LIP BALM - TINTED
Have you noticed there’s a massive boom in lip balms going on, with tinted balms leading the way…? It’s the comfort factor, of course: a hint of colour, a LOT of TLC. For us, it was always love at first swipe: we find them a wonderful alternative to lipstick, adding a touch of sheer colour alongside lip-caring ingredients.
They're a great, no-fuss way to add a touch of face-waking colour, without needing to look in a mirror to apply. (Meanwhile, if it’s a tinted lip balm with an SPF that you’re after, click here for another great winner.)
GOLD AWARD SANN Nourish & Tint Solid Lip Balm Serum
SANN balms come in the form of chic, chubby, twist-up lip pencils, gliding onto lips to leave a hint of colour and a lot of nourishment, via Cannabis sativa and meadowfoam seed oils, cocoa butter, liquorice root extract and a plant-derived, slightly plumping compound formulated to strengthen the skin barrier. The Morning Dew shade that our panel received is a pretty, suits-anyone ‘baby pink’, leaving a hint of colour – but two other shades (coppery Sunset and cherry-ish Wild) are also available, as well as untinted Bare. And about the brand? Founded by Yuliya Tertilova-Kristell, who wanted a brand that was well-edited, multi-functional, effective and ‘clean’. ‘Sann’ means true, real and genuine, in Swedish.
£24 - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘Brilliantly moisturising and I loved the colour too! My lips were very soft by the end of the two weeks’ • ‘I was really impressed with this; there was no stickiness and it felt like a lip balm, but gave the colour of a lipstick – absolutely loved it! (My only issue was in the heatwave I had to keep it in the fridge as it started to melt in my bag – but that was true of a lot of my make-up this summer!)’ • ‘Wonder in a lip balm! I really love this product, great to pop in handbag and with an easy-to-use twist up bottom – no mess from having to apply with fingers’ • ‘Lasts ages and keeps lips amazing, supple and moisturised. I used to get quite dry lips, but this has helped condition them’ • ‘I liked how it transformed my lips; very often after using lip serums, my lips still was dry and flaky, this was different. It was a little bit shiny, and overall, easy, gentle, hydrating a pleasure to use and my lips now feel more comfortable and hydrated’ • ‘Very moisturising and surprisingly long-lasting; lasted an hour and half including over lunch, then at least two hours when I was only drinking’ • ‘A handbag essential – a moisturising tint of natural colour balm in one swipe with no mirror needed.’
£24 - click to buy
SILVER AWARD Trish McEvoy Lip Perfector Conditioning Balm
Like magic, this works to suit any lip tone – so while it’s tinted, there’s a single shade available. Stubby and swivelling, by design, it is formulated by the leading American make-up pro – with whom we go back a L-O-N-G way, personally – to ‘add the perfect hint of tint, blur surface imperfections and boost lips’ structure, for a healthy, luscious look and feel.’ For a deeper colour, we’re advised to add extra coats.
£27 - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘Formula is HEAVENLY – conditions like a lip treatment, colour and staying power like a good lipstick. The colour was a joy: brighter, cheerful but still very natural and wearable, easy enough to apply without needing a magnifying mirror and bright dressing room lights’ • ‘I love this product as it does what it claims to do – hydrates and cares for my lips whilst also enhancing their colour, matching the natural tones of my desired look of make-up use. It's great as an everyday/every hour product’ • ‘Because I couldn't feel this sink into my lips, I was a bit dubious about its moisturising power, but after regular use they are definitely smoother and more hydrated. The results after two weeks were good with improvements in the softness and condition of my lips, which remained hydrated even when the colour tint had disappeared after an hour or so’ • ‘My lips remained hydrated even when the colour tint had disappeared after an hour or so. By using it regularly, my lips never became dry. I found I could re-apply as much as I liked, it would always benefit my lips by giving an extra softness’ • ‘Really lovely natural tint – quite subtle; colour tied in well with my skin tone; with no suntan it added colour and vibrancy to my face, and when I had some tan it added a rosy glow to my lips’ • ‘I love the soft closing mechanism and luxury feel of the container and lip balm itself. A very high end and treat for me and my lips.’
£27 - click to buy
BRONZE (JOINT) AWARD, BEST NATURAL (JOINT) and BEAUTY STEAL Tropic Lip Fudge (Rosewood)
Well, it’s getting to the point where it wouldn’t even BE The Beauty Bible Awards without an appearance from the Rosewood shade of this little pot of tinted lip-plumping balm, which has been a star performer in the last four Beauty Bible Awards, and is back again for another ‘gong’. 100% natural, it boasts ’26 lip-loving plant extracts’, Tropic promise, including mango wax, acai sterols and omegas 6 and 9, and can be dabbed on in two colours, plus a clear version. There’s a corally Pink Guava shade (and a Clear option), but Rosewood would suit pretty much anyone. A Tropic bestseller – and deserving of a spot in the ‘Beauty Hall of Fame’, after this performance.
£12 for 10ml - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘It would be easy to get addicted to this – it's outstanding. Improves the skin, while adding a hint of colour (and it so nice that it has a range of colours to choose from)’ • ‘Lips appeared less dry after regular use. It’s very moisturising, lasts a while on lips, and I’d say my lips are more supple’ • ‘Tinted lip balms are never really tinted in my experience and I didn’t get a massive “tint” from this. But lip balm is one of those workhorses of skin care that has one job that it needs to do well – and this one got on with the job’ • ‘Because it's in a pot rather than a stick formula I probably wouldn't take it out with me, as I don't like applying things with my fingers outside the house, but keeping it in the bathroom and using it as a part of my regular skin care, I really enjoyed the experience of using this’ • ‘A beautiful, extremely nourishing lip balm with a subtle tint to enhance natural lip colour; the tint is sheer and very natural, enhancing your natural lip colour rather than changing it. The balm is long lasting – actually, on me it lasted all day; I found it very moisturising and did not need to re-apply during the day at all.’
£12 for 10ml - click to buy
BRONZE AWARD and BEST NATURAL (JOINT) Albus & Flora Multi-Active Mountain Rose Lip Balm
You might well spot another lip balm from Albus & Flora in the Gold Award spot within LIP BALM – SPF, because the lip specialist brand actually entered two versions of the same product for 2023; their awards further build on the brand’s success across last year’s lip categories. The Gold winner is clear; this version offers a subtle rose tint. It also offers an SPF30 and UVA protection, but in this case it slicks lips with a subtle rose tint, infused into the blend of nourishing and protective ingredients, which include Alpine rose extract, raspberry and cranberry seed oils, jojoba, grape and sunflower oil, combined with beeswax and plant waxes.
£16 for 4g - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘I was pleased to find a new brand (to me at least) producing such great products. This is a great super-sized lip balm lip treatment hybrid, with a colour flush, that leaves lips softer and smoother’ • ‘Definitely more of a pop of colour than I would usually expect to wear, but actually, when it was on the lips, it was more wearable than I had expected. Very softening, while delivering that nice slick of colour’ • ‘Would I buy again? Definitely – I’ve already placed an order for a different shade!’ • ‘Very easy to apply, in twist-up crayon form. This has a really nice fragrance and taste, which reminded me a bit of raspberries’ • ‘I adored this pretty lip balm. The colour was just right for me and looked lovely and natural; I ended up wearing it all the time instead of any other lip product. The moisturising effect was just right and there was not too much transfer of product to cups etc. when drinking or eating (although my Jack Russell was skipping about with red lips on his white head a lot :)’ • ‘There was absolutely no gloopiness, no tingling or any sensation other than comfort It was and is a joy to use. I will 100% buy this again; it left my lips feeling smooth and soft, the colour was beautiful and the moisturising effect was fantastic.’
£16 for 4g - click to buy
BRONZE (JOINT) AWARD and BEST NATURAL (JOINT) Blunder Beauty Botanical Balm Hyaluronic Lip Tint (Herbst)
Blunder Beauty takes its name from founder Monika Blunder – but contrary to her brand’s name, we’ve been finding her products fool proof, since Beauty Bible first discovered them! This first-ever Beauty Bible winner from the brand is powered by hyaluronic acid, with lashings of skin-loving squalane, avocado oil to heal chapped lips, shea butter to soften and glycomannan (a sugar-derived ingredient) to help with moisture retention. Vegan and cruelty-free, it’s delivered in a little twist-top tube (very handbag-friendly), delivering a sheer – but buildable – wash of colour, in a choice of four shades. (Our testers received Herbst, which offers a wash of reddish tint).
£23 for 9.45g - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘An amazing product for lip care: it treats, it enhances you own natural colour with a subtle tint and long-term use offers smoother, less dry lips – who wouldn’t want that?’ • ‘My friend said to me one day: "Your lips look nice and you’re not wearing your red lipstick!" I am a big fan of red lipstick, so people do comment "ohm no red lipstick?" – but this time she complimented my lips so that was a big thing’ • ‘I’m impressed. My lips are much less dry, in fact there was hardly any dryness after two weeks. They also appear more plump – not like I have had fillers but a nice, subtle, smooth, fuller-looking kind of plump’ • ‘A really nice lip balm in a small and compact package. It is relatively thick in texture, which makes it last longer on the lips. It smells light and nice and the colour was great’ • ‘Has quite positive effects on the lips, making them smooth, soft and with a pleasant shine. The ingredients are full of benefits, making it one of my favourite lip products ever!’ • ‘This product is a lovely colour, texture and consistency. It applies nicely and moisturises for a long time, whilst giving a lovely subtle shade: thick and balmy, delivering a nice, glossy look’ • ‘My husband commented that my lips feel ofter – that’s always nice!’
£23 for 9.45g - click to buy