I Hate Wearing Lipstick—8 Hydrating Alternatives I Swear by Instead

Does anyone else find even the best lipsticks incredibly drying? No matter how much I prep my lips beforehand, I can almost guarantee that after applying lipstick in the morning, they will be dry and chapped by lunch. It's something that I've just had to accept over the years, and often find myself reaching for one of my favourite lip liners and a hydrating lip balm or lip gloss instead. In turn, this means I have about ten million lip products in my handbag, and if I'm being really honest, I miss using just a single lipstick to swipe on and go.

So, when I saw one of my colleagues 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 colour, a glossy finish and a hydrating formula, without the need for balms, liners or glosses on top. It was this product that had me researching other glossy lip balm hybrids, and it turns out, there's a whole world of hydrating, high-performing lip products out there.

With brands such as 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 have created a concise edit of products that actually deliver on both nourishing formulas and high-performing finishes. If you're also a lipstick hater, I highly recommend checking out my recommendations below.

The Best Glossy Lip Balms, Tried & Tested

• Best Overall: Hourglass Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balm, £36
• Best Glossy Option: Jones Road Lip Recharge, £24
• Best to Apply on the Go: Estée Lauder Pure Colour Melt-On Glosstick, £34
• Best Hydrating Option: Rhode Peptide Lip Tint, £20
• Best for Blurred Lips: Westman Atelier Hydrobalm Tinted Lipstick, £45

1. Hourglass Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balm

I consider this Hourglass lip product the best glossy balm on the market. With a three-in-one hybrid formula, it hydrates the lips, adds an impressive wash of colour and delivers a glossy finish. The gold vessel feels 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 apart from that, I literally can't fault the nourishing, glass-like finish. If you're looking for a lipstick alternative that looks like lipstick, but feels like a lightweight, non-sticky balm, this is the product for you.

2. Jones Road Lip Recharge

New from Jones Road, this product surpassed all my expectations. I would say it sits more in the lip balm category, but adds a sheer wash of colour and seriously impressive shine. There are nine shades available (including a clear option), and the formula itself contains moisture-boosting peptides. What I love is that it creates a super-glossy finish without that dreaded sticky feeling. The cooling metal applicator is also a nice touch, but it can be a little messy at times. I love wearing this alone in the daytime, and then layering the clear version over my favourite lip liner in the evening.

3. Estée Lauder Pure Colour Melt-On Glosstick

When I interviewed Daisy Edgar-Jones, she told me that this was one of her favourite beauty products, so you know I had to try it straight away. Since testing, I can see why it has Daisy's seal of approval. Whilst there are only eight shades available, each one delivers a fun pop of colour. 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 apply, which is why it's become a handbag staple of mine.

4. Rhode Peptide Lip Tint

While Rhode's lip product is generally considered a lip balm, it actually delivers 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 a lipstick in the sense that it won't deliver a strong hint of colour, but it does create a sheer tint that looks shiny, feels hydrating and is easy to reapply.

5. Westman Atelier Hydrobalm Tinted Lipstick

Westman Atelier is one of my all-time favourite beauty brands thanks to the easy-to-use formulas that look and feel natural on the skin. The brand's newest launch, the Hydrobalm Tinted Lipstick, is no exception. When I first tested this, I was skeptical whether the lipstick-style formula could actually be that hydrating, but I have to say, I'm impressed. Whilst everything about it looks like a lipstick, nothing about it feels like one. The lightweight formula glides onto the lips with a balm-like feel, adding buildable colour and a subtle sheen. This is the ideal product for that "blurred lip" look that I can't get enough of right now.

6. Gucci Glow Oil-In-Water Tint Liquid Lipstick

I haven't stopped raving about this balm-like lip tint from Gucci since I got my hands on a sample. The formula is so interesting. It's incredibly lightweight, with a watery texture that seems like it wouldn't do anything, but actually manages to do everything and more. It applies like a balm (thanks to ingredients such as cranberry biopeptides and hyaluronic acid), looks like a glossy lip oil and adds a long-lasting tint to the lips, replacing lipstick altogether. I'm yet to come across any lip product like it, and have been recommending it to everyone I know.

7. Laneige JuicePop Box Lip Tint

A super glossy, nourishing lip tint, Laneige's formula is packed with ceramides for a hydrated finish that doesn't feel sticky. Plus, it's easy to build up the colour depending on your desired look. For £20, I can see myself reaching for this every single day.

8. Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm

When my lips are feeling particularly dry, I like to reach for the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm. Yes, it's designed as a nourishing lip balm, but the glossy finish that it gives is out of this world. You could wear it over your favourite lipstick for a stronger hint of colour, but I personally prefer to wear it on its own for a sheer finish.

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We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favourites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how and what we’d truly recommend to a friend.