When it comes to a tinted lip balm, Sarah-Jane Corfield-Smith considers herself a top-tier collector
Whether it’s the walk to drop my daughter off at school, a quick trip to the supermarket or an evening out somewhere lovely, peek inside my handbag at any given time and you will find at least four tinted lip balms. Zero other makeup - I’m not really into touchups - but my lips are always covered.
Two reasons. Firstly, I get very cracked and dry lips. I’ve had cold sores since I was small and my lips need constant hydration. Secondly, lipsticks can be drying and I find committing to a shade tricky. Glosses are just far too sticky. Tinted lip balm is the best of both worlds: hydrating and nourishing with a whisper of colour without the constant attention. Do you need a mirror to check your tinted lip balm technique? Absolutely not.
I am not alone in my adoration for tinted lip balm: searches for my most hoarded product have risen by 80 per cent in the last month. Major beauty brands are including a tinted balm firmly among their lip offering. They are becoming as staple as mascara.
Here is a selection of my favourites, all of which you can find in my handbag right now.
@getthegloss Need we say more? 👄 Link in bio to see our favourite tinted lip balms @rhode skin @evolveorganicbeauty @Naturium @Makeup Revolution @theinkeylist @LANEIGE Europe #tintedlipbalm #tintedgloss #whatdoibringtothetable #whatdoyoubringtothetable #rhode #rhodeskin #rhodelippeptide #lippeptide #bootslipbalm #laneigelipmask #viralbeauty #relatable #girlhood #justgirlythings #fyp #foryou #lipbalmaddict #lipbalmcollection #makeupaddict ♬ original sound - niupi.pluss
7 best tinted lip balms
The cult one: Rhode Peptide Lip Tint in Ribbon, £18. Rhode phone case £35
“I didn’t expect to like Rhode - Hailey Bieber’s skincare range - as much as I do, but it’s clear why her lip balm continually sells out. The texture is a lovely combination of buttery and silky smooth, but she has got the colour palette spot on. There are four core shades: this soft pink, a deeper raspberry, a soft brown and a richer brown - something for everyone and every mood. Plus four limited edition shades to match each of her new Rhode cream blushers (but I believe demand will see them become a mainstay). The utter stroke of genius was creating a Rhode iPhone case. £35 that fits the lip treatment in the back so you are never far from your balm."
The rejuventing: Evolve Organic Beauty Bio-Retinol Glossy Lip Oil, £18
“If you loved a Lancome Juicy Tube back in the day, this is your modern-day equivalent, although I would argue it’s better as it comes with zero stickiness. Bio-retinols rejuvenate without irritating, and an Evolve favourite used here is bidens pilosa, derived from daisy. Available in one lovely raspberry-pink shade, it feels balmy and is packed with hyaluronic acid and kalahari melon oil to hydrate and has an uplifting peppermint flavour.”
The skincare one: Naturium Phyto-Glow Lip Balm in Latte, £12
“Available in nine shades ranging from completely clear, light pinks, berry shades and coffee hues, this tinted lip balm has a pleasing oversized applicator that makes gliding it on even easier (not that it’s hard work to begin with). You can use this as an overnight mask if your lips are in dehydrated dire straits, but I would only recommend using the clear shade, as the pigment is significant enough that it will transfer onto pillows.”
The budget one: Makeup Revolution Juicy Peptide Lip Balm in Pink Strawberry, £5.99
“This is a fairly new addition to my stash and I love it not only because it has a lovely buttery texture, but because it delivers slightly more pigment than the rest - and comes with a bargain price point. It contains all the big-hitting hydrating ingredients like squalene, vitamin E and avocado oil and is available in four shades.”
The lip volumising one: The Inkey List Tripeptide Plumping Lip Balm in Mocha Tint, £11
“Packed with peptides, plant oils and nourishing butters, this tinted and unscented balm comes in three shades (there’s also a clear). In terms of the tint, I'd say it is the sheerest of them all which is sometimes exactly what you need. However, what makes this tinted lip balm stand out is that it contains a tripeptide complex that increases the volume in the lips over time. Not in that stingy menthol way that plumping lip glosses do - instead, the peptides help lips retain moisture and strengthen the skin barrier, all of which will make lips fuller. Result.”
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The scented one: Laneige Lip Glowy Balm in Grapefruit, £16
“Containing murumuru and shea butter, this tinted balm feels smooth on the lips and, of course, not sticky in the slightest. It comes in four fruit-inspired shades, all of which have a coordinating scent, which you may or may not like - I don’t mind it. My ten-year-old loves stealing it from me. The tint level is lovely, enough to make it look like you’ve applied something but not overwhelming: aka exactly how a tinted lip balm should be.”
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The viral one: Boots Glossy Lip Balm in Cherry, £3
"We love a viral sensation, and with one selling every 30 seconds it’s no surprise that this beauty bargain is hard to get your hands on. The smooth balm comes in a delicious cherry scent, with a slight pink tint that adds a nice flush. It leaves your lips feeling moisturised, glossy, and with an affordable price tag, it’s the perfect addition to toss in your bag."