Both Medhin and de los Reyes agree that using a tinted lip balm isn’t harmful for your lips, but might not be ideal for your pillowcases. “I typically do not use tinted lip balms overnight because I wouldn't want the color to transfer to my pillowcase,” explains Medhin. “For overnight wear, I would suggest a clear lip treatment.” It just doesn’t get more iconic than the Dior Addict Lip Glow. I mean, are you even an It Girl if you don’t have this floating around somewhere in your purse? A touch of tinted lip balm will perk up your complexion on minimal makeup days, and it also pairs beautifully with a smoky eye, creating a perfectly balanced look. However you choose to wear lip tint, it’s an effortlessly gorgeous option and so easy to reapply during the day. Plus, you'll never need to worry that it's transferred onto your teeth. We loved the texture of this balm — it’s not too waxy but not too slippery either, and it stayed on our lips for a solid amount of time. It hydrated our lips after just one application (so we didn't find ourselves needing to constantly reapply throughout the day, except when we wanted a bit more color) and left them soft long after we swiped it on. For this recipe, I chose cocoa butter as my hard oil because it already has a great light brown color and it is wonderfully moisturizing. Cocoa butter moisturizes skin and provides a protective barrier as well.

Word to the wise: The round bullet means you definitely need a mirror to apply this one. And the buttery formula makes it a bit slippery. If you do mess up, though — happens to the best of us — it’s easy to wipe away without ruining the rest of your makeup. Alkanet root powder and Madder root powder are wonderful additives when making naturally tinted DIY lip balm. They provide beautiful reds and browns and can be used to make quite a variety of shades. It took me some time to find my own personal favorite blend of the two powders. It’s debatable! “I’m personally addicted to keeping my own lips moisturized, and I’m aware that the more I use balms, the more my lips may feel as if they’re dependent on that daily or hourly swipe of moisture,” says de los Reyes. “This is why it’s important to go for products that will nourish and moisturize your lips if you apply your lip balms habitually — this way, if you do over-use, would it really be so wrong?” Although if you’re really desperate, wearing a tinted lip balm to bed is fine. “Let’s just say you were in a pinch and you were left with just the solitary tinted lip balm that’s been in your bag all day, and there was no way you were going to sleep without hydrating those lips,” says de los Reyes. “It would be perfectly fine to apply and blot the excess color away with a tissue, and then get to bed.” Another thing to consider when purchasing a tinted lip balm is the texture of the formula — there are waxy semi-matte balms, silky oils, and juicy jellies. “The finishing texture is your story to tell. How do you want your lips to look and feel?” asks de los Reyes. “Maybe for a night out, try playing with an oil-based balm that has a little more shine and a smoothing silky texture.”

Pharmacy product

The first time we tried these tinted lip balms, we were teenagers, but it was love at first swipe. These little drugstore numbers deliver a surprisingly vibrant color payoff, especially considering how affordable they are. And every one of the nine shades somehow looks great on our lips — and we tested them on skin tones ranging from the very light to the very deep, and they were flattering for all. When it comes to a hydrating and subtle pigment for the lips, you can’t go wrong with Pat McGrath’s Lip Fetish Sheer Colour Lip Balm," says Jasmine Hyman, a writer and producer for InStyle. "Infused with hydrating shea butter and vitamin E, the formula imparts color with a glossy sheen, while also keeping the lips moisturized all day long." Look for ingredients like shea butter and vitamin E, which can be found in majority of these lip balms on this list, to make the most of your lippie. The sheer, lightweight colour is comfortable to wear, and fades out evenly with no patchy look. There’s no fiddly lip liner or blotting required either - just swipe it on and go. As well as requiring zero makeup skills, some lip tints also contain UVA and UVB screens to protect this thin, delicate area. I make a double batch of these because I like to hand them out as gifts. Further, I also store any extras in a cool, dry place for year-round use. The lip balm is pretty hard, so it will stay solid unless left in the sun.

What We Don’t Love: If you have chronically dry lips, you'll need to use a more nourishing balm in tandem.

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There are the legacy formulas like Smith's retro tin of rosy goodness and Fresh's fan-favorite lip treatment, but the nouvelle vague of lip balms are every bit as chic: Here's looking at you, Dior Lip Glow and Pat McGrath Labs Lip Fetish. Melt beeswax and cocoa butter in a double boiler. (I use a glass Pyrex® mixing bowl in a saucepan of boiling water.) As you can see, my recipe is very simple. It makes enough for three 1-ounce lip balm tins and one tin will last you at least a month. Step 1: Making the Infused Sweet Almond Oil Ingredients

What We Love: The balmy texture and subtle shimmer makes this look more elevated than just a lip balm. This simple, fun DIY tinted lip balm recipe includes the base recipe and instructions for 3 tint colors: maroon, deep red, and brownish pink. I get most of myideas for DIYs when I am walking down the aisles of thegrocery store. I always take a walk down the cosmetics aisle just to see what is new. The ingredients and the price tag are always surprising. If it is affordable, chances are the ingredients are terrible. If the ingredients are wonderful, chances are the price is outrageous. That’s why I don’t buy makeup if I don’t have to. I prefer to do it myself – it’s cheaper and of better quality. Making DIY Tinted Lip Balm

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Unlike Keys Soulcare’s lip balm, we’re actually very impressed with the color options for ILIA's Balmy Tint Hydrating Lip Balm — and so is Delina Medhin, a celebrity and editorial makeup artist, who appreciates that she has many options for her clients. Within the eight shades, you can find pinks, reds, berries, and browns, complementing all skin and undertones. It has a natural finish that looks good on everyone. Plus, the formula features hydrating ingredients like rosehip seed oil and shea butter for a creamy application and long lasting softness.