The 8 Best Tinted Lip Balms of 2025, Tested by Byrdie

Shades: 4 | Key Ingredients: Peptides, rose PDRN, carrot collagen, shea butter | Size: 0.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

As someone who takes lip balm (and having hydrated lips) very seriously, it’s rare for a formula to impress me like this one from Knemo did. What sets it apart is its texture—it’s lightweight and somewhat thin, but it packs in more moisture than other picks I tested. It feels immediately comfortable on the lips, and it never leaves that slippery feeling that other balms create upon initial application. The tube dispenses the perfect amount of product, and the formula grips the lips well—instantly hydrating without feeling sticky or tacky.

The ingredient list is also next level, containing high-quality vegan ingredients like rose PDRN (polydeoxyribonucleotide), carrot collagen, and peptides. My lips feel infinitely softer and smoother long after the product has worn off. The deliciously nostalgic scents, including options like Peach Soda and Grape Crush, make the experience that much more enjoyable. While the shades are on the sheer side, they still add a lovely, subtle wash of color. This balm has become my new go-to, and I’ve been reaching for it again and again. 

Shades: 5 | Key Ingredients: Vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, ceramides | Size: 0.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Another top-notch formula is this new balm from Kulfi, aptly named Lip Snack. With dessert-inspired shades and scents like Vanilla Sponge Cake and Black Forest Cake, these balms create a sensory (and delicious) experience. It has a mid-weight consistency, and it never feels uncomfortably thick or rich. The smooth, deftly shaped applicator deposits the ideal amount of product onto the lips, applying smoothly and easily. After testing over a couple of days, I noticed that my lips felt moisturized and soft to the touch hours after applying. All shades offer great color payoff, and the finish is dewy—similar to that of a lip gloss or lip oil. While I fell in love with the sweet scents, they may be too strong for sensitive noses.

Shades: 8 | Key Ingredients: Peptides, shea butter, lactic acid, hibiscus enzymes | Size: 0.49 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Better known as TikTok’s favorite lip balm, this formula from Eadem is popular for good reason. With lactic acid and hibiscus enzymes, it gently exfoliates the lips, leaving them soft and smooth. The formula also includes shea butter, peptides, and vitamin E to deeply moisturize and treat fine lines. The warm-toned shades complement a variety of skin tones, and it’s definitely one of the more pigmented balms that I tested. My go-to is Fig Sauce, a rosy brown shade that’s long-lasting. It’s not super glossy, but it adds a subtle amount of shine that makes the lips look healthy and hydrated. The balm also smells great without being too strong. I would be remiss to mention the cooling metal applicator, which feels soothing to chapped or irritated lips.

Shades: 4 | Key Ingredients: Castor seed oil, vitamin E, chasteberry extract | Size: 0.08 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This innovative product from Violette_Fr is, in my opinion, the perfect product to take from day to night. With a pigmented core and a hydrating outer layer, this balm-lipstick hybrid delivers moisture and lovely matte color simultaneously. Coming in four French-girl inspired shades, the balm applies smoothly—creating a chic, smudged look. My favorite shade, Aissa, reminds me of Clinique’s classic Black Honey, but it’s definitely more nourishing for the lips. It feels weightless once applied, and since it’s solid, it never leaves a goopy or sticky finish. The biggest perk is that the color is buildable, so you can use it as a subtle daytime look or add a touch more for something dramatic. 

Shades: 3 | Key Ingredients: Ceramides, peptides, vitamin E | Size: 0.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Everything about this lip balm from Anfisa Skin screams luxury—the chic packaging, the smooth metal applicator, and most importantly, the ultra-hydrating, plush formula. With five skin-beneficial ceramides and peptides, it instantly smooths any dryness, leaving your lips soft and kissable. Aside from the original, it comes in two beautiful shades: Berry Crumble (a peachy pink) and Spice Cake (a warm brown), and the scents smell exactly like the dessert they’re referencing. They deliver a great amount of pigment, and the color is long-lasting, slightly staining the lips. The applicator can get a little messy, so you only need to squeeze out a small amount to get an adequate amount of product. While $45 may be pricey for a lip balm, I definitely think the high-quality formula and shades are worth the splurge. 

Shades: 9 | Key Ingredients: Peptides, mango seed butter, cloudberry oil | Size: 0.4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you’re looking for a glassy, juicy lip look, this Ole Henriksen balm is the best option. It provides a high-shine finish that never feels sticky. The formula contains nourishing ingredients like peptides, vitamin E, and mango seed butter to keep the lips soft and treat signs of aging, like fine lines. With continued use, I also noticed that my lips were slightly plumper and looked smoother overall. I’m a big fan of the fruit- and dessert-inspired shades, and the scents were sweet without becoming overpowering. Since the formula is on the thicker side, it can become a little goopy if you accidentally squeeze out too much. Otherwise, it has a comfortable feel on the lips and keeps them hydrated long after application.

Shades: 7 | Key Ingredients: Peptides, shea butter, vitamin E | Size: 0.3 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

There are many things to love about this formula from Rhode, from its rich, nourishing texture to the perfectly curved applicator. But what stands out to me is the shade range available, which includes the perfect nude and neutral shades for all lip colors. I personally loved Toast, a rosy taupe shade, and it wasn’t too bright for my skin tone—it flattered my two-toned lips perfectly. Aside from the shade range, I found that the formula provided long-lasting hydration, and my lips felt smooth and soft for hours. It also provided the perfect amount of shine, and it could definitely double as a lip gloss. I did notice that my hair could stick to the balm once it was applied, but the sticky finish would dissipate as the formula settled in more.

Shades: 2 | Key Ingredients: Avobenzone, lanolin, cocoa butter, vitamin E | Size: 0.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

We all know that SPF is a must every single day, but if you’re planning to be outside for an extended period of time, dermatologists recommend protecting the lips as well (sunburned lips are more common than you’d think!). That’s where an SPF lip balm comes in, and we love this one from Australian brand Ultra Violette. The texture is a little thick initially, but once applied, it settles into the lips nicely with a smooth feel. It adds a ton of hydration, and I’ve never felt the need to reapply when at the beach or spending the day outside. The majority of SPF lip balms I’ve tried have either caused irritation or left a weird taste behind, so I was very pleased that I didn’t have that problem with this one. The shade, Dusk, was a gorgeous peachy pink that was sheer but definitely made my lips look more juicy.