The 19 Best Tinted Lip Balms, According to a Beauty Editor

Botanicals take center stage with this tinted lip balm meets oil. You’ll find jojoba, avocado, and olive oil in the mix, which is in part what gives this product its silky smooth (and slightly shiny) finish. It has a subtle plumping effect thanks to the inclusion of a handful of peptides. My favorite part about this sheer tint however is how it looks on my cheeks. A little swipe paired with the heat of my fingers creates a gorgeous sheer glow. 

Pros: Non-comedogenic and can be used as blush; Glides over fine lines

Cons: Needs to be reapplied often for hydration

Customer Review: “This glides so smoothly onto my lips with the rounded top. It has a balm texture that makes it feel more like a lip treatment than a lip gloss. It is lightweight, buildable, and not sticky. I only use one layer during the day to keep my lips feeling hydrated.” — Sephora 

I make it my mission to keep one of these stocked in every bag, pocket, and drawer—they’re really, truly my favorite. The color payoff, along with the shine is equivalent to that of a lip gloss, while the formula truly nourishes my lips. The texture is unmatched on the conditioning front. I’d even go so far as to say it’s my all-time favorite product in the Hourglass portfolio. 

Pros: Great color payoff; Plumping 

Cons: Color doesn’t last long

Customer Review: “This is the most comfortable balm that really adheres thinly to the lips. It feels protective but thin and looks so juicy without looking greasy or feeling nasty. It's luxe and you get what you pay for.” — Sephora 

While a lip oil like this one is going to be a bit more liquid-like than a traditional tinted lip balm, it deserves to be one of your top contenders. The formula is extremely nourishing and delivers around the same level of tint you’ll find with the balm. The biggest allure for this Hermesistible oil however is the scent. Perfumer Christine Nagel created a specific olfactory experience to correspond with each shade. 

Pros: Smells great; Very glossy 

Cons: Expensive 

Customer Review: “It is expensive however it lasts a long time, it is creamy, excellent texture, long lasting- you have to apply it more than once per day however that is to be accepted, fragrance is elegant, delicate, packaging is beautiful.” — Nordstrom 

Nudestix’s Hydra-Peptide Lip Butters are all over social media—and if you ask me, it deserves all the hype. The vegan lip balm, which is made of avocado butter, vitamin A, and vitamin E, has a thick and creamy texture that instantly relieves chapped, dry lips. It’s thick like a lip mask, making it a savior in the winter. I’m partial to Candy Kiss, but Sugar Plum is the way to go if you’re looking for a more intense color payoff. 

Pros: Very nourishing; Good for extra dry lips 

Cons: Frequently sold out 

Customer Review: “After using this lip butter over the last few weeks I am IN LOVE. It's sooo smooth! It's honestly so subtle and classy. It's NOT sticky. Which is a huge must have of mine. This product will forever be in my daily routine! Love love love!.” — Sephora

Whether you’re in the market for a stocking stuffer or are in the mood to treat yourself to an assortment of shades, Mara has you covered. They recently released this trio with two limited-edition shades (a pretty pink and a rich red), alongside their classic nude. Each one locks in moisture and has a mission to repair chapped and cracked lips. 

Pros: Great formula; Plumping effect 

Cons: Limited-edition 

Customer Review: “This is so thick and moisturizing. I put it on before bed and the colors anytime. It stays on for a few hours during the day,  as long as you're not eating or drinking. My lips feel amazing now.  I'm even comfortable without lip products after using this.” — Sephora

If you’ve ever had a sunburn on your lips, you’re well aware that it's a wildly unpleasant experience. Rather than layer a thick white glob of SPF on your lips before heading out in the sun, reach for one of these gorgeous (and very pigmented) shades. Each one provides mineral protection thanks to the inclusion of zinc oxide, and delivers a handful of deeply hydrating ingredients ranging from plant-derived oils and peptides to shea butter.

Pros: Contains SPF; Intense color payoff 

Cons: Requires frequent reapplication 

Customer Review: "I am constantly hunting for highly pigmented SPF lipsticks and this is among the very best-ever. The color is buildable, long-lasting, and the formula is wonderful—not sticky, but creamy—and somehow stays put for a long time. The scent is super mild and pleasant." — Sephora

This is my go-to, everyday lip balm for good reason. It features a special hydrating complex made up of squalane, coconut oil, and a moisturizing flower extract. I’ve found that it not only provides an immediate soothing effect, but the hydration actually gets locked into my lips and lasts for hours post-application. The pigment payoff is very subtle, but because of the silky texture, I”m left with a shine that’s almost reminiscent of a gloss.

Pros: Extremely hydrating; Has a hint of shine; Can be layered over lipstick 

Cons: Pigment is not very buildable

Customer Review: "I absolutely love and live for this lip balm!! I wanted something that leaves a strong tint, with a lil shine at the same time. This product does just that, but it does wear off and requires to reapply every couple hours." — Sephora

I’m really not a lipstick girl. However, there are a handful of occasions where a matte lipstick is a necessity—and during those times, this lip glorifier is a must. It’s more lightweight and less sticky than most, which allows it to work almost like a lipstick primer. One swipe smooths out any crêpiness, blurs over chapped areas, and locks in hydration, so that my lipstick applies smoother and doesn’t develop a peeling, dried-out aesthetic throughout the day. Occasionally I’ll even wear it alone to reap the hydrating benefits of shea butter and argan tree oil.

Pros: Multi-purpose; Great scent

Cons: Expensive

Customer Review: "Not only is the color outstanding but the feel of the lipstick when you put it on is heavenly. So creamy and soft, like a lip balm that’s healthy for your lips." — Nordstrom

There are lip balms that are denser and come in stick form. Then, there are those that come in a tube—they’re glossier, they’re thicker, they’re shinier, and they’re my personal favorites. One of the best of the bunch is this Summer Fridays option—and fair warning: It sells out constantly. Every shade gives an unreal shine (and smells delicious), plus you’ll experience a small plumping effect. You can’t go wrong with any of the colors, but my personal favorites have to be Pink Sugar and Vanilla Beige. 

Pros: Very glossy; Smells amazing

Cons: Always sold out 

Customer Review: "The hydration, scent, color and just everything about this lip balm is incredible and worth every penny. It’s always sold out, so when I can get my hands on a shade I’m always very quick with it!" — Sephora

For the times when I want my lips to be so incredibly shiny they double as a mirror, it’s Naturium to the rescue. I’m a big fan of all the brand’s products, and these tinted lip balms are no exception. They include a mix of shea butter, cupuaçu butter, and plant squalane to create a hydrating mask on the lips and come in a range of pink, berry, and red hues. The color payoff is pretty strong and true to the color on the packaging, so I recommend using that as your guide. Each one also tastes (and smells) like vanilla, so you’re in for a treat. 

Pros: Good pigment; Very shiny 

Cons: Packaging can be a little messy 

Customer Review: "Good staying power. Tinted balms generally don’t seem to impart much color on me, though this dark shade does leave a slight wash of color that I appreciate. Hours later my lips are still soft with a slight balm residue remaining. Longer lasting on me than most. " — Target

Tinted lip balms are inherently on the sheerer side. It’s all well and good, but thanks to Tata Harper’s latest innovation you don’t have to sacrifice pigment. The brand’s lip cremes come in four tinted shades—and rest assured you’ll have a bright pout once you swipe. A soft dab of color will be more subtle, but if you really want to pack on color you can build up the pigment to be completely opaque and very bold. Blasé has been my go-to (it’s the tamest of the quad), but you really can’t go wrong with any of the gorgeous shades. 

Pros: Great pigment; Buildable; Contains 23 hydrating botanical ingredients

Cons: Not as hydrating as some others

Customer Review: "The color is beautiful. The texture is so smooth and feels great, not sticky or too slippery. I liked the previous formulas well enough but found them to be too sheer.These new formulas are a lovely combination of both worlds. I just received Blasé and I love it!" — Tata Harper

If you struggle to find the perfect lip shade for you, allow me to direct your attention to the cult-favorite Dior Addict Lip Glow. It comes in over a dozen shades, each of which is infused with a special color-reviver technology, which allows the lip tint to adjust to your lips specific pH and create custom shine that’ll last for up to six hours. The perfect sheer tint is what got me hooked, but it’s the hydration that caused me to stock up on every single shade. A blend of cherry oil, shea butter, and sunflower wax truly keep my lips chap-free. 

Pros: Perfect shade match; Gorgeous packaging

Cons: Not as hydrating as others 

Customer Review: "Absolute favorite lip product, the feeling is so good like chapstick but not waxy, and the colors are super subtle. I have it in multiple shades!" — Sephora

U Beauty’s OG Plasma Lip Compound has raked up thousands of five-star reviews since launch—and the hydrating, plumping, uber-glossy formula truly deserves all the praise. It improves volume and hydration, reduces the look of fine lines, and revives the lip’s natural color. I truly didn’t think I could love the product more, until the brand dropped three tinted shades. The pigment is strong and each hue looks great on all skin tones. I frequently switch between Fawn and Rose, but I’ll grab Cassis if I want something a bit bolder. 

Pros: Intense pigment; High shine; Deeply hydrating 

Cons: Expensive 

Customer Review: "I used the original lip compound and wanted to try the new colors. Makes my lips extra soft, great moisturizing treatment and color just enhances the product." — Dermstore

Just like the name indicates, this product is going to be eons more hydrating than a traditional lipstick and pack in way more pigment than a stereotypical lip balm. Each shade is infused with hyaluronic acid (hydration!), peptides (plumping!), and emollients (glossy!) to create one of the prettiest, shiniest finishes you’ll find across the lip category. Thanks to such a powerhouse ingredient profile, the tint actually provides a blurring and smoothing effect that disguises fine lines. 

Pros: Great pigment; Blurring effect; High shine 

Cons: Packaging is a bit messy 

Customer Review: "I love Charlotte Tilbury and I absolutely love this lipstick balm. I am not a lipstick type but I love lip balms. Usually Lip balms don’t have a big color payoff but this is not the case with this product. I love that it has the texture of a lip balm but the color payoff of a lipstick!" — Sephora

On a no-makeup day, I don’t want something with *too* much gloss or pigment. Those are the day when this Kjaer Weis tinted balm can’t be beat. It gives the subtlest wash of barely-there color, provides a buttery, silky feel without an abundance of shine, and comes in a range of shades that ever-so-slightly enhance every natural lip tone. Gracious is my go-to—and I love that every time I run out I can just scoop up a refill for a fraction of the full price. 

Pros: Sustainable; Non-sticky

Cons: No buildable color 

Customer Review: I love the feel of this balm - it is very moisturizing. Also, the bullet style makes it so easy to apply. I first bought the shade Romance, because I think KW makes beautiful coral shades, but unfortunately the color was not noticeable on my lips. I liked the feel of the balm so much that I then bought the Gracious color when I was in the Credo store and it is a lovely light pink color that pops. I am using it daily!" — Credo

I describe my approach to makeup as follows: as little effort as possible. But not in a no-makeup-but-actually-a-lot-of-makeup, Hailey Bieber type of way; it's more that I'm unbelievably lazy. Over the years, I've curated a roster of products that keep my getting-ready routine as low lift as possible, and Burts Bees Tinted Lip Balm in the shade Magnolia takes the top slot. With one simple swipe, my lips look rosy and blushed, achieving the look of lipstick but without any of the painstaking precision and effort.” — Emma Childs, Style Editor 

Pros: Affordable; Multiple shades 

Cons: Can be a bit chalky

Customer Review: "Its a light sheer, mauve/pink. This is the best chap stick I've ever owned. It feels very smooth going on, moisturizes well and leaves a nice, sheer tint on the lips. I will buying more." — Walmart

Anytime Lawless expands their Forget the Filler line, I get excited. The entire collection is designed to mimic the plumpness and fullness you can typically only achieve from an injectable. Enter the Forget the Filler tinted lip balms, which have an other-worldly plumping effect that smooths out little lines and leaves behind a high-shine, extremely hydrating sheen powered by jojoba seed oil and shea butter. Even the darker shades in the collection are pretty soft, so don’t be afraid to choose a shade more intense than your usual. 

Pros: Plumping; High-shine

Cons: Not a lot of pigment payoff 

Customer Review: "This formula goes on smooth, hydrates lips, does not stick to or enhance the little fine lines I am starting to get that comes with good ol' aging, and actually makes my lips look noticeably fuller and plumper. I can put it on and go without a mirror and still look fabulous." — Sephora

The best part about this lip balm is its long-term effects. Sure, you’ll feel instant hydration off the bat, but I can confidently say that after using this little guy religiously I noticed that my natural lips—without anything on them—were softer, smoother, and more supple. The secret ingredient? Pomegranate extract, which is loved in the beauty industry for its moisturizing properties. I started off my Balm-in-Lipstick journey with the Peach Charm shade, but the price point is so good, that I’ve gradually added every sku to my collection. 

Pros: Affordable; Provides long-term hydration 

Cons: No intense pigment 

Customer Review: "This is a very pretty light coverage lipstick. It will leave your lips feeling very smooth and nourished." — Walmart

“I’ve loved this tinted lip balm from C.O Bigelow for years. The tint is so sheer, so it leaves my lips looking juicy and ever-so-slightly rosy—perfect for everyday wear! The tin also lasts ages. I keep it next to my bed so I can apply in the morning and at night. The finish is pretty slippy, so make sure to pat off any excess if you’re going to be building another color on top of it. However, I find it incredibly nourishing and easy to wear.” — Julia Marzovilla, E-Commerce Editor 

Pros: Subtle hue for everyday wear; Good for layering 

Cons: Strong fragrance

Customer Review: "I have been using this salve for years. It soothes, smoothes, softens and is my go to product especially when I need extra moisture. I put it on my lips, hands, cuticles, feet, elbows, knees, etc. A little goes a long way. It's not by chance it's been around for decades, it's really that good. Just get one or a few like I did!" — Bloomingdales