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Don't gloss over these high-shine, hydrating formulas
There’s a reason the best tinted lip balms continue to grow in popularity. “We want products that feel as good as they look,” says Marianna Hewitt , co-founder of Summer Fridays. Not to mention these skincare-makeup hybrids are not only supremely hydrating , but also make it easy to give your no-makeup-makeup look a boost. Plus, it’s easy to keep a tube from coveted brands like Eadem and Tower 28 in your bag or pocket to use on the go.
Sarah Brown , beauty expert and consultant, tells Bazaar that tinted favorites straddle the line between low-maintenance and luxury. “We aren’t dressing up as much—it can feel overthought, or like too much—so we don’t necessarily want the formality and maintenance of a lipstick , but we want some color and polish and ceremony,” she says. “We want it to be easy, relaxed, comfortable, chic.”
Thankfully, the best tinted lip balms provide exactly that, along with added benefits like plumping, shimmer, and more. So, how do you choose which staple is right for you? Color payoff, glossiness, and overall nourishment should be considered when it comes to your ideal formula. “I have an entire wardrobe of balms and glosses—for different moods, occasions, you name it,” Brown adds.
We’ve pulled together a few of the most in-demand picks beauty experts and Bazaar editors love for maximum hydration, along with a fresh-looking pop of color.
An instant hit (it sold out within just one week of its launch), this unique balm gets to work exfoliating and plumping while putting on a luscious facade.
While many tinted lip balms rest on their (gorgeous) laurels, Eadem’s version is busy buffing dry lips (with AHA, AKA—alpha-keto acids—and BHAs), addressing and protecting oxidative stress (thanks to PCAs and the antioxidant quercetin), and, of course, hydrating and plumping (with the viscous and moisturizing active ingredient found in the hibiscus flower). But all you’ll notice is that lips feel juicy, have a great slick slip, and give off a slightly plumped appearance.
Key ingredients: Hibiscus enzymes, lactic acid, pyruvic acid
What Bazaar editors are saying: “There are a few reasons this hardworking tinted balm has gone viral on TikTok. For starters, its blend of gentle acids makes lip exfoliation a breeze, plus its formula is supremely hydrating and just as reflective as your favorite gloss.” — Tiffany Dodson Davis, beauty commerce editor
Intner wears Eadem's Le Chouchou Lip Softening Balm in the shade Fig Sauce .
This balm feels like sweatpants but for your lips. Comforting, soft, and silky, Tower 28 has done it again. While some formulas can veer towards stickiness, LipSoftie is as cushiony and soothing as they come. Plus, it’s designed for sensitive and/or irritated lips and doesn’t contain common irritants that can trigger flare-ups, so those with chronically irritable lips might find luck with this treatment. As someone with chronically irritated skin , these tinted balms are a soothing salve. Plus, the colors and scents, which can be a trigger for sensitive skin, are made from food-grade non-artificial flavor so they won’t further irritate or dry out lips.
Key ingredients: shea butter, jojoba oil, lysine
What Bazaar editors are saying: "This balm is the only one you need if you have sensitive or reactive skin, or you're worried…