The best tinted lip balms are a true handbag essential, providing the easiest, most flattering pop of colour, plus hydration and other skin benefits to boot. We've tested the best lip-loving formulas from brands like Dior, Summer Fridays, Rhode, ILIA and Fresh to bring you our essential top 12.
Every member of the woman&home beauty team has an arsenal of lip balms in every bag, and while some of the top picks in our guide to the best lip balms also feature in this roundup, here we took a closer look at pigment, shades and wearability for every product we tested.
Some of our top picks could easily pass for a lipstick but feature nourishing formulas that make them a lot more comfortable to wear. Others have a more conventionally balmy texture, and are the sort of low-maintenance product you can apply without having to look in the mirror. You could even keep these tinted lip balms on hand when wearing the best long-lasting lipsticks, so you can layer up for a striking finish without compromise on hydration. Tried and loved by our team, here are our top 12 picks.
The best lip balms, chosen by our beauty team
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RRP: £28 for 4.4g
For easy application and a huge range of shades, the ILIA Balmy Tint is our top pick. It combines rosehip oil and shea butter with nourishing salicornia to create a buildable tint, available in peachy nudes, cool rose hues, and muted cocoas.
The brand describes it as 'skincare for your lips', and while it feels comfortable and hydrating for prolonged wear, it's also a low-maintenance option that's easy to apply and wears well through the day.
Reasons to buy: Easy application, huge shade range
Reasons to avoid: Not as shiny as other options
RRP: £17
Benefit always knows how to make a fun product with an appealing name, and this is no exception to the rule. It's clearly designed to be holiday-friendly, with a sheer pink tint, lightweight packaging and handy doe-foot applicator that makes on-the-go application easy-breezy.
The best thing about this is the texture. As the name suggests it's creamy, not sticky or oily, and while it certainly isn't as thick as butter (thank goodness) it does have a plush softness that makes lips feel plump and protected. Like many tinted balms the colour lasts a couple of hours max, but it looks very cute so you'll be happy to whip it out and reapply.
Reasons to buy: Lovely texture, sheer easy colour
Reasons to avoid: Packaging could be more luxurious
RRP: £33
Look, nobody needs to spend £33 to get one of the best tinted lip balms. But if you can, and you want to, then you absolutely should on this. The chic packaging is a real treat, as is the fairly firm, ungreasy texture and huge shade range (16 at present, more than anything else on this list.)
Then there is the thoughtful ingredient list, which is 97% natural origin and includes cherry oil as well as something called 'colour reviver technology' which interacts with your skin's moisture levels to develop into a bang-on shade. Of course, being Dior this would make a lovely and very well-received gift too.
Reasons to buy: Beautifully luxurious, vast shade range
Reasons to avoid: If you're on a budget
RRP: £15 for 15ml
Beauty Writer Amelia loves this option for seriously dehydrated lips. "After being on medication for my skin when I was younger I have had permanently dry lips, and this is one of the few products that relieves that discomfort whilst giving me the colour I want.
Thick and hydrating but with a gorgeous red tint, this ticks every single box - long-lasting shine, colour, and comfort. In a handy small tube that can be thrown into any handbag or shoved in your pocket, it is perfect for travelling when you don't want to carry multiple lip products."
Reasons to buy: Deeply hydrating
Reasons to avoid: The application is a little messy
RRP: £36
Let's address the obvious first: This is Chanel, so it aint cheap. However, the small range of four flattering reddish balms does represent better value than you think. We found that the tint far outlasted others on this list, so reapplication could be less frequent and therefore the stick lasts an unusually long time.
This has lots of skincare ingredients such as moringa butter and vitamin E, and you can really feel that when you swipe it on, we found it smooth and silky with a lasting plumping effect. To end on another obvious note: This is Chanel, so it is beautifully packaged and will make your friends envious when they see you pull it out of your bag.
Reasons to buy: Very nourishing and long-lasting
Reasons to avoid: Limited shades
RRP: £18 for 2g
Our Beauty Editor Aleesha swears by the Huda Beauty GloWish Super Jelly Lip Balm to give her lips a long-lasting tint while keeping them hydrated during long office days. She loves the shade Matcha which, despite the green shade, gives her lips a natural bright rosiness, as it adapts to each person's lips for a flattering look on every skin tone.
Reasons to buy: Adapts to each person's pH balance
Reasons to avoid: Tint lasts longer than the balm
RRP: £22 for 4g
Available in 12 buildable shades, the fresh Sugar Lip Treatment is one of the more sheer options on the market. Its colour provides a natural flush that makes lips look plump and healthy. Plus, you won't have to worry about getting it all over your face if you're a bit over-zealous with your lip balm application.
The lightweight formulation feels like a real treat on no-makeup days, and we love the durable metal screw-close packaging which will save you from handbag mishaps. We think Peony is the most universally flattering shade, but we're also fans of Honey on paler skin.
Reasons to buy: It's great for every day
Reasons to avoid: It won't replace your lipstick
RRP: £12 for 10ml
A new player in the UK beauty space, Naturium's line of reasonably-priced, skin-loving products contends with a lot of the best tinted lip balms on the market.
We tried the shade Jam, a berry red that's comfortable to wear and deeply nourishing. It also comes in several more natural shades. Free from synthetic fragrance, parabens or gluten, this vegan formula gives a shiny finish that we love for daytime wear, but it does feel a tiny bit sticky on the lips.
Reasons to buy: It's the most impressive formula we tried
Reasons to avoid: The finish is a little sticky
RRP: £23 for 15g
When it comes to the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm, you really should believe the hype. The formula is nourishing, not sticky, with vegan waxes, shea butter and murumuru seed butter. You can choose from eight shades, with an option for every skin tone. We also enjoy layering this balm over lipstick to give a more hydrating experience.
Reasons to buy: Non-sticky, nourishing formula
Reasons to avoid: Colour is a little strong on some shades
RRP: £13 for 15ml
RMS' tinted lip balm really feels like a balm, with a convenient stick applicator and subtle flush of colour that could easily be mistaken for a natural lip shade. We find this one particularly easy to throw in a bag, and it's not messy or glossy on application, so you won't need to worry about hair getting caught in it, or it spreading outside of your lip line.
Reasons to buy: A failsafe daily option
Reasons to avoid: Doesn't give the look of a lipstick
RRP: £37 for 3.5g
There's no denying that the Gucci Baume À Lèvres Lip Balm is a seriously luxe choice, but it's more than skin deep with this tinted balm. We tried shade 4, Penelope Plum, which provides a glowy wash of colour with a waxy, long-lasting formula. This comfortable balm stick will feel luxe with each and every use.
Reasons to buy: Fantastic long-lasting formula
Reasons to avoid: On the stickier side
RRP: £16 for 10ml
Packed with peptides for a natural plumping effect, this tinted balm from rhode is consistently sold out thanks to the cult following it's amassed on social media. You can count on our honest review though, it really does deserve all the attention. We recommend taking your chances and signing up to the waitlist.
Reasons to buy: Easy to take on the go
Reasons to avoid: You'll get through it fast
How we chose the best lip balms
Here at woman&home, we've got collective experience with hundreds of lip products, and know that a good lip balm can be one of the most important beauty purchases out there. To make sure we picked the best of the best, we've selected the top lip balms for different requirements, whether it's a vegan formula or something with a long-lasting tint. Every single product featured in this guide has been carefully vetted by our expert team.
As woman&home.com's Beauty Channel Editor, Fiona Mckim has been professionally testing products for over a decade. Nothing makes her happier than raving about effective skincare, easy yet life-enhancing makeup and niche fragrance finds.
Fiona joined woman&home in 2013 under industry legend Jo GB, who taught her all about beauty ingredients (and employing extreme cynicism.) She has since covered every corner of the industry, from interviewing dermatologists and celebrities to reporting backstage at Fashion Week and judging beauty awards.
Aleesha is Digital Beauty Editor at woman&home, where she gets to share her expertise into all the best techniques, sharpest tools and newest products—with a particular savvy in skincare and fragrance.
Previously, she was Deputy Editor and Beauty & Fashion Editor for My Imperfect Life, where she headed up the beauty, fashion and eCommerce pages. Her specialisms are down to her carefully-curated wardrobe, shopaholic tendencies and her constant hunt for any new lipsticks to add to her color-coordinated collection.
How to choose the best tinted lip balm for you
When it comes to selecting the right tinted lip balm, take a close look at the following:
- Ingredients: For long-lasting hydration, the typical lip balm will be packed with wax-based ingredients such as mineral oil, beeswax or lanolin. "If you suffer with dry lips, the best ingredients to look for in a lip balm are occlusive, emollient and humectant," explains Dr Daron Seukeran, Group Medical Director for skincare clinic group sk:n. Unsure which is which? Our guide to the best face moisturisers has a handy cheat sheet.
- Fragrance: If you have parched or sensitive lips, Dr Seukeran advises, "Keep it simple. Many people like using a nice-smelling or tasting lip balm but it is best to use a non-fragranced lip balm, which also contains a sun protection ingredient."
- Texture: Balms that are purely focused on skin-softening properties will often set into a more solid formula. Formulas like Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm or rhode peptide lip tints are more liquid but come with active skincare ingredients such as vitamins E, D, A, and peptides.
- Packaging: Some tinted lip balms should be applied with your finger, which could be a little messy if you're out and about. If you want a tinted balm that applies like a lipstick, we've selected a number of tubes that swipe on for subtle but buildable colour.
- Pigmentation: Many tinted lip balms provide a subtle flush of colour, but others in our guide provide a bit more concentrated pigment, as well as a stain that will last throughout the day.
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