By Adriana Ermter
Remember when a lip balm was just a waxy stick, rolling around the bottom of your Longchamps tote, wedged between receipts and a pack of gum. Brand names like Blistex, Vaseline and Carmex reigned supreme with their no-nonsense formulas of petroleum jelly, menthol and beeswax. They soothed dry lips, healed cracks and provided a layer of much-needed protection. But these were products of practicality. Functional, yes. Glamorous? Not exactly.
Well, that’s changed. Dramatically. The balms we’ve worn and loved for over a century, with ties to Chapstick’s original 1880s version, have been reimagined. Tinted lippies, oils, cheeky hybrids and balmy gels now fill our bathroom cabinets—all courtesy of their ability to blur the lines between skincare and makeup, offering hydration and healing with a side hustle of colour. Crafted with nourishing and moisturizing ingredients like castor oil, lanolin and hyaluronic acid they take us beyond fixing flaky lips and into the fresh no-makeup makeup aesthetic of flushed hues with a radiant glow.
Brands like Glossier and Clarins who, respectively, helped set the frenetic pace with the launch of their now must-have products like Balm Dotcom and Lip Comfort Oil are to thank. They’ve leveled up the formula game. Lighter, shinier and more sensorial experiences replete with nourishing ingredients like jojoba, avocado oil and hyaluronic acid to smooth and plump now co-exist with pretty colours are now the new normal. And we can’t get enough. Our everyday ritual has elevated into something a little more beautiful and a lot more fun—and with a seemingly never-ending supply of options. Here is a dozen of our new favourites to try this spring.
The Clean-Girl Staple:
Biossance Pro-Peptide Lip Perfector in “Blush Quartz”
$25, available at www.sephora.ca
Why we love it: A gloss-meets-treatment hybrid that’s all about serious hydration, soft sheen, and skin-loving ingredients—perfect for the minimalist who wants it all.
More to know: This hydrating, multitasking lip treatment delivers both care and colour. Its sheer pink balm combines the benefits of skincare with the appeal of makeup, offering a natural tint while nourishing your lips. Formulated with micro-encapsulated hyaluronic acid, it provides deep, long-lasting hydration by slowly releasing moisture throughout the day. Sugarcane-derived squalane mimics your skin’s natural oils, locking in hydration and supporting the moisture barrier. Palmitoyl tripeptide-1, a hard to say collagen-boosting peptide, helps smooth fine lines and enhance lip fullness. Plus, it’s vegan, cruelty-free and part of the brand’s commitment to clean beauty, which includes banning over 2,000 potentially harmful ingredients from their formulations.
The Feel-Good Favourite:
Burt’s Bees Gloss and Glow Glossy Balm in “Eat, Drink and Be Cherry”
$11.99, available at www.burtsbees.ca and www.shoppersdrugmart.ca
Why we love it: With its nourishing oils, glossy finish and cheerful cherry tint, this is the balm that puts a smile on your face and your lips.
More to know: The grown-up answer to those sticky glosses we all loved (and maybe regretted) in our teens. With a sheer cherry-red tint that flatters without trying too hard, this balm-gloss hybrid delivers a subtle pop of colour and just the right amount of shine that’s perfect for running errands, coffee catchups or Zoom meetings that could’ve been an email. True to Burt’s Bee’s standards, the lippy also contains beeswax to form a natural barrier on your lips to locks in moisture. Coconut oil and shea butter work to nourish and soften, while sweet almond oil adds lightweight hydration. That’s because Burt’s Bees know what they’re doing: crafting natural, sustainable beauty since 1984—way before “clean beauty” was even a buzzword.
The Icon:
Clinique Almost Lipstick in “Black Honey”
$33, available at www.clinique.ca
Why we love it: Universally flattering and effortlessly cool, this cult-classic has stood the test of time and still manages to feel modern every time you swipe it on.
More to know: Clinique’s Almost Lipstick in “Black Honey” isn’t just riding the viral wave—it’s been iconic since the ’70s for a reason. With its sheer, buildable tint that somehow suits literally everyone, from Liv Tyler and Julia Roberts to Molly Ringwald and Zooey Deschanel, this lipstick-balm hybrid walks the line between makeup and skincare. Castor seed oil helps attract and retain moisture, leaving lips plush and hydrated, while candelilla wax forms a protective barrier that locks in moisture giving the formula its smooth, glide-on texture. Together, they create a balmy feel that keeps your lips soft without feeling greasy or heavy. But we attribute it’s cult status to the lipstick’s uncanny ability to enhance your natural lip tone rather than mask it.
The Budget Beauty Gem:
e.l.f. Glow Reviver Melting Lip Balm in “Strawberry Shortcake”
$12, available at www.elfcosmetics.com
Why we love it: Affordable and ultra-hydrating, it melts onto lips with a subtle wash of colour and glossy glow.
More to know: The brand’s name may be just three little letters, but it’s lip balms pack big impact. Juicy with buttery-soft texture, they’re the right mix of colour, hydration and glow. The formula is replete with a nourishing trio: squalane, shea butter and meadowfoam seed oil. Squalane, a saturated oil, helps increase the hydration in your lips. Shea butter soothes and smooths away any dryness, chapping or cracking, while meadowfoam seed oil keeps moisture locked in for long-lasting softness and a subtle glossy finish. Bonus: it’s clean, vegan, cruelty-free and at a price point that practically demands you buy more than one colour.
The Overnight MVP:
grace & stella Kiss Me Softly. Lip Mask in “Berry”
$16, available at www.graceandstella.com
Why we love it: Thick, plush and packed with nourishing ingredients, this mask works overtime while you rest, so you wake up with lips that feel restored and relaxed.
More to know: This is the bedtime beauty secret your lips have been waiting for. Plush and cushiony, the mask blends super hydrating ingredients like shea butter and coconut oil, which sink in deeply to replenish moisture and repair chapped, flaky lips. There’s also vitamin E in the mix, acting like a tiny shield against environmental stressors, while gently boosting the skin’s natural healing process. It’s thick, not greasy; rich, yet breathable. And even though it’s geared for nighttime, its soft berry flush makes it a pretty way to hydrate during the day. That’s because grace & stella is all about feel-good rituals, even when you’re sleeping through them.
The Overachiever:
Laneige Glaze Craze Tinted Polypeptide Lip Serum in “Raspberry Jam”
$30, available at www.sephora.ca
Why we love it: This serum-gloss hybrid straddles skincare and makeup perfectly, bringing that Y2K-inspired lacquered lip look into the wellness era.
More to know: This isn’t your average gloss. Glaze Craze Tinted Polypeptide Lip Serum is the kind of multitasking hero that makes you wonder how you ever lived without it. Ultra-glossy without a hint of stickiness, its sheer, wearable wash enhances your natural lip tone with just enough pigment to look intentional. But it’s the ingredients that seal the deal. Polypeptides help to visibly plump and smooth, giving your lips that soft-focus, pillowy effect, while hydrating oils keep everything feeling nourished. Basically, it’s the lip product that shows up, glows up and does the absolute most in the best way.
The French-Canadian Favourite:
Lise Watier Love My Lips Fresh Tinted Lip Gel in “Cherry Cola”
$35, available at watier.com and www.shoppersdrugmart.ca
Why we love it: It’s lightweight, juicy and just bold enough, with a tint that feels like skincare and wears like something special.
More to know: A Canadian beauty staple for more than 50 years, Lise Watier is it. And so is the brand’s Love My Lips Fresh Tinted Lip Gel, as it gives us old-school lip-smacking vibes with its “Cherry Cola” burgundy-red lip hue. Both playful and polished, its perfect for low maintenance high glam moments. But what really sets this gel apart is how it feels on. The formula is silky and hydrating, thanks to a blend of hyaluronic acid, coconut oil and aloe vera. Hyaluronic acid helps draw in moisture, so lips look plump and smooth. Coconut oil softens and nourishes, while aloe calms and soothes, especially helpful when your lips are feeling a little dry. The texture is more serum than gloss and has a lightweight feel.
The 2-in-1 Wonder:
Marcelle Cheek Loving Cheek and Lip Multi-Stick in “Gently Coral”
$19.95, available at www.shoppersdrugmart.ca
Why we love it: Its perfect for the five-minute face. It delivers natural colour to cheeks and lips in one fuss-free stick.
More to know: This cheeky lip is basically sunshine in a swipe. And its creamy stick glides on with zero fuss delivering just the right pop of warm, peachy colour to your lips…and your cheeks. Thanks to the formula’s buttery texture it practically melts right on. Hydrating castor seed oil, rich in fatty acids, deeply nourish and soften making it perfect for drier lips and more sensitive complexions. Antioxidant vitamin E helps protect against environmental stressors while keeping skin supple and smooth. And thanks to its blendable texture, the finish is never streaky or sticky. Plus, it’s fragrance-free and dermatologist-tested, making it a feel-good, look-great essential in your everyday routine.
The Effortless Cool Girl:
MERIT Shade Slick Sheen Tinted Lip Oil in “Tabby”
$33, available at www.meritbeauty.com and www.sephora.com
Why we love it: A low-maintenance gloss with high-impact hydration, this sheer neutral adds a touch of polish without trying too hard.
More to know: This is what happens when your minimalist aesthetic meets your lip product dreams. MERIT’s sheer, neutral brown-rose hue “Tabby” walks that perfect line between polished and effortless. And it makes lips look better with its hit of subtle shine that feels chic, not overdone. Loaded with a blend of plant-derived squalane, jojoba oil and shea butter, the formula’s ingredients work together to soften, smooth and lock in moisture. Squalane mimics your skin’s natural oils to hydrate without heaviness, jojoba oil soothes and conditions, while shea butter adds a nourishing layer that keeps lips feeling comfy all day long. The texture is silky and the pigment builds beautifully. Just one more reason why the brand has quickly become a favourite in the clean-beauty space—since its Sephora debut, sell-outs and glowing reviews have been the norm. So, if you want this lippy, buy now to avoid waitlists.
The Skincare Devotee’s Pick:
Naturium Phyto-Glow Lip Balm in “Latte”
$14.99, available at www.naturium.com and www.shoppersdrugmart.ca
Why we love it: With plant-based hydrators and a warm, wearable tint, this balm earns its place in both your beauty bag and your wellness routine.
More to know: No one was happier than us when this science-backed skincare brand with its accessible price points finagled its way into the lip category. Seriously. It’s a clean, conscious upgrade from your standard balm with a formula that feels luxe, performs like skincare and looks like you’ve got your life together (even when your shirt’s inside out and you’re chugging milk straight out of the carton. In public.). As for “Latte,” its warm, milky nude shade delivers a barely-there tint that flatters all skin tones, giving lips a soft, glazed finish with just enough glow to feel fresh but never flashy. Behind the scenes, the formula works overtime too. Phyto-derived esters help reinforce the skin barrier, squalane mimics your skin’s natural oils for deep hydration and shea butter brings its signature creamy moisture, helping to soothe your dry, flaky lips to keep them soft all day long.
The Drugstore Glow-Up:
QUO Beauty Plumping Lip Oil in “Sweet Heat”
$13, available at www.shoppersdrugmart.ca
Why we love it: Glossy, hydrating and oh so plumping, this one brings big-lip energy without the sting or the price tag.
More to know: This warm, peachy-pink tint brings just the right amount of colour to enhance your natural lip tone while dialing up the shine and the volume. Equal parts gloss and treatment, this lippy’s formula is skincare-grade quality all the way. Infused with hyaluronic acid, it draws moisture deep into the lips for a plumper, smoother look without the burn or tingle of traditional plumpers. Additionally, nourishing oils work to soften and hydrate, giving you a glassy finish without any of the stickiness. Canadian-born and exclusive to Shoppers Drug Mart, this lip oil is affordable, fun and works hard to make sure you look great.
The Skinfluencer’s Secret:
Rhode Peptide Lip Tint in “Espresso”
$27, available at www.rhodeskin.com
Why we love it: Sleek, subtle and science-backed, this tint is packed with peptides and delivers the perfect balance of colour and care.
More to know: If you think you’re onto something with Rhode’s tinted lippy, you’re absolutely correct. After all, its founder Hailey Bieber didn’t garner over one million waitlist signups within a mere 10 months of launching her brand for nothing. And newbie, rich, brown shade “Espresso” is fast becoming a go-to hue for good reason. For starters, it’s a cool-girl take on a classic coffee tone: rich, moody and effortlessly chic, giving your lips that sultry, just-sipped-a-mocha finish. Plus, it’s formulated with peptides to help support collagen production, making lips feel plumper and smoother. Shea butter and cupuaçu butter bring deep hydration and cushiony softness, while babassu oil, a lightweight, tropical oil, keeps everything nourished. Last but not least, its skincare-level of care with the payoff of a perfectly tinted balm goes beyond surface-level shine.
