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These tinted lip balms are so good, they’ll replace your go-to lipstick - from £3
A pop of colour and shot of hydration, all in one hit.
If there’s one product that the GH beauty team is guaranteed to always have on hand, it’s the humble tinted lip balm. While it may seem unassuming, if you’re looking for an instant slick of glamour, you can’t do better.
Lipsticks can be a faff, whether it’s finding the perfect shade or hunting for a formula that actually lasts all day. Tinted lip balms are the ultimate compromise. Their sheer, lightweight colour is comfortable to wear and fades beautifully. There’s no fiddly lip liner or blotting required, either – just swipe and go (you don’t even need a mirror!) As well as requiring zero technical makeup skills, they’ll keep your lips soft and hydrated all day long without being sticky – what more could you ask for?
The only problem? Choosing just one. They’re so good, once you’re hooked, you’ll likely end up with a full lip balm wardrobe (and at least three tossed into your handbag at any given time). We’d even go as far as to say that once you’ve found The One, it’ll swiftly replace your go-to lipstick.
As a crew of self-proclaimed tinted lip balm connoisseurs, the GH beauty team has managed to narrow down our favourites into a carefully curated edit. Soft, shiny lips guaranteed.
In case it flew under your radar, Boots launched these glossy lip balms last year – and at just £3 a pop, they were flying off the shelves. Following their success, three new shades have just dropped, and the Raspberry shade is perfect for summer. As the name suggests, it’s a beautiful raspberry pink that delivers a fresh, juicy tint.
Dior’s Lip Glow Balm has long been a staple in every beauty lover’s collection, so we have no doubt the newly launched Lip Glow Butter will be next. Available in five gorgeous shades with a mix of shimmer and glossy finishes, the buttery texture is intensely comfortable, all while smoothing and plumping the lips for a perfectly polished pout.
You’ve heard of glass skin, but how about glass lips? Glow Recipe has launched the ultimate lip balm for high-shine and hydration, infused with innovative hyaluronic microspheres for intense moisture and smoothing out fine lines. Available in 3 juicy tinted shades (and a clear option too, if you fancy it!)
Glossier’s Balm Dotcom is a cult classic, and the Strawberry is our pick for summer. This vibrant pink balm cushions lips with rich, hydrating lanolin and beeswax, yet isn’t in the least bit tacky. The colour is surprisingly sheer and there are plenty more fun flavours to choose from (lip balm needn’t be highbrow).
If you’re not a fan of the high-shine glossy finishes, then this might be the one for you. From afar, it sits like a soft, matte lipstick – yet it hydrates the lips like a balm. It’s the best of both worlds.
For fuller-looking, glossy lips, YSL’s Loveshine Candy Glow goes down a treat. This luxurious butter lip balm is infused with a moisturising, soothing cocktail of maracuja oil, shea butter and jojoba butter to keep your lips feeling soft and supple. It’s available in nine diverse shades — from soft neutral pinks to bold, statement reds.
Rimmel London Oh My Gloss! Butter Me Up Lip Butter Balm
Another affordable win! Rimmel’s Butter Me Up Lip Balm rivals some of the best luxury formulas out there. Its buttery, nourishing texture leaves lips feeling silky-soft, powered by avocado butter to condition, jojoba oil to soothe, hyaluronic acid to replenish and an antioxidant blend of vitamins and peptides to protect.
The INKEY List Tripeptide Plumping Lip Balm
Unlike many plumping lip products on the market, this peptide-based balm boosts lip volume without the tingle or potential irritation of commonly used ingredients such as chilli. The catch? Plumping results aren’t instant (you’ll be waiting at least two weeks to notice a difference). That said, increased volume is clinically proven, if subtle. Available in three pretty tinted shades, or if you prefer, a clear one too!
Rare Beauty Stay Vulnerable Glossy Lip Balm
Looks like a gloss, feels like a balm — oh, and it’s rated by the GHI as the best tinted lip balm. Available in five suit-all shades, it delivers the perfect glossy wash of colour while keeping lips nourished, all thanks to a botanical blend of white waterlily, lotus and gardenia. The best part? High shine and no stickiness!
Victoria Beckham continues to win us over with her beauty range – and the Posh Balm is no exception. Formulated to keep chapped lips at bay, it features a murumuru seed butter complex for intense moisture, a plant-derived lanolin alternative to nourish and hydrate, and cucumber seed extract to help protect against environmental stressors. It’s available in five shades, including the newest addition, ‘Canelle’ – a sheer tan apricot hue.
Clinique Almost Lipstick Nude Honey
If you didn’t already know, Clinique’s Black Honey balm caused quite a stir in the beauty world – even the GHI named it the best lip balm for buildable pigment. Its lighter counterpart, Pink Honey, quickly went viral, too. Now, a new shade joins the lineup: Nude Honey. The perfect ‘my lips but better’ shade, sure to become a staple in every beauty lover’s bag.
e.l.f Glow Reviver Melting Lip Balm
When it comes to affordable products that feel like luxury, e.l.f. always hits the mark. Its Glow Reviver Melting Lip Balm feels ultra-rich and buttery, delivering a glossy, buildable wash of colour. Available in seven gorgeous shades (and flavours), it’s so good you’ll look forward to reapplying.
Maybelline New York Lifter Glaze Lip Oil Balm
If you’re a fan of Dior’s Lip Glow Balm, this drugstore rival is well worth a spot in your collection. The sheer yet buildable formula lets you customise your look: one swipe for a soft flush, or layer it up for bold, rich colour. Infused with hyaluronic acid and acerola cherry extract, it keeps lips hydrated, smooth and never sticky. No dry lips here, just glazed, feel-good colour.
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