While lipsticks are often part of any makeup kit, the best tinted lip balm can be considered a lower-maintenance—and oftentimes, longer-lasting—little sister as they hydrate lips while delivering a wash of color that’s a breeze to apply.
Vogue’s Guide to the Best Tinted Lip Balms
“Tinted lip balm is very buildable, so if you want a more natural, sheer look you can apply one to two layers,” says New Jersey-based makeup artist Brielle Pollara. “If you want something more dramatic, you can apply three to four layers.” Pollara adds that many tinted lip balms stay put for at least 12 hours, ensuring a comfortable, slightly tinted lip that doesn’t disappear after your first (or maybe, second) coffee of the day.
The best tinted lip balms don’t just promise long-wear and hydration—they also offer perks ranging from high shine to delicious scents. Below, find Vogue’s edit of the best tinted balms for smooth, beautifully colored lips.
In This Article:
Best Buildable Color: Ilia Balmy Tint Hydrating Lip Balm
- Why we love it: Packed with clean, moisturizing ingredients, the buildable balm has a silky, weightless feel on the lips. It’s an editor-favorite—senior shopping editor Talia Abbas says she loves the deep rosy Memoir shade—with a subtle vanilla scent that makes it all the more appealing.
- Key ingredients: Salicornia (sea succulent), rosehip seed oil, shea butter
- Size: 0.15 oz
- Shades: 12
Best for Long-Lasting Hydration: Fresh Sugar Lip Balm Hydrating Treatment
- Why we love it: Powered by sugar—a sweet source of hydration—the sheer balm moisturizes the lips for up to 24 hours. With a silky texture and buildable tint, it also softens the lips and enhances their natural color.
- Key ingredients: Sugar, cranberry seed oil, grapeseed oil
- Size: 0.15 oz
- Shades: 12
Best Cult Classic: Dior Addict Lip Glow Balm
- Why we love it: A makeup bag staple for models and makeup artists alike, Dior’s beloved balm adapts to the pH level of the lips to make their natural color pop—all while adding a touch of glow. This one is a favorite of Vogue’s beauty shopping writer Kiana Murden, who can often be found with shade Mahogany somewhere on her person.
- Key ingredients: Polyglycerol-2 Triisostearate, sunflower seed oil, hydrogenated castor oil dimer dilinoleate
- Size: 0.11 oz
- Shades: 10
Best Multipurpose Balm: Chanel No. 1 de Chanel Lip and Cheek Balm
- Why we love it: When Chanel unveiled its new clean-beauty collection No. 1 de Chanel, this balm quickly became a fan-favorite—likely for its multipurpose uses. The buttery lip and cheek balm melts into the skin, leaving a flush of color with restored plumpness and dewiness. Take your pick of vibrant, sunkissed hues like Vibrant Coral or Wakeup Pink for an instant burst of summertime color.
- Key ingredients: Red camellia oil
- Size: 0.23 oz
- Shades: 9
Best High-Shine Finish: Saint Laurent Candy Glaze Lip Gloss Stick
- Why we love it: While stickiness is oftentimes the price for a high-gloss finish, that isn’t the case here. Yves Saint Laurent’s formulation pairs shine with a lightweight formula that melts into the lips, keeping them supple and moisturized. Not to mention, the balm has been TikTok-viral for a while now—specifically shade Healthy Glow Plumper which is a versatile, lip-enhancing hue.
- Key ingredients: Diisostearyl, malate, Bis Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
- Size: .11 oz
- Shades: 12
Best Plumping: Makeup by Mario MoistureGlow Plumping Lip Serum
- Why we love it: Infused with nourishing butter and oils, the glossy serum from Kim Kardashian’s go-to makeup artist plumps lips while imparting hydration thanks to shea butter, argan, and avocado oil.
- Key ingredients: Shea butter, avocado oil, refined kiwi oil, argan oil
- Size: .08 oz
- Shades: 14
Best for Dry Lips: Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm for Hydration & Shine
- Why we love it: Summer Friday’s intensely hydrating, vegan balm glazes lips with a silky coat of color—and it has a particularly sweet finish. Flavors range from cherry to sweet mint and brown sugar. Yum! This buzzed-about balm was the precursor for the brand’s latest launch—the Dream Lip Oil which debuted in January.
- Key ingredients: Shea and murumuru seed butter, vegan waxes
- Size: .5 oz
- Shades: 8
Best Lip Treatment: Rhode Peptide Lip Tint
Why we love it: Rhode’s cult-favorite balm doubles as a lip treatment thanks to the inclusion of peptides—a potent skin care ingredient that can stimulate collagen and elastin, leaving lips feeling softer, more hydrated, and visibly plumper. Many Vogue editors count this as their preferred lip treatment—from social media manager Taylor Lashley to production and editorial coordinator Irene Kim.
Key ingredients: Shea butter, peptides, cupuacu, babassu
Size: .3 fl oz
Shades: 4
Best Lipstick: Saie Lip Blur Soft Matte Hydrating Lipstick
- Why we love it: Infused with hyaluronic acid to plump and moisturize the lips, the buildable matte formulation gives the pout a soft-focus effect.
- Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, olive oil, berry fruit wax
- Size: .07 oz
- Shades: 6
Best Softening: Glossier Ultralip
- Why we love it: Whipped up with a blend of three vegan oils, the nourishing balm keeps lips comfortable, soft, and alluringly glossy.
- Key ingredients: Meadowfoam, jojoba, and watermelon seed oils
- Size: .10 oz
- Shades: 11
Best With SPF: Supergoop! Lipshade SPF 30
- Why we love it: The hydrating balm protects the lips from UV rays with SPF 30; it comes in four bright and buildable hues that stay put for a whole pool day.
- Key ingredients: Mango, shea, and murumuru butters, plant-derived oils, natural peptides
- Size: 0.12 oz
- Shades: 4
How is a tinted lip balm different from a regular one?
While lip balms are meant to provide nourishing TLC, tinted iterations bring something extra to the table: “In addition to helping restore hydration and making lips feel smooth, tinted lip balms elevate traditional formulas by offering a pop of color—and sometimes shimmer,” says New York City-based, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Brendan Camp.
Can you use tinted lip balms overnight?
In general, “lip balms can be used overnight to address mild cases of chapped lips,” Camp says. “For more parched lips, consider a product that will offer more intense hydration, such as an ointment-based moisturizer or lip butter.” If you opt for a tinted formulation overnight, just beware of possible side effects such as stained pillowcases— you may want to blot your lips before you drift off to sleep.
Which ingredients are the most hydrating for lips?
“Hyaluronic acid acts as a humectant that attracts and retains moisture,” Camp says. “Shea butter is an occlusive and emollient that seals water into the skin and smooths out rough texture.” He also recommends seeking out lip balms with ceramides, which “maintain the integrity of the skin barrier and help improve moisture retention,” he says. Finally, “Vitamin E is an antioxidant that protects skin from the damage of free oxygen radicals.”
What’s the best way to apply a tinted lip balm?
“Lip tint is so easy to apply,” Pollara reiterates. After applying one to four coats, depending on the intensity of the color you’re after, you can dip back into your makeup bag to give the look more oomph by way of a final layer of gloss. “Once the tinted lip balm dries down, you can top it off with your favorite lipgloss or chapsticks for a hydrated look!” Pollara says.
Meet the Experts
- Dr. Brendan Camp, MD, is a New York City-based, board-certified dermatologist.
- Brielle Pollara is a New Jersey-based makeup artist specializing in bridal, celebrity, and editorial makeup.
