8 Glossy Lip Balms That Provide Color, Shine, and Hydration

Does anyone else find even the best lipsticks to be incredibly drying? No matter how much I prep my lips in advance, I can almost guarantee that after applying lipstick in the morning, they will be dry and cracked by lunch. This is something I’ve had to accept over the years, and often I look for one of my favorite lip liners and a hydrating lip balm or lip gloss. In turn, that means I have about ten million lip products in my handbag, and if I’m really honest, I miss using just one lipstick to swipe and go.

So, when I saw one of my co-workers using the Hourglass Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balm, I was immediately intrigued. If you’ve used this product, you’ll know that one swipe delivers impressive color, a luminous finish and a hydrating formula, without the need for balm, liner or gloss on top. It was this product that inspired me to research other glossy lip balm hybrids, and it turns out that a whole world of hydrating, high-performance lip products exist.

With brands like Jones Road and Gucci recently launching their own versions of glossy lip balms, I’ve been busy testing the best options on the market, and put together a short edit of the products that offer both truly nourishing formulas and high-performance finishes. If you also hate lipstick, I highly recommend checking out my recommendations below.

I consider this Hourglass Lip product to be the best gloss balm on the market. With a three-in-one hybrid formula, it hydrates lips, effectively washes away color and provides a glossy finish. The pot of gold looks impossibly chic, and there’s also a wide range of shades available (I’ve been using Rouse, a true chestnut, as my evening lip product of choice). One thing I will say is that the Applicator can be a little messy, but other than that, I can’t fault the really nourishing, glass-like finish. If you are looking for an alternative to lipstick looks like Like lipstick, but feeling like a light, non-sticky balm, this is the product for you.

New from Jones Road, this product has exceeded all my expectations. I would say this sits more in the lip balm category, but adds a sheer wash of color seriously Impressive shine. There are nine shades available (including a clear option), and the formula contains moisture-boosting peptides. What I like is that it creates a super-shiny finish without that horrible sticky feeling. The cooling metal Applicator is also a nice touch, but it can be a little fiddly at times. I like to wear it alone during the day, and then apply the clear version over my favorite lip liner in the evening.

When I interviewed Daisy Edgar-Jones, she told me this was one of her favorite beauty products, so you know I had to try it immediately. Since testing, I can see why it has Daisy’s seal of approval. Although there are only eight shades available, each offers a fun pop of color. The formula starts as a solid gloss that heats up on contact with the lips, creating a liquid, glass-like finish that looks impossibly shiny. It looks great, is comfortable to wear and easy to put on, which is why it has become a staple in my handbag.

4. Rhode Peptide Lip Tint

Whereas While Rhode’s lip product is generally considered a lip balm, it actually provides an incredibly glossy finish, which is why I consider it one of the best glossy lip balm hybrids on the market. It’s not like lipstick in the sense that it won’t give a strong hint of color, but it creates a sheer color that looks shiny, feels hydrating and is easy to reapply.

Westman Atelier is one of my all-time favorite beauty brands, thanks to its easy-to-use formula that looks and feels natural on the skin. The brand’s latest launch, the Hydrobalm Tinted Lipstick, is no exception. When I first tried it, I was skeptical whether a lipstick-style formula could really be so hydrating, but I have to say, I’m impressed. While everything about it looks like Like lipstick, nothing about it feels Like one. The lightweight formula glides on to the lips with a balm-like feel, adding buildable color and subtle shine. This is the ideal product for that “smoky lip” look that I just can’t get enough of.

I haven’t stopped talking about this balm-like lip tint from Gucci ever since I got my hands on a sample. the formula is so interesting. It’s incredibly lightweight, with a watery texture that looks like it won’t do anything, but in reality it’s capable of everything and much more. It applies like a balm (thanks to ingredients like cranberry biopeptides and hyaluronic acid), looks like a glossy lip oil and adds long-lasting color to lips, taking the place of lipstick. I have yet to find a lip product like it, and I have been recommending it to everyone I know.

A super glossy, nourishing lip tint, Laneige’s formula is loaded with ceramides for a hydrated finish that doesn’t feel sticky. Plus, it’s easy to customize the color depending on the look you want. For £20, I can see myself reaching for this every day.

8. Summer Friday Lip Butter Balm

When my lips feel particularly dry, I love reaching for them Summer Friday Lip Butter Balm. Yes, it’s designed to be a nourishing lip balm, but the glossy finish it gives is out of this world. You can apply it over your favorite lipstick for a deeper look of color, but I personally prefer wearing it on its own for a sheer finish.