20 best tinted lip balms for a moisture-packed alternative to lipstick
There's no denying that tinted lip balms are one of the most popular skincare-makeup hybrids right now. Beauty retailer Space NK reports that sales of lip treatments, largely driven by balms, is up 283% vs 2023 – proof perhaps that we're shaking loose the reliance on lipstick for the feel-good factor.
For skincare enthusiasts, it's all taking lips from chapped to pillow-soft. Packed with moisture-loving ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, vitamin E and shea butter, they're formulated to deliver long-lasting hydration.
Some can double as lip plumpers, while others can give you the equivalent of a high-shine finish of a lip gloss or a lip oil (non-sticky, of course).
Throw in a sheer pop of colour, and tinted lip balms tick all the boxes for makeup lovers to join the smooth lip party – whether they wear a tinted lip balm on its own or on top of their favourite lipstick to create a brand new shade.
Best tinted lip balms at a glance – our top picks:
- Best Overall: Rhode Skin Peptide Lip Tint, £16
- Best Premium: Dior Addict Lip Glow, £32
- Best Affordable: Dr. PAWPAW Rich Mocha Balm, £7.25
- Best High-Shine: Hourglass Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balm, £36
- Best Plumping: The Inkey List Tripeptide Plumping Lip Balm Tint, £11
.jpg)
Whether you're after a natural rose pink, a punchier red, a chocolate brown or a fool-proof nude, there's no shortage of shades available, whether you lean more towards a 'no-makeup' makeup look or are keen to seek out more pigmented formulas.
To help you narrow down your pick, we've put together a comprehensive round up of the very best tinted lip balms around, from trending bestsellers to classics.
One of the below options just so happens to be a personal favourite of Sofia Richie's, while another forms the basis of Hailey Bieber's viral espresso makeup look.
Looking for more beauty products to bulk out your collection? Check out our guides on the best mascaras, best face SPF and the best eyeshadow palettes. And if you're on the market for more lip products, take a look at our edits for the best lip scrubs, best lip stains and lip tints and the best lip liners around.
Ahead, the very best tinted lip balms that deserve a spot in your makeup bag.
Why we love it: The original Peptide Lip Treatments have over 53 million posts on TikTok and counting. But, in our opinion, the tinted versions in Espresso, Raspberry Jelly, Toast and Ribbon have the edge as a cross between a coloured lipgloss and a skin-loving balm. Take your cue from Hailey and apply the Lip Tint in an effortless slick or pair it with lip liner.
Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm
Why we love it: We're willing to bet that you've definitely come across the Summer Fridays lip balm on your FYP on more than one occasion. Featuring an ultra-hydrating vegan formula, this lip balm is filled to the brim with nourishing ingredients, including the likes of shea and murumuru butter, as well as plant waxes, which help keep cracked lips at bay. (P.S. we highly recommend the Brown Sugar and Vanilla Beige shades).
Save big when shopping for tinted lip balms using these Cult Beauty discount codes.
Augustinus Bader x Sofia Coppola The Tinted Balm
Why we love it: Could this collaboration be any cooler? Director Sofia Coppola has teamed up with Augustinus Bader to create a trio of tinted lip balms, all of which are packed with skin-loving shea butter, vitamin E and the brand’s signature reparative TFC8 patented technology. Whether you choose the dark fuchsia, the summery coral or the deep plum, you're guaranteed a sheer, dreamy flush of colour to the lips that has serious Virgin Suicides vibes.
The Inkey List Tripeptide Plumping Lip Balm Tint
Why we love it: Lip plumpers of old leant on tingly ingredients such as peppermint oil and Cayenne pepper to create a pillowy pout. Trust skincare aficionados The Inkey List to swerve those formulations in favour of peptides and hyaluronic acid spheres that are clinically proven to plump lips by up to 40% in four weeks and iron out creases. All in pleasing shades of Mocha, Pink and Berry that have the colour payoff of a lip gloss without the stickiness.
_.jpg)
Rare Beauty Stay Vulnerable Glossy Lip Balm
Why we love it: The love child of a gloss and a balm, the blend of sunflower seed oil, water lily, and lotus seed cushions dry lips, keeping them smooth without the stick. Nearly Rose is reportedly founder Selena Gomez's favourite shade.
Chanel No. 1 De Chanel Lip and Cheek Balm
Why we love it: Every product in the No.1 range is spiked with antioxidant-rich red camellia but it's the multi-tasking nature of this tinted pot that makes it a stand out. The balmy consistency melts into the skin, plumping the lips and cheeks, and the nine shades can be built up from a sheer wash to a more punchy pop of warm pink or '90s brick.
Makeup By Mario MoistureGlow Plumping Lip Serum
Why we love it: Now, if you're someone who loves a lip product with plumping properties, you simply must check out the Makeup By Mario MoistureGlow Plumping Lip Serum, which melts into a high-shine, dewy concoction upon application. Thanks to the deeply-conditioning blend of ingredients such as shea butter, avocado oil and argan oil, this lip balm will moisturise your lips like an absolute dream, and the wearable shade range only sweetens the deal.
Enjoy savings when shopping for tinted lip balms using these Sephora discount codes.
Why we love it: It’s only natural that the iconic Dior Addict Lip Glow made it to this roundup. Although it’s a tad more expensive than most other lip balms, trust us when we tell you that it’s well worth the investment. Composed of 97% natural ingredients, this products promises to hydrate your lips for up to 24 hours while enhancing the natural colour of your lips in the most stunning way possible. Well worth adding to your wishlist.
Make sure to bookmark these Boots discount codes to save ££ when shopping for tinted lip balms.
Glossier Strawberry Balm Dotcom
Why we love it: Glossier has done it again. The buttery, moisturising and cruelty-free formula that we've come to love not only soothes the most chapped lips but now comes in a jammy, your-lip-but-better shade.
Sisley Phyto Lip Balm in Pink Glow
Why we love it: Not only does this buttery balm, which is enriched with algae extra and vitamin E, protect and hydrate, the fresh pink shade also reacts to the pH of your lips giving you a custom-made shade that is completely unique to you.
Hourglass Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balm
Why we love it: If it’s good enough for Sofia Richie, it’s definitely good enough for us. That’s right, the style icon has been spotted wearing it multiple times, and with good reason. This 3-in-1 lip treatment combines the glass-like finish of a lip gloss, the volumising boost of a lip plumper and the hydrating effects of a lip mask. Plus, it glides on with ease and imparts a gorgeous layer of colour on your lips. Sure, it’s definitely not the most affordable option on the market, but there’s no denying that its luxe packaging and high-quality formula are well worth the hype.
Save big when shopping for tinted lip balms using these Space NK discount codes.
Why we love it: It's hard to choose what we love most about this lip balm – the luxe vintage packaging, the burst of hydration for chapped lips, the floral scent or the subtle glow each of the three tints imparts. Better still, this tinted lip balm can be layered with your favourite lipstick to create a fresh shade.
.jpg)
MAC Squirt Plumping Gloss Stick
Why we love it: After a juicy pout? Say no more. The MAC Squirt Plumping Gloss Stick went viral just earlier this year, thanks to its extra glossy finish, nourishing formula and a surprising shade range (did anyone say green?). Formulated to melt upon contact with the lips, this lip product is infused with some of the most nourishing ingredients around (think: coconut oil, shea butter and avocado oil), as well as menthol and ginger root oil for that cooling and plumping effect. Plus, it also contains iron oxides and titanium dioxide for added sun protection.
Enjoy savings when shopping for tinted lip balms using these LookFantastic discount codes.
ILIA Balmy Tint Hydrating Lip Balm
Why we love it: We stan a clean and simple product that does its job flawlessly. This hydrating lip balm from ILIA Beauty uses a flurry of moisture-boosting botanical butters and oils to make your lips feel smooth and plumped while also providing them with a dash of sheer colour that builds with each swipe.
Enjoy savings when shopping for tinted lip balms using these Sephora discount codes.
Why we love it: Enriched with a unique hydrating complex as well as a blend of antioxidants, this lip care product is designed for all-day comfort while keeping dryness at bay. It also provides you bare lips with a gentle wash of colour that can be worn on its own or used as a foundation for any lip look you want.
Make sure to bookmark these LookFantastic discount codes to save ££ when shopping for tinted lip balms.
Fenty Beauty Pro Kiss'r Tinted Lip Balm
Why we love it: Lightweight, creamy and nourishing is exactly how we would describe this fantastic rose lip balm from Fenty Beauty. The best part is that it has a non-sticky formula that comes in a universal pink sheen that's bound to become part of your daily routine.
Save big when shopping for tinted lip balms using these Sephora discount codes.
_.jpg)
Why we love it: Finally, a tinted balm that practically melts as soon as it touches our lips. Made with a plant-based formula, this K-beauty phenomenon keeps your lips looking fresh, juicy and chic while also protecting them from the drying winter breeze and making dry lips a thing of the past. What more could you want?
Make sure to bookmark these Amazon discount codes to save ££ when shopping for tinted lip balms. Oh, and don't forget that Prime customers are also eligible for free delivery.
Why we love it: Infused with beeswax (cera alba), coconut oil, sunflower seed oil, castor seed oil and shea butter, this drugstore lip balm from Burt's Bees comes in a range of 6 flattering pink, red and violet shades and moisturises your lip without leaving any unwanted shimmer. Plus, did we mention that it's suitable for all skin types and is made with a 100% natural formula without the use of parabens, phthalates, petrolatum and SLS?
Save big when shopping for tinted lip balms using these Sephora discount codes.
e.l.f. Hydrating Core Lip Shine
Why we love it: A 2-in-1 balm that's filled to the brim with hydrating goodness while delivering just a hint of colour? Sign us up. Available in a range of different shades that give your lips a soft shine and a tint of colour, this lip balm is formulated with vitamin E for some much-needed hydration.
Make sure to bookmark these Amazon discount codes to save ££ at checkout when shopping for tinted lip balms.
Why we love it: This affordable lip balm is incredibly nourishing, thanks to a blend of papaya, aloe vera and olive oil. It delivers a bold nude shade that's buildable and perfect for all skin tones, making it a must-have to have in your handbag at all times.
Enjoy savings when shopping for tinted lip balms using these LookFantastic discount codes.
.jpg)
%2520copy.jpg)
