Every makeup artist and photographer will tell you that everyone looks better in photos with a little color on their lips. But, with the “no makeup” makeup look dominating our feeds, more and more brides are struggling to find a balance between their everyday makeup and their look for the big day. Too much and it feels like it’s caked on and too little and it seriously won’t even show up in photos, especially when it comes to what you put on your lips. You need something to make your lips pop, something that lasts all day and won’t smear, and something that leaves your lips kissably soft (bonus points if it tastes good). Is that asking for too much? If you’d have asked us a few years back, the answer would be yes, but thankfully almost all of your favorite beauty brands now have their own take on tinted balm. Here are a few of our faves that check all of the boxes.
Photo | Troy Meikle
Available in the most shades (23+) including a green shade that changes to your perfect shade as it interacts with your body’s natural chemistry, Dior’s Dior Addict Lipglow is our favorite tinted balm on the market. The color balance is just right, it stays on without being too sticky, and it even leaves you (and anyone you may be kissing) with a nice minty tingle. As far as shine goes, this one leans more matte, so it’s perfect for the bride that wants some tint without the glossy look.
Photos | Dior
We love a multifunctional balm and this one from Glossier is super versatile. It’s available in 9+ shades and you can use it on lips and skin. We recommend choosing one of the more pigmented shades for your big day so that it shows up in photos, but everyone could use a subtle balm for everyday use, so why not stock up?
Photo | Sephora
Photo | Glossier
This collection of tinted balms by NARS are so sexy, a lot of their names are NSFW. Their perfectly sheer and leave you with a rosy kissable pout. This is another one that can be used on the cheeks and the lips, so let yourself get a little carried away.
Photo | Nars
Photo | Mecca
One of the more potent tinted balms that we’ve come across, Les Beiges Lip Balm by Chanel is perfect for brides that use their lipstick like a comfort blanket. It’s got enough pigment to make your lips pop but a smooth balmy finish to give you that barely-there feel.
Photos | Chanel
Known for its all dewy all the time attitude, Jones Road (the sequel to Bobbi Brown) has a ton of balm options, but their Miracle Balm is our fave. Perfect for dry skin and lips this all over balm will work wonders for winter wedding brides. There are 9 different shades. Some look best on lips and cheeks while some function more like highlighter and don’t be afraid to layer them.
Photos | Jones Road
If you’re on TikTok, you’ll remember this baby from a while back. Its viral moment may have come and gone, but we didn’t forget. This magical balm goes on clear and then changes color to your perfect shade thanks to its PH-matching technology. Of these balms, this one is definitely the lightest wear and turns to an almost oil-like liquid as soon as it interacts with your body heat, so it almost feels like a lip stain. It comes in three different undertones–purple, blue, and pink, so choose the one that suits you best.
Photo | Winky Lux
Don’t let the name fool you, this is definitely a balm. It’s sheer and light weight and just tints your lips ever so slightly. It comes in two versitile shades, Pink Honey and Black Honey. The deep black honey shade has recently gone viral. And though it’s not what the makeup artist is rumored to have used on set, it’s definitely giving Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams, so it’s easy to see why everyone’s so obsessed.
Photos | Clinique
This is as close to colorless that we would recommend going for your big day, any less and it won’t show in pics. Bobbi Brown’s Extra Lip Tint is perfect for brides who want to look their best and smooth their overall lip color but would feel too “done up” in anything more.
Photos | Bobbi Brown
Alot of the tinted balms lean into the pink and red families, so we love the range of shades (10+) available in Charlotte Tilbury’s Hyaluronic Happikiss Lipstick Balm collection. If your lip undertone naturally leans towards orange or purple this is the tinted balm for you. Plus, the Hyaluronic acid that’s worked into the formula leaves your lips looking plumper and more hydrated and is actually shown to reduce signs of lip aging over time. Pro tip: Use any of these balms with a lip liner in the same shade as your natural lip color for a fuller pout.
Photos | Charlotte Tilbury
Known for their unrivaled ability to sparkle, we’re always a fan of Pat McGrath Labs, so we were excited to see what they brought to the table as far as tinted balms, and they didn’t disappoint. We love the lightly blurred texture with a subtle sheen of this balm that gives lips that sexy just-been-kissed look.
Photos | Pat McGrath Labs