At the height of summer when looks and effort all lighten up, tinted lip balms are key for capturing that carefree summer vibe. Besides giving your lips a dose of colour, tinted balms provide summer-parched lips with much needed moisture. Salt water, chlorine, frothy cocktails, UV rays, late nights – these are all ingredients for fun summer events, but they also take their toll on delicate lips, leaving them parched and ragged.
Effortless to apply, these tinted lip balms are fool-proof even without a mirror, and many are buildable if you want to layer on the colour. But one swipe should give lips a healthy, subtle glow while providing comfort through a good, proper lip balm.
Every woman should have at least one of these in every purse, pocket and beach tote this summer.
Fresh, Sugar Lip Treatment SPF15, $26
A superstar among tinted lip balms, Fresh’s line of lip treatments are award-winning, and for good reasons. First, the packaging: modern, sturdy, screw-top metal tubes that feel good and
weighty in hand. More importantly, the goods: lip balm that’s deliciously cushiony, featuring real sugar (a natural humectant), vitamins, antioxidants, plumping-essential fatty acids and SPF15 to boot. They all have Fresh’s signature sparkling citrus scent.
Shades range from poppy brights to subtle nudes, with varying levels of pigmentation. For more colour, try Cherry, Berry or Coral; for something more sheer, choose Petal, Tulip or the new Nude shade. Available at sephora.ca
Almay, Smart Shade Butter Kiss Lipstick, $9.49
With sheer but buildable pigmentation, this hybrid lipstick provides the best of both worlds: Decent colour payoff in a highly emollient, creamy formula that’s also hypo-allergenic. This provides a bit more colour than typical tinted balms, if colour is your main goal. As such, it’s categorised according to three different skin tones (light, light/med and medium), with four colours in each category (pink, berry, red and nude) to help you find the perfect match.Available at London Drugs, other drug retailers nationwide and online at Almay.ca
Scentuals, 100% Natural Tinted Lip Moisturizer, $10
This niche brand is entirely hand-made in British Columbia, featuring organic, natural formulations. Every ingredient used to make the tinted lip moisturizer contributes to a specific benefit. It includes organic sunflower oils (rich in vitamin A, C, D and E), organic beeswax (provides a protective layer), organic coconut oil (protects against free radicals), organic shea butter (for superior moisturisation), etc. It comes in four natural shades that are all free of lead, petroleum and synthetic fragrance. Available at Whole Foods, Choices Markets, other natural food stores and online at scentualsbodycare.com
Revlon, ColorBurst Lip Butter, $9.99
This gel formula infuses dry lips with hydrating shea, coconut and mango butters. It offers medium pigmentation with 20 colours to choose from. Lips are left glossy, tinted and hydrated. Try Tutti Frutti for a slick of punchy orange or Pink Truffle for a your-lips-but-better look. Available at London Drugs and other drug retailers nationwide.
Clinique, Chubby Stick Intense Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm, $19
This lip colour balm is a lovely balance of moisturisation, colour and convenience. The chubby stick format makes it both easy and satisfying to apply (like a child with a marker). While the original formula is just as good, you’ll find a better level of pigmentation with the intense version, which also contains shea and mango butters, oils, and antioxidants to help protect and hydrate lips. Available at Clinique counters nationwide and at clinique.ca
Clarins, Instant Light Lip Balm Perfector, $26
Always a leader in polished beauty solutions, Clarins’ tinted lip balm comes in an elegant slim tube. The lip balm is like a hybrid between a lip balm and a lip gloss, available
in six flattering, chic tints. This hydrating balm immediately melts onto lips for a second-skin effect, imparting a translucent, glossy shine. Available at Clarins counters and at clarins.ca
