I’ve discovered a lot of new-to-me beauty obsessions lately during this extended period of staying at home (see: face mists and bath products). I’m drawn to soothing, relaxing buys plus ways to take my skincare to the next level since I now have so much more time to experiment and play around with new finds. Even though my makeup routine has been extremely minimal as of late, there’s one product I can’t live without: tinted lip balm. I put it on every day without fail. Most of the time, it’s the only speck of makeup I wear.
Sure, before all of this, I had a vague appreciation for tinted lip balms. They added just the right amount of color and soothed chapped lips, yet I always reached for my favorite lipsticks instead. But as I attended more Zoom meetings and FaceTime hangouts with friends, I realized the sheer genius of a tinted lip balm. It was the easiest way to perk up a bare face with practically zero effort.
Of course, there are a lot benefits to the lip balms, too. My lips are constantly dry and chapped, and the balms keep them so smooth and soft with zero peeling. That’s such a win in my book since I was always struggling to exfoliate the dry skin before putting on my extra-matte lipstick. I’m not saying I’ll never go back to my tried-and-true lipsticks, but tinted balms just might be my everyday pick now.
Because they’re my newest obsession, I’ve made it a mission to try as many as I can. You know, for journalistic purposes. Below are some of my absolute favorites plus some that are on my wish list to try out.
Burt’s Bees makes one of my favorite tinted lip balms. It’s made with 100% natural ingredients, such as shea butter, to moisturize lips. It leaves you with a nice, natural color that’s a step above your normal lip color.
Editor in chief Kat Collings recommended this trio from Doubledown Cosmetics, and it’s now on my to-try list. It contains organic ingredients such as castor oil, cocoa butter, coconut oil, and vitamin E.
We’re big fans of Versed’s tinted lip oil. It’s not sticky or greasy and leaves a pretty, subtle shade you can build. Ingredients include vitamin E and jojoba, camellia, and sesame oils. My favorite color is the berry-like Fig.
Dior’s lip balm is pretty high-tech. It has Color Reviver technology that reacts to the lips’ moisture level and releases active ingredients. There are six shades to choose from, including coral, berry, and rose gold.
You have to love a product that does double duty. This balm works on both your lips and cheeks. It contains green tea and aloe vera extracts to soothe and moisturize skin. Choose from three colors: coral pink, orange, and rosy nude.
For this price point, you can buy a whole bunch of these to put in your purse, car, office desk, and more. The balm leaves your lips hydrated for up to eight hours.
Available in 10 shades, this lip conditioner is both a tint and balm. It looks like a lipstick! Add as much color as you want for either a sheer or a saturated look.
Clinique’s Chubby Sticks are another one of my favorite lip products. I find that I can do one swipe across my lips, and I’ve got a good amount of color that looks natural. It’s formulated with moisturizing ingredients like mango and shea butter.
Glossier’s Balm Dotcom has become a classic in recent years. Grab one of the tinted versions for a lip color and the original as a salve for any dry skin problem.
Kosas’s lip balm is one of my go-tos, so when I found out it has tinted versions, I did a happy dance. The formula consistently saves my lips thanks to hyaluronic acid and natural oils and extracts.
Fresh’s lip treatment is another favorite for me. I have both the plain and tinted versions. I love that it has SPF protection, too.
Formulated with cupuaçu butter and mongongo oil, this lip balm moisturizes and reduces the signs of aging. It’s waterproof for up to 40 minutes and has SPF 30 protection, so bring this one to the beach or pool.
This lip balm is formulated with SPF 20 sunscreen so you know you’re protected against harmful UV rays. The tint provides just a hint of color.
Formulated with good-for-you ingredients like vitamins C and E, aloe vera, titanium dioxide (sunscreen), green tea, and antioxidants, this product lives up to its name, LipDrink. It hydrates and smoothes lips while also providing sun protection.
This tinted balm from Lilah B. has become one of my most recent favorites. It comes in a compact container, so it’s easy to sneak into the smallest bag. The color it leaves reminds me of when your lips are red from eating summer fruit—so natural and effortless!
This moisturizing lip balm leaves your lips looking glossy and plumped. It comes in so many fun colors from nude to coral to cherry to chestnut—there’s a color for everyone.
Heal your chapped lips with this balm’s jojoba oil and cocoa butter ingredients. It provides hydration for up to 12 hours.
Build this sheer lip color to your exact specifications. It’s got nourishing ingredients like avocado, açaí, and pomegranate oils. And you’ll be happy to know it’s formulated without parabens or synthetic fragrances.
Laneige makes one of the most popular lip products out there—its Lip Sleeping Mask ($22)—so I’m pretty confident in the brand’s tinted balm. The pocket-size tube contains ingredients like shea butter and murumuru.
Plump up your lips with Charlotte Tilbury’s gloss. Yes, it’s a gloss rather than a balm, but marine collagen and coconut oil will leave your lips super hydrated. Next up, celebrity makeup artists swear by these 46 lip colors.
