick and substantial but not annoyingly so. As a bonus for cracked nipples, Swehl’s nipple duo also comes conveniently packaged with a saline spray, which helps heal cracks, soothes soreness, and is also totally safe for babies.

Editor Tip: Swehl has an entire line of products designed to support breastfeeding parents while also feeling, dare we say, chic. Having Swehl products in her bag when she was pumping or feeding on the go made Mackenzie “feel like less of a milk machine and more of a cool mom.”

Key Ingredients: Sunflower seed oil, olive oil, shea butter, coconut oil, jojoba seed oil

Best for Pumping: Ren Clean Skincare Evercalm Barrier Support Body Balm

Why It’s Worth It: While not technically a nipple cream, Dr. Greenfield likes Ren Clean Skincare’s Evercalm Barrier Support Body Balm for breastfeeding parents. “It’s made for sensitive skin with pregnancy and babies in mind, contains a combination of natural oils without preservatives, and is designed to balance skin pH,” Dr. Greenfield explains. The nongreasy cream is especially good for pumping because, as Dr. Greenfield attests, “you want less greasy products [for pumping] because the ointment may interfere with the pump parts and reduce the suction of the device.”

Editor Tip: This is a great moisturizer to use on your entire breast while breastfeeding. The blend of omega-rich fatty acids and ceramides supports your skin barrier as it stretches during your lactating journey.

Key Ingredients: Sunflower seed oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba esters, ceramide NP

Best Luxury: Hatch Nipple + Lip Rescue Balm

Why It’s Worth It: Hatch’s antioxidant-rich Nipple + Lip Rescue Butter Balm is a multipurpose hydrator that looks chic and subtle enough to whip out during a meeting but is also gentle enough to be used on sensitive nipples. The pump bottle, unique among the nipple creams featured here, makes for easy, mess-free application — particularly appreciated when pumping or feeding on the go. Pomegranate and açai, superfruits with antioxidant properties that can fight damage at the cellular level, help reduce inflammation (and smell nice) while a combo of mango butter, argan oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, and shea butter hydrate delicate skin on both your lips and nips.

Editor Tip: Hatch recommends gently wiping the nipple to remove excess product before feeding, so you may find it’s easiest to use this balm after pumping or breastfeeding.

Key Ingredients: Mango butter, pomegranate, acai, argan oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, shea butter

Best Nursing Cups: Silverette Nursing Cups

Why It’s Worth It: For highly sensitive nipples these futuristic-looking real silver nipple shields serve two important functions. Firstly, they create a pleasantly cooling barrier between your skin and the fabric of your nursing bra, which can cause chafing and irritation that feels torturous when your skin is raw. Secondly, silver is a naturally antimicrobial and antifungal metal that can help reduce the risk of skin infections. It’s hypoallergenic and, since you remove them before nursing, totally safe for baby.

Editor Tip: While this isn’t a traditional balm or cream, Allure shopping director Shanna Shipin swears by Silverette cups for particularly chapped nipples. “As someone with chronic contact dermatitis and sensitive skin, my nipples were in a perpetually cracked and raw state during breastfeeding,” she notes. Shipin reached out to friends and family for help and multiple moms came back to her with a recommendation to shield her nipples from additional abrasion with these cups. “They worked like a charm and healed me after a few days. If I didn’t use the Silverette cups, I absolutely would’ve had to stop breastfeeding earlier than I intended,” she says.

Best Vegan: Earth Mama Vegan Nipple Butter

Why It’s Worth It: When not using the Silverette cups, Shipin slathered her nips with Earth Mama’s Vegan Nipple Butter, which is another dermatologist and mom favorite. Cocoa butter, shea butter, and calendula extract reduce inflammation and strengthen the skin barrier while also providing buttery lubrication that can make feeding more comfortable. Earth Mama’s vegan nipple balm is also notable for what it doesn’t contain; namely lanolin, beeswax, or artificial fragrance. (Note: Earth Mama also offers a non-vegan Nipple Butter that contains beeswax.)

Ultimately, it just gets the job done, says Dr. Chang, and ticks three key nipple butter boxes: soothe, moisturize, and repair. Safe for baby, it can be applied to nipples before feeding or applied directly to flanges before a pumping session.

Editor Tip: Texture-wise, Earth Mama’s nipple butter closely resembles the texture of cocoa butter — it starts as a solid and melts when it comes into contact with your skin. Rub it between your fingers for a few seconds to make it easier to apply to sensitive nipples.

Key Ingredients: Olive oil, cocoa butter, shea butter, mango seed butter, calendula flower extract

Best Lanolin: Lansinoh Lanolin Nipple Cream

Why It’s Worth It: Lanolin is a natural moisturizer derived from sheep’s wool — a unique ingredient that has both occlusive and emollient properties. Similar to petroleum jelly, lanolin works as an occlusive by forming a thick barrier on skin to seal moisture in and prevent moisture loss. “It also has excellent emollient properties to repair and heal cracked nipples,” says Dr. Chang. For these reasons, lanolin is the OG nipple cream that’s baby-safe and hypoallergenic, says Dr. Chang, who personally used Lansinoh’s Lanolin Nipple Cream. It’s also naturally fragrance-free, which is great if you don’t want a product getting in the way of that lovely newborn scent.

Editor Tip: Lanolin nipple cream is thick and stickier than shea- or cocoa butter-based nipple balms. While that can be annoying for super frequent applications, it’s great for overnight healing (once you start getting some blocks of uninterrupted sleep) or to apply before showering to prevent irritation when your nipples are feeling particularly sensitive.

Key Ingredients: Lanolin

Best Organic: The Honest Company Calm Your Nip Balm

Why It’s Worth It: Certified organic by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), The Honest Company‘s Calm Your Nip Balm is formulated with several moisturizers suitable for repairing the most sensitive skin, including coconut oil, jojoba seed extract, and shea butter. “Shea butter contains rich, natural lipids that can moisturize and repair the skin, making it ideal for sore or cracked nipples,” says Dr. Chang. Calm Your Nip Balm also contains aloe leaf extract, which can further aid chapped nipples by soothing pain and irritation, Dr. Chang adds.

Editor Tip: The squeeze tube is much easier to apply on the go than nipple balms that come in a jar. Throw one of these in the diaper bag and thank yourself later.

Key Ingredients: Canola oil, coconut oil, beeswax, jojoba seed extract, shea butter, aloe leaf extract

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I look for in a nipple cream?

There are a few things to look for when shopping for the best nipple creams: moisturizing ingredients, anti-inflammatory ingredients, safety for babies, and ease of application.

In terms of ingredients, look for hypoallergenic creams with safe and natural ingredients proven to soothe and repair the skin. Dr. Chang and Dr. Greenfield recommend scanning labels for healing and moisturizing ingredients like lanolin, olive oil, beeswax, shea butter, avocado oil, jojoba oil, sunflower seed oil, coconut oil, and calendula, which are all safe-for-baby hydrators and ideal for sensitive nipple skin.

Ease of application also matters when choosing a nipple cream. (When you’re using a product literally around the clock, you should love it.) You may find that you want to keep two or three of the best nipple creams on hand for different use cases — a light lubricating formula next to your pumping station, a thick skin barrier protectant on the nightstand to apply to sore nipples before bed, and a squeeze tube for the diaper bag.

In general, “I prefer nipple creams with hygienic packaging, such as tubes or pump dispensers rather than jars that you keep dipping your fingers into, which are at risk of bacteria buildup,” says Dr. Chang. It’s always important to wash your hands before and after pumping or breastfeeding but definitely don’t skip it when using a jar of nipple balm.

What ingredients should I avoid?

Just as important as what’s in the best nipple creams is what’s not in them. “It is essential to avoid ingredients that are unsafe for the baby or those that may be potential irritants and allergens,” says Dr. Chang. “Avoid nipple creams that are formulated with fragrances, parabens, dye, and alcohol, all of which carry the possibility of irritant or allergic reactions on the skin, especially if the skin around the nipple is already inflamed and sensitive,” she explains.

It’s also important to avoid using any product containing phthalates for breastfeeding since research shows these chemicals may disrupt the hormonal system, says Dr. Chang.

How do I prevent and treat cracked nipples?

To prevent cracked nipples, first ensure your baby has a proper latch with the help of a lactation consultant. (If you’re pumping, make sure you’re using the proper flange size.) While breastfeeding can be uncomfortable and cause irritation, it shouldn’t be downright painful. Your lactation consultant may have strategies to help reduce the friction and pressure that can damage tissue — but if that doesn’t help with your pain, reach out to your doctor. “If your nipples have significant cracks and itch, you may have a condition that needs treatment such as nipple dermatitis,” says Dr. Greenfield. “In that case, visit your dermatologist for an evaluation.”

At home, you can use cool compresses or gel pads in between feedings to minimize irritation, as Dr. Chang suggests. And of course, you should be applying a nipple balm with emollient and occlusive ingredients to prevent dryness and repair the skin.

Cracked nipples are a serious concern that “can lead to pain, skin infections, and potentially scarring,” says Dr. Greenfield. In addition to being a literal pain, cracked nipples can impact your ability to breastfeed. “Cracked nipples can cause significant pain and discomfort for the mother, making breastfeeding a distressing rather than an enjoyable experience, which may increase the likelihood of stopping breastfeeding or pumping early,” says Dr. Chang.

When and how should I clean my nipples?

Slathering on a nipple balm 10 times a day can cause waxy buildup that can be uncomfortable and unhygienic. “Gently cleaning the nipples between breastfeeding and pumping is important to prevent the buildup of bacteria, debris, and irritants,” says Dr. Chang. Look for fragrance-free cleansers and avoid harsh scrubs or exfoliants, which can irritate already sensitive nipple skin, says Dr. Chang. Use your hands or a washcloth, never a loofah. “If you have excess discharge from your nipples or an abundance of oil glands with oil production, you may need to manually express and clean the area more thoroughly,” Dr. Greenfield notes.

For parents using disposable breast pads, change them regularly to prevent the buildup of moisture and bacteria, and “wear lightweight, breathable bras to minimize friction, sweat, and irritation,” adds Dr. Chang.

How we test and review products

When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.

For our list of the best nipple creams and balms, we considered each product’s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors who are mothers — along with special consideration from board-certified dermatologists (who are also mothers). To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.

Our staff and testers

A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors — in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon — is essential to reaching that goal.

After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.

Want more pregnancy and postpartum necessities? Keep reading:

• 10 Best Belly Oils to Moisturize Your Bump
• The Best Baby Lotions for Every Skin Concern, According to Dermatologists
• The 10 Best Baby Sunscreens for Newborns to Toddlers
• 16 Best Skin-Care Products to Use During Pregnancy and Nursing

Now, watch fellow mama Jennifer Garner react to TikTok trends:

Don’t forget to follow Allure on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok, or subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on all things beauty.