The best tinted lip balms are so good they’re an excellent alternative to your favorite lipstick, and hydrate better than most regular lip balms.
“Tinted lip balms are beautiful multitaskers. They combine the nourishing, protective benefits of a classic balm with just enough color to give you a healthy, effortless glow,” says Shereen Teymour, DO, a board-certified dermatologist in NYC. Since the skin there is incredibly delicate, when it becomes dry or cracked, it’s prone to irritation and environmental damage. “Keeping the lips moisturized helps maintain their barrier function, prevents chapping, and keeps them looking soft, smooth, and healthy,” says Dr. Teymour. Dermatologists recommend looking for ones that contain moisture-attracting humectants such as hyaluronic acid, softening emollients such as shea butters, and protective occlusives or SPF to help nourish and protect.
To bring you the best of the best, we tapped Glamour editors for the formulas they absolutely swear by and put them to the test. Our top pick overall is the Summer Fridays Tinted Lip Butter Balm because it keeps dry lips chap-free and hydrated throughout the day and comes in a ton of gorgeous hues, like cherry red and iced coffee brown. We also found drugstore options, SPF-spiked balms, and some that provide a long-lasting sheer wash of lip color that you can build up to full saturation.
No matter your preference, you’re sure to find at least one—if not several—lippy MVPs that will soon be one of your favorite beauty products.
The best tinted lip balms, at a glance
Featured in this article
Best With SPF
Supergoop! Lipshade 100% Mineral SPF 30 Hydrating Lipstick
Jump to reviewBest Long-Lasting
Glow Recipe Glass Balm Lip Treatment for Shine & Hydration
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We tested the best tinted lip balms by evaluating their ingredients, texture, and color. The best ones contained moisturizing butters and hyaluronic acid, and some even had SPF to help protect our lips from UV rays. We also paid attention to the formulas, how they felt upon application, and if they dried down quickly. Lastly, the more pigmentation, the better. All of the lip balms on this list provided a sheer wash of color at minimum, all the way up to a buildable hue that could rival other lip products in our stash.
