Forget Lipstick, I Only Wear These 5 Tinted Lip Balms and Stains Now
Amy Clark is Adore Beauty's former Senior Editor and co-host of Skincare School the podcast (and self-appointed beauty road-tester!). Amy's worked as a journalist, beauty editor and podcaster for several years, previously writing and talking about all things beauty at Mamamia and You Beauty. When she's not writing honest, no BS product reviews and taking selfies 'for work', you'll find Amy eating halloumi in a hair towel turban and... taking more selfies.
Remember when we used to wear makeup? Those were the days...
In my fancy free pre-isolation life, I was lipstick-obsessed. Had you stopped me anytime, anywhere, I could've pulled out at least six lipsticks from my pockets to show you. Triple that if you'd caught me carrying my handbag.
Now? I've forgotten all about lipstick. Sorry lipstick. These days, I'm into low maintenance lip balms and lip stains, or nothing.
If it's not intensely hydrating and super comfy to wear with enough pigment to cover my corpse-like translucent lips, I just don't want a bar of it.
*That's not to say I won't dust off my punchy matte lippies some day, but today is not that day.
If you and your usual go-to lipsticks are also on a break, you're in luck. Because I am a self-proclaimed tinted lip balm aficionado with extremely high standards and zero time for products that say they're tinted but aren't.
In other words, I've tried that many tinted lip balms and lip stains and only continue using the products that tick all the boxes.
So, from bargain to bougie, keep scrolling for five of my current favourite tinted lip products.
Lanolips Tinted Lip Balm SPF30 - Rhubarb
We can't talk about tinted lip balms without good ol' Lanolips.
This cute squeezy tube contains an SPF 30 lip balm made with 60 per cent medical grade lanolin and vitamin E. It's just as hydrating for hectically chapped lips as the brand's original 101 ointment, but with a subtle, super shiny hint of colour to enhance your natural lip colour. Or in my case, drastically improve it.
The formula isn't too sticky and doesn't taste funny, and you can apply it out and about without a mirror.
My favourite shades? They're all lovely, but Lanolips Tinted Lip Balm SPF30 - Rhubarb and Lanolips Tinted Lip Balm SPF30 - Red Apple.
innisfree Vivid Cotton Ink
Innisfree is known for their cheap as chips K-beauty face masks, but their makeup is spot on, too.
I might shoot myself in the foot by saying this, but this affordable lip tint/cream has the BEST pigment and colour pay off of any I've tried. And I've tried a lot.
This one has an inky, soft suede texture that's really easy to swipe on with the product's doe-foot applicator. The colours are gorgeous - I particularly love shades one (a brick orange) and eight (a rusty red).
I find over hours of wear, the colour fades evenly to a stain that looks like it's on purpose. You can chuck a clear lip balm over the top if that's your jam, too.
Jane Iredale Just Kissed Lip & Cheek Stain
Want the longevity of a lip stain and the hydration of a lip balm, without any of the dryness or stickiness? The Jane Iredale Just Kissed Lip & Cheek Stain is your mate.
This sleek silver bullet contains a non-drying, long-lasting tinted formula with beeswax, olive oil, avocado oil and rose flower wax to keep your lips comfy.
I wondered if I'd be happy with the amount of colour payoff when I first swiped the shade Forever Red onto my lips. Little did I know, the tint transforms as you wear it. When I looked in the mirror an hour later, the sheer wash had developed into a very enjoyable spicy stain.
You can reapply this product throughout the day like you would a regular lip balm for a vibrant tint that holds, but still looks natural.
Benefit GoGo Tint Lip & Cheek Tint
Legit, GoGo Tint Cheek and Lip Stain will brighten up your Zoom calls in less than 60 seconds.
This shiny, glossy pink product delivers the most vibrant, pinky red stain that can be swiped onto lips or across cheeks. It's silky, juicy, buildable and in it for the long haul. Apply it in the morning and you can bet it'll still be there after lunch.
If I've got a last-minute video call I need to look alive and well for, I press a few dots of this tint into my cheeks, across my eyelids as a liquid eye shadow and on my lips. Add a clear lip balm and you're done!
Yves Saint Laurent Volupte Plump-In-Colour Lipstick
Yes, I'm ending my roundup of lip balms and lip stains with a... lipstick.
Don't worry, not a typo. This lipstick can stay because it's the best non-lipsticky lipstick, ever.
Basically, it's what you'd get if a lip balm, lip plumper and lipstick had a baby. With a trust fund.
All the Yves Saint Laurent Volupte Lipsticks are magic, but I especially love YSL Volupte Plump-In-Colour lippie because it's a three-in-one product. It glides on seamlessly and is so creamy and hydrating, with a bold wash of colour and just the right amount of plumping peppermint oil tingle. Oh, and each shade smells amazing.
These lippies aren't cheap, but having the stunning, luxe silver bullet sitting on my desk brings me joy.
So, go on then. Get one of these colourful lip balms and tints on your lips ASAP.
Want more banger makeup tips and product recommendations? Check out these helpful stories from the Adore Beauty team below!
