What’s the Difference Between Lipstick and Tinted Lip Balm?

"The difference between a tinted lip balm and lipstick is that lipstick isn’t necessarily hydrating, while a lip balm is supposed to be nourishing and hydrating," says Ceme. You’ll also see a difference in the actual pigment payoff, with balms being more on the light, sheer side, while a lipstick’s primary concern is color.

What causes chapped lips?

Environmental factors, such as dry air in the winter months or sun exposure in the summer, are often the number one culprit for chapped lips. Other causes include dehydration from not drinking enough water and drying ingredients like alcohol and synthetic fragrance.

The 15 Best Tinted Lip Balms in 2022

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If you’ve ever heard that beauty is pain, tinted lip balms put that notion to rest. No mirror? No problem. Tinted balms are super easy to apply and are a low maintenance option for a pop of color. With all of the hydration and nourishment you need found in these magical little pots, tubes, and sticks, you can give your pout some TLC while taking your look up a notch.

Whether you love a less-is-more, cool girl kind of look or prefer to go full-blown glam with every given opportunity, a tinted lip balm should surely be in your beauty cabinet. "The best part about quality tinted lip balms is that you’re getting the best of both worlds," says makeup artist Tai Ceme. "You'll get lasting, buildable color, plus a lip treatment.”

From luxury brands to drugstore options and somewhere in between, we’ve got you covered. Read on for the best-tinted lip balms on the market.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Clinique Chubby Stick Lip Colour Balm at Sephora

Best Budget:

e.l.f Cosmetics Ride or Die Lip Balm at Ulta

Best Drugstore:

Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm at Ulta

Best Splurge:

Dior Color Reviving Lip Balm at Sephora

Best Hydrating:

Maybelline Baby Lips Moisturizing Lip Balm at Amazon

Best Shade Range:

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment at Amazon

Best Long-Lasting:

Honest Beauty Tinted Lip Balm at Amazon

Best Subtle Color:

NARS Afterglow Lip Balm at Sephora

Runner-Up, Best Subtle Color:

BLK/OPL Lip and Cheek Tinted Balm at Blackopalbeauty.com

Best Natural:

Kari Gran Lip Whip Color Balm at Credo Beauty

In This Article

Our Picks
Final Verdict
What To Look For
Why Trust Byrdie

Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm

Courtesy of Sephora

View On Sephora View On Ulta

What We Like

Creamy, emollient texture
Pigmented
Buildable

What We Don't Like

Shade range could be expanded

The Clinique chubby stick was my personal first-introduction to a bit of color play as a teen—it was good then, and it’s good now! With 15 satin-finish shades ranging from sheer and natural to bold and vibrant, there are plenty of hydrating options to choose from. The jojoba oil, mango butter, and shea butter create a rich, creamy texture that goes on smooth for easily buildable color.

View On Ulta View On Elfcosmetics.com View On Walmart

What We Like

Moisturizes
Leaves lips feeling plump
Inexpensive

What We Don't Like

Difficult to get out of the tube

This tinted lip balm checks a lot of boxes. We’re talking vegan, cruelty-free, and intensely moisturizing for a great budget price. The rich, heavyweight balm is infused with jojoba oil meant to repair chapped lips, promising to leave them plump and hydrated. You’ll also love the sheer wash of color and natural fragrance.

Coverage Level: Sheer | Finish: Satin | Shades: 4 | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Courtesy of CVS

View On Ulta

What We Like

Provides long-lasting hydration
Pretty shades
Byrdie Clean

What We Don't Like

Color could last longer

No need to break the bank for a hydrating, all-natural smooch of color! Look no further than your local drugstore. With shea butter and botanical waxes to keep lips moisturized for up to eight hours, according to the brand, you’ll definitely want to keep this handy stick in your purse or tote. The shimmer-free shade range includes flattering shades of pinks, reds, and violets—perfect for an everyday look.

Courtesy of Nordstrom

View On Sephora

What We Like

Luxe packaging
Nice range of shades
Gives a subtle sheen

What We Don't Like

Expensive

Bring on the glow with this ultra-hydrating lip balm. It has Color Reviver technology to react to your lips’ moisture level to release active ingredients. Long story short, it’s the balm that keeps on giving. The formula is enriched with mango butter and cucumber loofah meant to moisturize all day long and leave a natural flush of color unique to you.

Maybelline Baby Lips Moisturizing Lip Balm in Quenched

View On Amazon View On Walgreens

What We Like

Inexpensive
Fun flavors and colors
Lips feel soft

What We Don't Like

Could be more pigmented

Kiss chronically chapped lips goodbye with this healing lip balm. It's been clinically tested and has had proven results for smoother, better-looking lips, according to the brand. Plus, it protects lips for up to a full eight hours, and of course (you know why we’re here), it comes in beautiful shades of pink for rich, natural-looking color.

Courtesy of Sephora

View On Amazon View On Sephora View On Fresh.com

What We Like

Multiple finishes available
Intensely pigmented shades
SPF 15
Lips feel smooth and hydrated

What We Don't Like

Not Byrdie Clean

There’s a reason why this smoothing lip balm is known as a cult favorite. It has the sun protection you need, the hydration your lips crave (hello grapeseed oil!), and the sheer, buildable color you want. The formula is infused with sugar meant to prevent moisture loss, so you can count on long-lasting hydration. It also comes in 15 shades with a classic satin or shimmer finish, so you have plenty of options.

View On Amazon View On Ulta View On Honest.com

What We Like

Glides on easily
Lips feel hydrated
Buildable

What We Don't Like

Scent could be improved

This hydrating formula slips on easily and stays on for up to eight hours of hydration. It’s infused with avocado oil meant to leave your lips feeling smooth and moisturized, but never sticky or waxy. Whether you’re looking for a soft nude or something more vibrant, swipe it on for a sheer look or keep on building for more noticeable color.

View On Sephora View On Narscosmetics.com

What We Like

Provides long-lasting hydration
Muted, pretty shades
Nourishing formula

What We Don't Like

Expensive

When it comes to ingredients, color pay off, moisture, and texture, this comforting lip balm fires on all cylinders. It comes in six universally flattering colors, no matter your skin tone, and it protects and conditions your lips hours after application. This is also a great product to introduce yourself to new colors. Curious about a red shade but not quite ready for the real deal? Turbo is a great place to start.

Courtesy of BLK/OPL

View On Blackopalbeauty.com

What We Like

Can be used on cheeks
Hydrating formula
Gives a glow

What We Don't Like

Limited shade range

On days we’re craving a dewy, barely-there makeup look, these sheer tinted balms from BLK/OPL do just the trick. Available in two universally flattering shades—a slightly shimmery nude and a pinky rose gold—these balm sticks provide the sheer wash of color we’re craving and can be used on both the lips and cheeks. They also have plenty of skin-care benefits: Vitamins E and C offer antioxidant protection while a blend of chamomile oil and cocoa and shea butters revive dry and damaged lips and skin.

Coverage Level: Light | Finish: Shimmer | Shades: 2 | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

View On Credo Beauty View On The Detox Market

What We Like

Smooth, whipped texture
Long-lasting
Bright, pretty shades
Byrdie Clean

What We Don't Like

A little expensive

This whipped color balm has grown in popularity for its super nourishing formula and buildable color, but it also scores major points for its natural ingredients. “This is my favorite balm because it’s a clean product," says Ceme. "I also love that it feels very nourishing and hydrating, but has real staying power with color that lasts for hours."

View On Nordstrom View On Chanel.com View On Macy's

What We Like

Glides on easily
Gives a subtle sheen
Shades suit many skin tones

What We Don't Like

More expensive than similar options

If you’re looking for what Byrdie contributor, Emily Algar calls “the french-girl lipstick of [her] dreams,” then you are in the right place. It comes in five shades of rouge that offer a muted stained yet hydrated look. You’ll love the effortless color, and the balm is comprised of moringa butter to glide on smoothly while protecting your lips and skin.

Coverage Level: Light | Finish: Radiant | Shades: 3 | Size: 0.1 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Coola Suncare Mineral Liplux® Organic Tinted Lip Balm SPF 30

View On Nordstrom View On Ulta

What We Like

SPF 30
Unique shades
Feels refreshing

What We Don't Like

Could be more pigmented

Your lips need sun protection too, and this hydrating SPF 30 balm has you covered. Not only does it protect from UV exposure, but it’s also nourishing and super softening. You’ll also love that it comes in fun, unique colors, like Coral Reef and Purple Sky.

View On Glossier.com

What We Like

Nourishing formula
Goes on smoothly
Unique shades
Good value

What We Don't Like

Not Byrdie Clean

Barely-there makeup lovers, rejoice! This hydrating balm is packed with antioxidants and natural emollients meant to nourish dry, chafed skin. It’s formulated with heavy-duty moisturizers like castor oil and beeswax to hydrate and seal in moisture without irritating sensitive skin. Whether you’re looking for a subtle shimmer or a sheer red tint, you can apply this do-it-all balm wherever you need extra moisture.

View On Amazon View On Ulta View On Credo Beauty

What We Like

Can be used on cheeks
Fun packaging
Moisturizes

What We Don't Like

Could be more pigmented

When it comes to a low-maintenance beauty routine, the fewer products, the better. This moisturizing facial balm is the ideal multitasker with clean, natural ingredients that offer a hydrating boost of color to lips or cheeks. It has nourishing ingredients like olive and shea oils, and it comes in a flattering shade range that you’ll love as a blush or a lip tint.

View On Sephora View On Ulta View On Buxomcosmetics.com

What We Like

Lips feel plump and soft
Cute packaging
Value size available

What We Don't Like

Plumping effect is minimal

Get your most supple, plumpest lips yet with this moisturizing balm. Inspired by Buxom’s best-selling glosses, these tinted balms have the plumping effects that so many love without the shine and texture of a gloss. It goes on like silk and reacts to your lips’ pH for your own unique pink to nude shade.

Final Verdict

There are plenty of tinted lip balm options out there, but the Clinique Chubby Stick is at the top of our list for its hydrating formula, creamy texture, and wide shade range. Fresh Sugar Lip Balm SPF 15 is also noteworthy for its shade selection and long-lasting hydration. On a budget? Look no further than e.l.f. Ride or Die Lip Balm that offers heavyweight hydration and smooth, sheer color.

What To Look for When Buying a Tinted Lip Balm

Ingredients

When Ceme is on the hunt for a new lip balm, she says, “First and foremost, I look at the ingredients. I like to make sure that they're natural, clean, or naturally derived.” Hydrating oils like avocado oil or grapeseed oil are great places to start, and you’ll also want to look for emollient ingredients like shea butter, sugar, and botanical waxes meant to lock moisture in.

Consistency

Consistency is a major thing to keep in mind when considering a lip balm. "A thicker consistency tends to last longer,” recommends Ceme. Essentially, leave the watery formulas to glosses that are more focused on shine than hydration.

Color pigment

Not all tinted lip balms are created equal. Some are simply there to hydrate and offer a slight boost to your natural lip color, while others perform more like a sheer lipstick. Determine the sheerness or opacity of the look you’re going for to guide your shopping decisions.

FAQ

What’s the Difference Between Lipstick and Tinted Lip Balm?

"The difference between a tinted lip balm and lipstick is that lipstick isn’t necessarily hydrating, while a lip balm is supposed to be nourishing and hydrating," says Ceme. You’ll also see a difference in the actual pigment payoff, with balms being more on the light, sheer side, while a lipstick’s primary concern is color.
What causes chapped lips?

Environmental factors, such as dry air in the winter months or sun exposure in the summer, are often the number one culprit for chapped lips. Other causes include dehydration from not drinking enough water and drying ingredients like alcohol and synthetic fragrance.

Why Trust Byrdie

Byrdie contributor Kindra Moné has been creating fashion and beauty content since 2013. Whether contributing to some of the top women’s lifestyle magazines or working in-house with global brands, Kindra has collaborated with some of the most knowledgeable beauty professionals in the industry. When she isn’t writing or trying out Instagram recipes, she’s giving wellness tips and sharing fashion news on her podcast.

According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find enough tinted lip balms from a Black-owned and/or Black-founded business to meet this percentage. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com and we will evaluate the product ASAP.

The 20 Best Lip Balms for Baby-Soft Lips

Article Sources

Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.

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