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Lip balm is one of the most popular personal beauty products. Among the many brands and types available, tinted lip balm can be a great quick fix for dry lips.
“Tinted lip balms can be a wonderful addition to any makeup routine, offering both hydration and a touch of color,” dermatologist and hair care specialist Dr. Hamdan Abdullah Hamed told Simplemost.
But, as we age, we need to be more mindful with our tinted lip balm selections to keep our lips looking their best. Primarily, shoppers should understand the difference between lip products and know the key ingredients that help our lips look youthful and healthy.
Lip Balm vs. Lipstick vs. Lip Gloss
The main difference between lip balm, lipstick and lip gloss, according to makeup artist and beauty educator Naomi Zwelling, is how they are made, since each has a different purpose.
- Lip balm is meant to have a hint of color and sheer lip coverage. Its primary purpose is to soothe and moisturize.
- Lipstick is designed for complete coverage and maximum color density.
- Lip gloss can provide some moisture, but it mostly serves as a shiny coat on its own or on top of lipstick.
When you use each one for its intended purpose, you go a long way in keeping your lips looking and feeling good.
MORE: The Best Nude Lipstick
Look for These Ingredients in Tinted Lip Balm
Experts recommend looking closely at tinted lip balm’s ingredients to ensure they will help with anti-aging protection and make lips look youthful.
“Your best friend at any age, but especially women looking into anti-aging benefits, will be natural oils, natural waxes, etc.,” Zwelling said. “The key is hydration.”
Hamed suggested those wanting tinted lip balms with anti-aging benefits look for products with antioxidants, including vitamin E and coenzyme Q10, or ubiquinone. These ingredients help promote skin rejuvenation and protect lips from environmental damage.
Besides antioxidants, keep an eye out for tinted lip balms with sunscreen. Sun damage is one of our skin’s most common aging factors.
Lip Color Can Make You Look Younger
When choosing a tinted lip balm, remember that the right color can make a significant impact on appearance.
Zwelling recommends more neutral tones to achieve that youthful look.
“I often find that when women with mature skin wear a color like hot pink, bright red, etc., it tends not to look as youthful,” she advised. “Choosing the right makeup color can hugely improve one’s appearance, because the goal of makeup is often not to look like a different person, but rather a more radiant and confident version of our natural selves.”
She also suggested using colors matching your skin tone and eyes for a confidence booster to blend well with your natural look.
MORE: I swear by this body wash for my skin dryness
Top Tinted Lip Balms
These five tinted lip balms are recommended by the experts we spoke with, or follow the guiding principles they discussed for quality products.
Nivea Cherry Shine Caring Lip Balm
Hamed recommends Nivea products, such as this Nivea Cherry Shine Caring Lip Balm, which he notes is enriched with natural oils and antioxidants.
Fresh Sugar Tinted Lip Treatment, Travel Size
Zwelling said she loves the Sugar line of tinted lip balms. “These will hydrate your lips with a natural and beautiful wash of color,” she said of the Sugar brand. The travel size is $1 off at Amazon right now.
Burt’s Bee’s 100% Natural Tinted Lip Balm 
For a good reason, Burt’s Bees is one of the market’s most popular lip balms. Hamden said it includes shea butter and botanical waxes to provide hydration and a hint of color.
$24 at Summer Fridays $24 at Amazon
For a more luxurious experience, Zwelling recommends trying Summer Friday’s tinted lip balm products. Its use of vegan waxes, murumuru seed butter and shea butter provides the ultimate moisture for your lips.
This award-winning Lip Butter Balm comes in eight colors from vanilla to brown sugar.
Neutrogena Revitalizing and Moisturing Tinted Lip Balm with SPF 20
Hamden recommends this tinted lip balm because it has SPF 20 sunscreen incorporated into its formula. The vitamin E and Ion2Complex add a boost of moisture to lips as well.
About the Author
Marie is a freelance writer and content creator with more than 20 years of experience in journalism. She lives in southwest Ohio with her husband and is almost a full-fledged empty nest mom of two daughters. She loves music, reading, word games, and Walt Disney World. You can find her writing about her personal health journey at marierossiter.substack.com and connect with her at marierossiter@gmail.com More.
