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The 10 Best Tinted Lip Balms for Easy Color On-the-Go
Soothe and dress up your pout in one swipe.
In 2024, I bravely embarked on a long and arduous journey to find the best tinted lip balms on the market. My search was obviously sparked by all of the love the category was getting on platforms like TikTok—seemingly, a new formula attained viral status every other week. Although matte lipsticks and lip liners are my greatest lip-related weaknesses, I was not immune to the siren song of these hydrating, easy-to-wear products.
“Tinted lip balms often contain nourishing ingredients that traditional lipsticks and lip glosses don’t have,” says Misha Shahzada, a New York City-based makeup artist, who has worked with Emma Stone and Aubrey Plaza. They are also easy to apply and don’t require a mirror.” You can wear them on their own or layer them over a lip liner for a more polished look that doesn’t feel as stuffy as one that requires an actual lipstick. Furthermore, anyone at any stage in life can appreciate a tinted lip balm, from tweens who aren’t quite ready for full-on makeup products to grandmothers who like a little color on their pouts. “I recommend them not only for their long-lasting color, but also for their ability to enhance natural lip color, especially as we age and our lips lose vibrancy,” adds Kanako Takase, the global creative director of Addiction Tokyo.
Our top picks for the best tinted lip balms of 2025
Below, you’ll find the ones I deemed worthy of a precious spot in my handbag and vanity after testing countless options. I also gathered testimonials from makeup artists and other ELLE beauty editors, so you’ll get several other perspectives on them to back up my selections. Whether you want a juicy, thick formula in a tube or a traditional balm in a tube, I’ve finally discovered the 10 best tinted lip balms, and you can’t go wrong with any of them.
Pros
- Pigmented
- Cooling metal applicator
Cons
- Can feel a little sticky
I’ve raved about this tinted lip balm to my friends, family, acquaintances, and on ELLE.com. I don’t think I’ll ever stop. It’s thick and nourishing in the most delicious way, and the luxe metal applicator is truly the cherry on top. Naturally, Boba Bounce holds the number one spot in my heart. It’s a deeper brown with enough pigment to fully coat my lips in one swipe. Recently, I picked up a few shades and gave them to a friend for her birthday—she recently reported to me that she’s been wearing them nearly every day and that they’re the best lip balm-gloss hybrid she’s ever tried. She even went to buy more, but her local Sephora was sold out. So if you’re lucky enough to find them in stock, it’s a good idea to snatch them up before they’re gone again!
Shades: 5
Size: 0.49 oz
Sephora rating: 4.8/5 stars
An ELLE editor says: “The only thing getting my dry lips through this brutal NYC winter right now is Eadem’s Le Chouchou lip balm. Don’t let the name fool you. With lactic acid to exfoliate dehydrated, flaky skin and collagen-boosting peptides to smooth lines, it’s much more than just a lip balm. The nourishing formula is a miracle worker for parched, cracked pouts. Plus, the smooth applicator feels super comforting and intensifies the experience of the luxe lip treatment.”—Alexis Bennett Parker, ELLE.com commerce content lead
Pros
- Instantly sinks into the skin
- Flattering shades
Cons
- May need to be reapplied more frequently
We couldn’t write about the best tinted lip balms without mentioning Summer Fridays. Thanks to its curved applicator, sweet scents, and deeply moisturized formula (powered by vegan waxes, shea butter, and murumuru butter), the Lip Butter Balm is arguably the internet’s top choice in the category. I resisted the hype for as long as I could, but as soon as I allowed one to touch my lips, it became a mainstay in my everyday bag.
Shades: 9
Size: 0.5 oz.
Sephora rating: 4.3/5 stars
An ELLE editor says: “This is my favorite lip balm of all time. I love the way they smell, they keep my lips incredibly hydrated, and the tints give you just enough color and are never patchy or settle into the lines of your lips.”—Katie Berohn, ELLE beauty editor
Victoria Beckham Posh Balm
Pros
- Instantly hydrating
- Stays put for hours
Cons
- Smaller size
If you prefer a thinner texture, the Posh Balm is your girl. Although it contains rich ingredients like murumuru seed butter, because it comes in stick form, it’s not going to feel as gloopy as ones that are in a tube. It’s a harder texture, and you have to sort of “break the seal” when you first apply it to your lips. However, once you do, it begins melting with the help of your body heat, moisturizing your pout, tinting it with buildable color, and making it look slightly shiny, like you’ve just licked your lips.
Shades: 4
Size: 0.06 oz.
Victoria Beckham Beauty rating: 4.2/5 stars
An ELLE editor says: “There’s nothing I’ve tried by Victoria Beckham Beauty that I haven’t liked—I’d go as far to say that I love most of the line. So when the brand launched these balms last year, I immediately tried them. Although I was disappointed that there wasn’t a true brown in the range (my current color obsession), I surprisingly fell for Fleur—a sheer pink that enhances the natural shade of my lips and doesn’t look so unnaturally bright that I can’t wear it on an otherwise bare face. There’s also something addictive about the texture. When I apply it, I have the urge to keep going over my lips with the stick; and even when I do, it never looks like too much. There’s no overdoing it.”—Carol Lee, ELLE.com associate beauty e-commerce writer
Pros
- Easy to apply
- Instant plumping effect
Cons
- Can feel a little sticky
Like Nerisha, Espresso is one of my go-tos—I’m a sucker for a rich brown, and it looks incredible over a lip liner like Charlotte Tilbury’s Foxy Brown. However, I haven’t met a shade I haven’t liked from the line. The first time I applied one of them, I was shocked by how much plumper my lips looked and how glossy they were. The formula is obviously so nourishing that it’s a balm, but Hailey Bieber totally could’ve marketed it as a lip gloss, too. Another highlight? It’s fragrance-free.
Shades: 4
Size: 0.3 oz.
Rhode rating: 4.3/5 stars
An ELLE editor says: “Already a fan of the OG peptide lip tint, the minute Hailey Bieber teased tinted versions, I knew I needed to get my hands on every color. These tinted balms were tailor-made for women like me, who only need a lip liner and a smidge of color on their lips to feel their best. Ribbon is my go-to for an everyday look, but when I want to elevate a look further, I reach for Espresso for a ’90s-inspired finish.”—Nerisha Penrose, ELLE.com beauty commerce editor
Pros
- Buildable colors
- Lightweight texture
Cons
- Small bullet size
Addiction Tokyo is a Japanese makeup brand whose products are tailored to live in both our everyday handbags and professional makeup artists’s kits. Fittingly, I find that this tinted lip balm is great for hydrating and prepping your lips before you apply other products on top—although it does come in a variety of shades that could also star as your main lip of the day or night. For example, “I recommend the shade Rosy Water to just enhance your natural lip color,” Takase says. “My other favorite colors are Sweetest Taboo and Woody Scent.”
Shades: 9
Addiction Tokyo rating: 5/5 stars
An ELLE editor says: “My lips are chronically dry, so having a few products like this on hand that won’t exacerbate any flakiness I might be experiencing is always helpful. Sometimes, formulas will emphasize texture on the lips, and I end up with noticeable patchiness that I immediately scrub off in embarrassment. But I know that this tinted lip balm would never do me dirty like that.”—Carol Lee
Dior Dior Addict Lip Glow Balm
Pros
- Durable packaging
- Softens lips
Cons
- Some may dislike the pink tint it leaves behind
In the world of fancy lip balms, Dior’s is not to be forgotten. The formula, which contains shea butter and hydrating cherry extract, offers a sheer wash of color in pretty packaging that never goes out of style. The brand also recently added a variety of new shades—including an icy blue and a lemon yellow—that transform into a flattering shade of pink on the lips.
Shades: 15
Size: 0.11 oz.
Sephora rating: 4.6/5 stars
An ELLE editor says: “The best part of these tinted lip balms is how they help plump your lips while adding color. I love that they’re not too shiny—they’re almost like a lip balm and lipstick hybrid. Plus, they’re pH activated and look different on everyone, so it almost feels like you’re wearing a custom shade.”—Katie Berohn
Pros
- Encourages collagen production
- Plumps lips without a sting
Cons
- Some may dislike taste
U Beauty’s peptide lip treatment is one of those small luxuries that makes my day a little brighter every time I pull it out of my bag to reapply—especially because of the cooling metal applicator that dispenses the nourishing formula. “The balm has a 3D pillow effect, which enhances the lips with a subtle plumpness,” Shahzada says. “The color range is also beautiful and works with many lip tones.”
Shades: 16
Size: 0.51 oz.
U Beauty rating: 4/5 stars
An ELLE editor says: “Sometimes my lips are SOS chapped, to the point where they feel painful—I found this particular lip balm hiding in my bag (behind three other ones), and they revived them in just one application. I can tell this lip balm is made by someone who loves skin care, because it feels almost serum-like and perfect for smoothing over cracks and flakes. It also has a silky, yet cushion-y feel, and the stainless steel applicator is a luxe touch. This one is for all the ski princesses out there.”—Kathleen Hou, ELLE beauty director
Guerlain KissKiss Bee Glow Lipstick Balm
Pros
- Faint fragrance
- Flattering shades
- Comfortable texture
Cons
- May be too sheer for some
This gold exterior looks fit for a luxury lipstick, but it actually houses a tinted lip balm enriched with soothing and plumping honey, beeswax, and propolis. I find that it smooths over the lines in my lips, blurring them and making my pout feel softer and more kissable overall. The shades are quite sheer, so you can smear them all over your lips mirror-free, and it’ll still look perfect.
Shades: 4
Size: 0.11 oz.
Sephora rating: 4.2/5 stars
An ELLE editor says: “I first tried the Guerlain KissKiss Bee Glow balm last year when the brand invited me to attend the annual New York Botanical Garden Orchid dinner. It was a magical night filled with dancing, mingling, and champagne sipping and this lip balm lasted me the entire night. The balm was the perfect shade of pink to match the floral theme and it left my lips feeling soft and hydrated. Now, this is one of my go-to balms when I want to give my lips a flush of color.”—Tasha Smith, ELLE beauty assistant
Pros
- Buildable color payoff
- Long-lasting hydration
Cons
- Not all shades may show up on every skin tone
Rabanne, with its metallic packaging and off-kilter colorways, makes me feel instantly cooler when I spritz on its perfume or swipe on one of its makeup products. The Lovebalm is also a harder, waxier formula, so I like to add a few layers to get a solid tint going. But even just a single layer softens and hydrates your lips and doesn’t feel sticky at all.
Shades: 6
Size: 0.12 oz.
Ulta rating: 4.4/5 stars
An ELLE editor says: “The formula of the balm is obviously nothing to sneer at, but the reason I love it so much is specifically because of the shade Soul Kiss. If you possess pale olive or neutral-toned skin like me and have been on the hunt for a slightly gray-toned brown tint that doesn’t turn red on your lips, this is the solution. I’ll coat my lips in the balm and marvel at how it transforms my lip color into a desaturated milk chocolate brown—a hue that’s rarer in cosmetics than you’d think.”—Carol Lee
Chanel Rouge Coco Balm
Pros
- Buildable color
- Allows for precise application
Cons
- May not have enough pigment for some
I don’t think anyone would be disappointed if they were gifted a Chanel lip balm. Of course, it has that gorgeous packaging and iconic logo on the lid, but it also possesses a fruit and olive leaf oil-infused formula that adds moisture without stickiness. Plus, it’s available in a smattering of flattering shades that work for any occasion.
Shades: 12
Size: 0.11 oz.
Ulta rating: 4.1/5 stars
An ELLE editor says: “This is a fancy tinted lip balm that you can pull out après ski or apply right after landing on a plane. Despite being a tinted lip balm, this actually has a surprising amount of color, but has a melting, moisturizing texture.”—Kathleen Hou
Meet the Experts
Misha Shahzada is a celebrity makeup artist based in New York City.
Kanako Takase is the global creative director of Addiction Tokyo.
Do you need to prep your lips for tinted lip balms?
If your lips are already smooth, Shahzada says that prep is unnecessary. However, if they feel a little dry, “I recommend exfoliating the lips with a lip scrub,” says Takase. That’ll get rid of any dead skin cells and flakiness. “It will also prevent dry lips from chapping further while wearing the lip tint,” Shahzada adds.
How often can you reapply tinted lip balms?
“I like to reapply as I would a traditional non-tinted lip balm,” Shahzada says. “The goal is to keep lips hydrated with a subtle tint in color.”
Why Trust Elle Beauty?
As a leading publisher of fashion, lifestyle, and beauty content, ELLE.com is committed to highlighting the best products in various categories by personally testing the latest and most innovative products, interviewing countless experts, and vetting customer-loved items. For this piece, beauty writer Carol Lee tried dozens of tinted lip balms and spoke to other beauty editors about their favorites. Lee also searched the internet for top-rated options and evaluated each one based on its features and customer reviews.
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