The 10 Best Tinted Lip Balms of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

NARS Afterglow Lip Balm

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We loved the texture of this balm — it’s not too waxy but not too slippery either, and it stayed on our lips for a solid amount of time. It hydrated our lips after just one application (so we didn't find ourselves needing to constantly reapply throughout the day, except when we wanted a bit more color) and left them soft long after we swiped it on.

We love that some of the hues come with a bit of subtle shimmer, which can look very sexy when done right. And all of the colors are very wearable, although none are super bold or bright. Each shade offers a sheer wash of color in a way that might be hard for anyone to tell if you have a lip product on or not. In other words, they look very natural on the lips. But if you’re looking for a tinted lip balm with lots of color, keep scrolling for our favorite options for maximum color payoff.  

Price at time of publish: $28

Size: 0.1 oz | Shades: 9 | Scented: No

Best Drugstore

ChapStick Total Hydration Moisture + Tint

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The first time we tried these tinted lip balms, we were teenagers, but it was love at first swipe. These little drugstore numbers deliver a surprisingly vibrant color payoff, especially considering how affordable they are. And every one of the nine shades somehow looks great on our lips — and we tested them on skin tones ranging from the very light to the very deep, and they were flattering for all.

One of the downsides of this formula is that it’s not as moisturizing as some of the other picks on this list. Additionally, if your lips are dehydrated to begin with, get them back to neutral before using this balm because the color can slide and settle into dry cracks. Our solution was to first apply a sheer lip balm underneath, and then add the ChapStick balm on top. We also started to use a hydrating overnight lip oil to manage our parched lips, and our situation turned right around.

Price at time of publish: $5

Size: 0.12 oz | Shades: 9 | Scented: No

Best Splurge

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupté Shine Lipstick Balm

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Every time we whip this one out of our bag and swipe it across our lips, we feel powerful. We love carrying around the sexy packaging, but aside from that, the color range and formula blew us away. Boasting a fully stacked roster of 30 shades, ranging from the bright and bold to the mauves and neutrals, the only question you'll have is how to choose just one (or if you're like us, you just keep adding to your collection).

"No matter how many lipsticks I buy, I always return to this one in the shade 44 Nude Lavalliere daily," says Irene Richardson, a producer and writer for InStyle. "The versatile color goes with everything I own and, frankly, it’s just a real treat to apply."

The silky, smooth and lightweight formula contains six highly nourishing natural oils for ultimate comfort, wearability, and out of this world shine. Not to be outdone, the antioxidant-rich pomegranate extract and smooth macadamia butter condition and soften lips.

"Swiping it on feels as luxurious as the brand itself — the formula is super lightweight and creamy, and it smells fantastic (like a fancy department store)," says Richardson. "Plus, the product hydrates my skin so well that my lips still look full and plump even once the color wears off." 

Our only caveat is that the lip balm doesn’t look like a light flush on your lips — it definitely looks more like a lipstick, although it feels like a silky, hydrating serum. All in all, it wears like a lush oil, but has the color of a great lipstick.

Price at time of publish: $43

Size: 0.11 oz | Shades: 30 | Scented: Yes

Best Clean

rms beauty Hydrating Tinted Daily Lip Balm

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rms beauty did a fantastic job creating their roster of high-performance products with clean ingredients — and the Hydrating Tinted Daily Lip Balm is a great example. This pick comes in nine shades, including pinks, reds, oranges, and plums. Thanks to beeswax, the texture feels waxier than it does slick. It’s also soy-free, gluten-free, cruelty-free, and fragrance-free, too. Sometimes, our sensitive lips can get irritated from fragrances, but we didn't have to worry about that when applying this to our lips. 

One of the downsides of this product is that it doesn’t stay on the lips for very long. However, hardly any lip balm will stay locked in place for as long as a liquid lipstick or stain might, so it's easy to look past.

Price at time of publish: $24

Size: 0.10 oz | Shades: 9 | Scented: No

Best Moisturizing

Keys Soulcare Comforting Tinted Lip Balm

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Need an ultra-hydrating formula to get you through colder weather? Try Keys Soulcare Comforting Tinted Lip Balm. The buttery soft this formula feels seriously conditioning without traces of stickiness, dryness, or tackiness, thanks to the included avocado and camellia seed oil, which deeply nourish the lips. The shade range could use a little innovation, though. We wish the berry-heavy range featured a pink or a blue-toned red in order to complement more undertones.

Price at time of publish: $18

Size: 0.1 oz | Shades: 6 | Scented: No

Best Natural Finish

ILIA Balmy Tint Hydrating Lip Balm

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Unlike Keys Soulcare’s lip balm, we’re actually very impressed with the color options for ILIA's Balmy Tint Hydrating Lip Balm — and so is Delina Medhin, a celebrity and editorial makeup artist, who appreciates that she has many options for her clients. Within the eight shades, you can find pinks, reds, berries, and browns, complementing all skin and undertones. It has a natural finish that looks good on everyone. Plus, the formula features hydrating ingredients like rosehip seed oil and shea butter for a creamy application and long lasting softness.

"I really like ILIA's lip balm in the Wanderlust shade," says Chloe Anello, senior fashion commerce editor at InStyle. "I actually didn't know it was a lip balm when I first got it because it's pigmented like a lipstick. I love how creamy and hydrating it is, but it gives a bit more than a subtle flush of color. I got it for my mom, too, who loves it, as well."

Word to the wise: The round bullet means you definitely need a mirror to apply this one. And the buttery formula makes it a bit slippery. If you do mess up, though — happens to the best of us — it’s easy to wipe away without ruining the rest of your makeup.

Price at time of publish: $28

Size: 0.15 oz | Shades: 8 | Scented: Yes

Best Long-Lasting

Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Lip Balm

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A tinted lip balm is nowhere near as long-lasting as, say, a matte liquid lipstick. But there are certainly tinted lip balms that will last longer than others, like Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Lip Balm. Not only does it come in five very flattering shades, but it also has a great color payoff, too, which stays on lips longer than some other options on this list. Additionally, the formula leans more waxy than buttery, proving that it will stay on your lips longer than a thinner consistency might. 

Medhin calls this balm “buildable” because “you can really intensify the color payoff,” she explains. Although a waxy formula doesn't deliver waves of hydration, it's still moisturizing enough to be comfortable while adding beautiful color to the lips.   

Price at time of publish: $36

Size: 0.1 oz | Shades: 5 | Scented: Yes

Best Color Payoff

Sunnies Face Lip Treat

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The Sunnies Face Lip Treat offers a moisturizing, shiny formula that delivers a solid dose of pigment as well. Although there are six hues to choose from, they're all in the neutral family, so if you're looking for a bright coral or a Barbie pink, you're not going to get it here.

Thanks to shea butter and collagen, this pick really hydrated our lips effectively after just one swipe. The colors for each balm definitely appear vivid on lips, and the balmy texture also offers a really lovely shine without the stickiness of a lip gloss. But as this is a balm and not an actual gloss, don't expect the glossiness to last longer than an hour between applications.

Price at time of publish: $16

Size: 0.10 oz | Shades: 6 | Scented: No

Best Shine

Pat McGrath Labs Lip Fetish Sheer Colour Lip Balm

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"When it comes to a hydrating and subtle pigment for the lips, you can’t go wrong with Pat McGrath’s Lip Fetish Sheer Colour Lip Balm," says Jasmine Hyman, a writer and producer for InStyle. "Infused with hydrating shea butter and vitamin E, the formula imparts color with a glossy sheen, while also keeping the lips moisturized all day long."

The non-sticky formula is delightful, and it's also buildable, so you can customize how deep and rich you'd like your color to look. If you want a slight hint, slick on one coat, but for a bit of oomph, layer it up!

And although all seven of the hues will saturate lips with a shiny tint, we're particularly drawn to McGrath's more neutral options. "I personally love the shade Blow Up for a lavish and alluring glow that accentuates the natural color of my lips," says Hyman, of the creamy peachy coral color that glides on smoothly with a dewy finish.

We even love the dramatic packaging, which features a large, gold puckered up pout on the front of the sleek white bullet casing.

Price at time of publish: $39

Size: 0.08 oz | Shades: 7 | Scented: Yes