The new normal consists of wearing face masks, which can make it more difficult to apply your usual lipsticks. This makes it handy to use tinted lip balms. Whether you are working at home or braving it out, you can't deny they are a practical way to keep you put together without much effort. Tinted lip balms give you just enough wash of color without drying out your lips, so you can get that my lips but better (MLBB) look.
It is also handy for those who have just entered the makeup world and are still conscious of wearing full-on lipstick. Read on to find our buying guide in choosing the best tinted lip balms, as well as our top 10 picks. We even invited a board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Katrina Erika Habaluyas Luz, to give some of her comments and tips in our buying guide section. Keep on reading to find out more!
Dr. Katrina Habaluyas Luz is the face behind Ask Your Derma. She is a board-certified dermatologist in Metro Manila. She is also an educator and digital creator on all things skin, hair, and nails. She is a Diplomate of the Philippine Dermatological Society and offers online video consultations. You can also catch her on her Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube channel.
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
The products and services listed are ranked independently by the editorial team based on the points mentioned in our thoroughly researched buying guide (as of 01-16-2023).
Table of Contents
Tinted lip balms are great for everyday makeup looks as it is not too heavy but it can give you a natural look that is subtly made up, without being too overpowering.
This can come in handy in today’s quarantine setup, when you want to look put together but don’t want to go overboard, especially since you’ll be wearing face masks most of the time anyway.
If you’re a beginner to makeup, you can opt for tinted lip balms if you’re not ready to take the plunge to other pigmented lip products, as it can give you a wash of color while nourishing your lip at the same time. Some have buildable formulas that you can repeatedly apply if you want more color that’s still subtle.
Our attention when we look at someone's face is almost always naturally drawn towards the eyes or the lips. Naturally, the lips are one of the focal points of the face as they stand out from the surrounding skin.
This is where the use of lip balms may come in! Lip balms are products that contain moisturizing ingredients to give you luscious healthy lips. Not to mention, they can add that nice touch of color to brighten up the face too!
A lip balm’s main purpose is to provide nourishment to your lips, so you should select products that will moisturize your pout and keep it from drying out. Ingredients such as shea butter and mango butter can help heal chapped lips, as well as keep it soft and subtle.
Coconut and jojoba oil help keep the skin moist and form a layer around it to seal in the moisture. Vitamin E can help maintain soft and supple lips by slowing down aging and is good for protecting your lips against dry weather conditions.
Lip balms are there to help restore moisture to those dry, cracked lips, not to mention prevent them from getting chapped. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests looking for ingredients such as castor seed oil, ceramides, dimethicone, hemp seed oil, mineral oil, shea butter, or even good old petroleum jelly to help bid those dry lips goodbye.
Your lips have thin skin, making it more susceptible to damage from UV rays as it lacks barriers like oil and sweat glands to protect it. If you regularly go out in the sun, you risk your lips getting sunburned or chapped as they dry out faster.
Ideally, your lip balm should contain SPF 30, however this can be tricky as majority of lip products range from SPF 15 - 20. In any case, try to select products that contain sunscreen in them to provide added layer of protection to your lips.
Sunscreen is a must in any skincare routine! However, a lot of times, people tend to forget that our lips need sun protection too. Picking a lip balm with SPF makes a great two-in-one product!
Some lip balms only have a hint of color, while others are more pigmented, like a regular lipstick. Depending on the look that you want to go for, try to select products that are pigmented enough for you not to apply other products on your lips.
After all, the point of a tinted lip balm is to be an alternative for lipsticks, lip tints, and whatnot. This would defeat the purpose of using tinted lip balms if you’re going to add different products.
The choice of the color of the lip balm is completely up to you! You can choose one that is light in color just to brighten up your face a bit or a bolder color to really make an impact.
Tinted lip balms don’t have to mean selecting standout colors, choose tones that will flatter you as it is meant to give off a natural look, think “my lips but better”.
Opt for shades that have a hint of pink in them for a subtle daytime look that is work appropriate. If you have deep skin tone, you can go for balms with an orange hue to suit your sun-kissed glow.
The nice thing about tinted lip balms is that they go on quite sheer and not as pigmented as lipsticks, so you can freely pick any shade without worrying if it won’t complement you.
Definitely choose one that suits your face, suits your personality, and suits the occasion!
Tinted lip balms can come in retractable tubes or in those little pots or tubs. Both are portable enough to bring along anywhere, so it comes down to a matter of your preference.
Tube types are convenient for when you are on the go as you can use it like a regular lipstick, and it is more hygienic because you apply it directly to your lips. A tub is more environment friendly as the container is reusable and you are able to control the amount of product you need.
Lip balms can come in different packaging forms. Tubed packaging is a good choice as it's portable and, not to mention, more hygienic for the user. Pick products in tubed packaging if you are frequently on the go! If you prefer potted lip balms, my only additional advice is to make sure to get the product with clean hands or use a spatula!
From ₱2,000
Dubbed as the universal balm, Dior’s has a special technology, the color reviver that adjusts its pigment to suit different skin tones, so you don’t have to worry about finding the shade to be too dark or light for you. It gives your lips their own flush of custom color in a nourishing balm formula.
It contains mango butter, which has a rich texture and serves as a protective barrier to the surface of your lips and provides continuous hydration for 24 hours. It is available in in 3 variants; original, matte, and holographic glow if you want your lips to look glossy. You can use it on its own or as a primer for other lip products.
From ₱545
Do you suffer from perpetually dry lips? Burt’s Bees can deliver up to 8 hours of moisture, so you don’t need to reapply every so often. It also adds a hint of natural color, for a “my lips but better” look without coming off as too bright. You can choose from its array of six shades to closely match your lip color best.
This contains shea butter, which you may have also read in lotions. It is an ingredient that provides nourishment to your lips and softens and smoothens it. It is also great for reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles. It also contains botanical wax, which helps prevent your lips from the sun in an all-natural formula.
From ₱349
Do you want your lips to be as soft and smooth as butter? Happy Skin’s butter balm aims to provide you just that by moisturizing dry lips in a formula that is highly pigmented. You don’t need to bring a separate lip product to color your lips, just a few swipes of this lippie and you’re good to go.
Their product contains vitamin E, which has antioxidant properties and helps fight free radicals to prevent your lips from aging. Argan oil is also present to keep your lips soft and smooth, together, this tinted balm can keep your puckers moisturized for 2 hours while a refreshing mint extract cools and refreshes them.
From ₱1,000
Need a product that can multitask? Glossier’s tinted lip balm can do just that for you. At its core, it is a hydrating lip balm that delivers a sheer tint to your lips. However, it can also double as a universal salve. You can apply it on your cuticles, elbows, knees, or any dry spots that need a little moisture.
It is formulated with 3 potent moisturizers; castor oil, beeswax, and lanolin, to ensure your lip gets the nourishment it needs and seals in the moisture. It has a thick, waxy texture that comes out of the tube easily, but it is not greasy, and will leave your lips looking smooth and hydrated but not shiny.
From ₱910
Most tinted lip balms only have a handful colors, which makes them mostly day appropriate. But Fresh’s has a whopping 13 shades, so you can easily take the color from day to night. Best of all, their product contains SPF so you are guaranteed protection from the sun when you step out.
Their formula is loaded with natural ingredients such as sugar, which draws moisture into the skin. It is loaded with a blend of nourishing oils such as grapeseed and meadowfoam seed to protect your lips from free radicals. Their colors are also buildable so you can easily swipe on more to up the intensity for a more dramatic look.
From ₱1,500
If you liked their cult favorite “orgasm” blush, then you would be pleased to know that it now comes in a tinted lip balm form. Their tinted balm comes in a sheer finish, which is great if you don’t like your lip products to be very pigmented, but still has a wash of color to keep you from looking dull.
It contains Monoï oil, made by soaking Tahitian Gardenias in coconut oil. It is excellent for moisturizing and relieving dry skin, making it supple and soft. If you have sensitive skin, you can rejoice as their product does not contain any fragrances or alcohol, which could potentially irritate your lips, or cause it to dry out in the long run.
From ₱109.75
Human Nature’s packaging may remind you of the old school lip balm you have used in high school but don’t be fooled by its unassuming appearance. It actually houses 5 wearable shades that are appropriate for everyday use, so you can easily slip it inside your pocket if you ever need a quick touchup throughout the day.
It has been noted to be rather pigmented, which means you can easily swap this for your usual lipstick if you want more nourishment for your lips without sacrificing color. Their tinted balm contains cocoa butter, which can protect your lips from cold office temperatures or your hot daily commute, best of all, it is edible.
From ₱1,200
In a hurry? Clinique’s chubby sticks do not require the use of mirrors, so you can swipe it on even if you’re in a rush. It has a buildable formula that feels like a creamy lipstick, which is perfect for when you need a little more color over your lips without the heavy feeling of one.
Their product is loaded with shea butter for softening your lips, as well as mango butter to seal in moisture, so your lips are sure to stay hydrated. It is designed in a crayon shape for filling in your lips with ease. The best part is unlike a regular crayon, you don’t have to sharpen it when it gets use up, you just simply twist it to reveal more product.
From ₱360
Here is a local brand that makes use of natural ingredients to keep your lips soft. It makes use of Pili oil, a nut native to our country, which contains vitamins A and E, antioxidants that help nourish and moisturize your lips. It also contains Elemi oil, which has rejuvenating properties for soft lips.
It also has shea butter to ensure your lips stay moisturized and supple. It can provide a subtle shade on your lips, which is ideal for daytime use and is appropriate if you are in the office as well as it does not stand out too much. No need to worry about the shade clashing with your skin tone, as it is flattering on Filipino skin tones!
From ₱125
Can’t let go of your trusty Vaseline? Not to worry, they have a tinted variation that gives you a subtle hue. Their lip therapy can instantly soothe dry lips, leaving behind a pink tint and rosy glow, which is great for when you need a barely there color. It is made from their signature Vaseline jelly, which you already know is effective.
This helps lock in moisture, so your lips stay soft, supple, and moisturized. It also contains rose oil as well as almond oil which helps hydrate dry skin. Their formula is non-sticky and non-greasy to use on your lips. It also has a soothing rose scent that leaves a pleasant aroma that’s not too stuffy.
This part of the article features Dr. Katrina Luz's answers to some of the internet's most asked questions!
Not necessarily! It all boils down to the formulation of the lip balm. Read the label to know what you're getting out of the lip balm. If in doubt, Ask Your Derma!
So in a sense, yes they do stain the lips. But lip balms now are also surprisingly very easy to remove and wash off.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, some ingredients to avoid when your lips are chapped include camphor, eucalyptus, fragrance, lanolin, menthol, octinoxate or oxybenzone, phenol (or phenyl), propyl gallate, and salicylic acid.
Now that you’ve been acquainted with tinted lip balms, here are other lip products you can check out if you want a bolder pout.
Author: Justine Cuizon
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
When you purchase products mentioned in the article, part of the sales may be returned to mybest.
The descriptions of each product is referenced from the content available from the manufacturer, e-commerce sites etc.
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