The best sheer matte lip balm we love for dusky lips

If I’m being honest with you, I’ve never been a lipstick person. It doesn’t matter if it’s matte or satin finish, most of them just A) feel too fussy and “done” on my lips, and B) they’re too high-maintenance to keep topping up throughout the day. Instead, I have always been fond of lip balm or lip gloss. They feel much more comfortable and lower maintenance.

However, with the rise of the smoky lip trend, pioneered by makeup artists like Nina Park, I, like many others, have fallen in love with lip products again. And along with makeup trends has come a new wave of transparent matte-tinted lip balms that provide a soft-focus effect on the lips. One swipe delivers a sheer wash of color (think just sheer color) with a matte finish that mimics the natural texture of your lips. Because of their blurred finish, you don’t have to be as precise about application as standard lipsticks. You can swipe them on without a mirror, and they gradually extend as they fade out for a natural-looking complexion throughout the day. Perfect for “no makeup” makeup.

Makeup artists have long been able to create effects by applying lipstick and removing the excess with a tissue. However, these transparent, matte-tinted lip balms give a smoky look in just one swipe. And they speak to my low-maintenance heart, bridging the gap between traditional matte lipstick and lip balm for a veil of color that feels too French-coded and a more modern way to wear lip color. I’ve researched and tested all the best sheer matte lip balms, and I’m sharing my all-time favorite lip balms ahead.

Merit Beauty’s Signature Lip Blush is possibly the most comfortable lipstick-balm hybrid I’ve tried. It feels just like lip balm on the lips, but with a flattering matte finish that leaves a sheer tint on your lips. Think of it as lip blush in a lipstick bullet. One swipe gives a soft-spread color, but you can easily layer it for more intensity. My favorite shades are Bespoke (a neutral brown, which I’m wearing above) and Archival (a soft neutral pink), but there are also a range of brighter shades that are much more wearable than their lipstick counterparts, thanks to their light weight and translucent textures.

You can rely on French beauty brands like Violette_Fr to create one of these Best Sheer Matte Tinted Lip Balm. Founder and makeup artist Violette Seurat was inspired by the concept of “bouche mordeau” for this balm, which translates as “just-bitten lips”, and Bisou Balm Was born. It’s been a staple in my makeup bag ever since I first tried it, for many reasons. First of all, it feels like a cushioning balm when applied, and whether you apply it all at once or layer it on, it still feels so smooth and never feels as heavy as lipstick. Oh, and it also smells pleasantly of French bonbons. Mon Cherry is one of my favorites for a chocolate-cherry tint, but I’m looking for Bonbon Myrtle for a summery smoky raspberry lip. It gives a beautiful color to your lips.

Prefer something that’s still matte but more on the hydrating side? I want to point you towards Generation G Balmy. In texture, it is hydrating, glides on the lips with the luxurious feel of a lip balm and is enriched with skin-softening Vitamin E. but this looks like Eye mat. The bullet delivers a translucent shade of color, and it’s also easy to build up the intensity from intense to more intense if you wish, all while having that enviable soft-focus blur. There are so many shades to choose from, from bright, jammy shades (like the one I’m wearing above) to everyday neutrals you’ll want to reach for every day.

The new Mellow Blur lipstick has become one of my favorite new beauty launches. The formula tends to be more slippery on your lips when you wear it, so if you want something more hydrating, this is a great bank account-friendly option to try. Like the others, it is layerable, but if you are applying multiple layers it takes a slightly more satin finish, but a few swipes give a subtle sheer matte tint. I like to pat the tablet on my lips to gently build up the color for a bitten effect. My shade recommendations? Try Mochi Mauve for an everyday neutral, or Brown Butter for a ’90s-inspired brown lip.

Refi was one of the first to come up with lip blush, and its buttery texture gives your lips a soft, sheer velvety finish. It’s a little more opaque than others on this list, so if you want more colorful benefits, this is a great option. The twist-up stick format makes it easy to swipe or pat onto your lips, but it’s also great as a blusher if you want a cohesive look on your lips and cheeks. I have the shade Orchid, which is a medium pink and perfect for year-round wear.