I think we all can agree that nothing looks or feels worse than the sting of cracked lips on your way to catch the subway. Yes, matte lipstick is stunning, but that isn’t going to moisturize chapped lips. Though I can’t deny the benefits of traditional lip balm, there isn’t the same excitement without having the option to dress up your lip shade. So what did the beauty gods do? They made tinted lip balm. It’s a perfect way to dress up your outfit with a pop of color but without drying out your lips. Ingenious, really. So, I’ve rounded up some highly reviewed tinted lip balms to keep your lips hydrated and kissable 💋
Best With Jojoba Oil: Physicians Formula Treatment
Since 1937, Physicians Formula has produced makeup and skincare products that are both hypoallergenic and great for sensitive skin. One of their bestsellers is their Organic Wear Tinted Lip Treatment, which is available in five different nude colors. It hydrated and conditions lips while adding a pop of color. As a bonus, all of its key ingredients are organic, including shea butter, coconut oil, and jojoba oil.
Best Cheap: e.l.f. Cosmetics Essential Lip Kiss Balm
Who doesn’t love a good bargain find? At $3, this e.l.f. Cosmetics Essential Lip Kiss Balm is an absolute steal. Formulated with Vitamin A &E, grape seed oil, and jojoba oil, this balm will protect and nourish your lips as the heat turns up this spring. This product is vegan and comes with a minty flavor so your lips continue to look and feel fresh.
Best Cruelty-Free: FLOWER BEAUTY Petal Pout Lip Mask
FLOWER BEAUTY Petal Pout Lip Mask hydrates and repairs lips, improving their texture and helping them look as healthy as ever. Infused with mango and cocoa butter, this lip treatment glides on super glossy, creating a luxurious look at a drugstore price. As a bonus, FLOWER BEAUTY is cruelty-free and vegan, to ensure that your beauty doesn’t cause harm to others.
Best for Dark Lips: Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment
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Yes, this lip balm is a bit pricier than Burt’s Bees, but with 9K reviews on Sephora, and 6700 of them being overwhelmingly positive, I’d say it’s worth the $24. Made with literal sugar to help with moisture, along with meadowfoam, black currant seed oil, and grapeseed oil to smooth and soften, your lips will be hydrated all day long.
Best Cheap: Burt’s Bees Natural Shea Butter & Botanical Waxes
Burt’s Bees 100% Natural Tinted Lip Balm enhances your natural lip by adding a pinch of color. With a couple of swipes, this lip balm will leave your lips smooth and nourished for up to eight hours at a time. It also softens dry lips with shea butter and botanical waxes. Plus, this product is made with 100% all-natural ingredients, free of parabens, phthalates, petrolatum, or SLS to ensure shoppers stay protected.
Best With SPF: COOLA Mineral Liplux® Organic SPF 30
Looking to enhance your lips but also give them an extra layer of protection? Get your SPF on with the COOLA’s Mineral Liplux Organic Tinted Lip Balm. It gives you a subtle hint of color while improving your skin’s creamy and smooth qualities. This balm is also formulated with mongongo oil, which is rich in nutrients and has anti-aging properties.
Best for Hydration: BECCA Hydra-Light Plumping Lip Balm
Free gift with purchase
Infused with beauty favorite hyaluronic acid, BECCA Cosmetics Hydra-Light Plumping Lip Balm is guaranteed to keep your lips feeling hydrated ALL. DAY. LONG. The peptide complex will plump your lips and smooth the appearance of lines. With buildable color and the mango flavor, this lip balm is a great addition to your cosmetics collection.
Best for Sheer Color: INC.redible Jammy Lips Lacquer Lip Tint
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Restore your lips’ natural shine with INC.redible’s juicy lacquer lip tint. Vegan and cruelty-free, this product makes your lips look impossibly plump and full of gorgeous colors. The applicator is designed to glide on easily and give you that cute look in-between lip gloss and lipstick.
Best On-the-Go Beauty: Laneige Lip Glowy Balm
With over 2k reviews, Laneige Lip Glowy Balm has tons of fans. It’s got five cute shades named after different fruits and is super lightweight, as it’s infused with shea butter for extra hydration. It’s also free of sulfates or any other bad things for your skin, just moisture, and vibes here. And if this is just as good as their lip- and water sleeping masks, you’ll definitely be satisfied.
This story was originally published by Ignacia Fulcher on 09/18/2020 and updated with new information by Juliana Clark on 06/01/2021.