I can be fully decked out with foundation, concealer, mascara, and a killer brow, but until I've dabbed a little somethin' somethin' on my lips and cheeks, I feel like an extra from The Walking Dead. And, according to a Slack session I recently had with my fellow Who What Wear beauty editors, I'm not alone! All it took for me was to type "best-ever lip-and-cheek tints, go!" and the energized banter took off in about two seconds flat. Suffice to say, there's no better way to look immediately fresh and revived than applying a fabulous multi-tasking lip-and-cheek-tint atop your pout and complexion. The one and only glitch? There are so many amazing formulas to choose from.
After hours of research and Slacking and/or texting everyone I know in the industry, I finally whittled down my initial 25 best lip-and-cheek tints to a more digestible 16. (And yes, I realize that's still a lot, but I'm physically unable to narrow down the array any further. Sorry, not sorry!) Ahead, 16 dreamy lip-and-cheek tints that are not only beauty editor-approved, but act like a shot of espresso for your face. Keep scrolling!
My life was forever changed when makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes blessed my face with her magic a couple of years back. One of my favorite takeaways I still swear by to this day? Glossier's beloved Cloud Paint (which is technically marketed as a blush) patted lightly on my lips for a subtle, diffused touch of color. I now treat the formula like a true lip-and-cheek tint, and the shade Puff is my go-to.
If you haven't tried Merit's juicy, yet sheer, Flush Balms yet, you're in for a treat. The creamy tint melts effortlessly into your skin and lips for a luminous hit of color. The glow is so healthy and natural-looking, people will think you get 10 hours of sleep at night, guzzle 64 ounces of water a day, and view junk food as a foreign concept. Cheeky and Raspberry Beret are favorites amongst the WWW editor set.
I'm a sucker for anything that will look elevated AF when I whip it out at a bar or restaurant, so obviously, I have a weakness for Jeanne Damas's line of lip and cheek palettes. There are multiple shades to choose from and you can even pick your poison when it comes to the formula: powder vs. cream. I personally love the cream palette in Chaleur when I want to hit both my lips and my cheeks with a hint of Parisian-inspired color.
We adore everything and anything Nudestix here at Who What Wear, but you definitely shouldn't sleep on the brand's handy gel color lip and cheek sticks. Each shade packs in loads of yummy moisturizing ingredients while also blessing dull skin and lips with a glossy (but not too glossy) swipe of color. Plus, you'll never have to worry about messy touch-ups, it's the easiest trick to keep stashed in your bag or pocket.
Ilia has quickly become one of the most coveted makeup brands in and out of the clean beauty space. If you like a hint of shimmer with your cheek and lip aesthetic, you'll be the latest (amongst thousands) to fall in love with the fan-favorite Multi-Stick.
Famous in the UK, Dr. Pawpaw's tinted, universal balm is one of the most affordable in our mix but also one of the most satisfying. It's been coined as a miracle balm for skin, lips, and hair, the starring ingredient is moisturizing papaya, and the tinted tubes are great for when you want to liven up your complexion with zero fuss. Oh, and it will only set you back $5, so there's that.
Y2K lovers, rejoice! Almost two decades after its original launch, Tarte blessed us by bringing back the juicy, buildable cheek stain that gained an insane following back in the day. We recommend hoarding all three colors while they're still available. And, since it's Tarte, each lip-and-cheek tint is packed with lush ingredients like acerola, goji, and açaí.
Speaking of iconic lip-and-cheek tints, we'd be remiss to ignore Benefit's longtime best-seller, Benetint. The brand has launched additional iterations over the years, but after all of this time, we're still smitten with the original—a rose-hued lip-and-cheek stain that mimics the look of frost-bitten cheeks and popsicle stained lips all in one go.
If you want some range when it comes to color choice, let us introduce you to makeup artist Danessa Myricks's namesake makeup line. This eye, lip, and cheek cream comes in multiple finishes (matte, metallic, and high-shine) and serves everything from cerulean blue to pink to violet. I dare you to walk away with just one.
This classic lip-and-cheek tint from Nars is like the Dirty Martini of the makeup world: chic and absolutely never out of style. Get it in Orgasm (duh) for the full experience.
I could probably subsist on Tata Harper products and Tata Harper products alone until the end of time and be perfectly content. The brand's vitamin-infused blushes are *extra* to-die-for and add a satiny pop of color wherever you choose to apply them. We do our lips, cheeks, and lids.
Nothing is more satisfying than buying a multi-tasking multi-tasker! This lip-and-cheek tint comes recommended by associate beauty editor Katie Berohn. It's dual-ended, and you can use both the bronzing side and the blushing side anywhere on your face. Honestly, we can't think of a better way to spend $32.
Live Tinted's twistable crayon situation makes zhuzing up your lips and cheeks practically foolproof. The colors are über flattering, the buildable formula slides across your skin like butter, and you're left with a natural-looking, demi-matte finish.
If Tower 28's BeachPlease Lip + Cheek Cream Blushes don't make you froth at the mouth, I don't know what will. The formula gives back to your skin thanks to strategic ingredients like aloe vera and green tea extract, and the succulent finish lends the best ratio of glow and pigment to your lips and cheeks. Your summer beauty arsenal isn't complete without at least a few different shades.
Editors, makeup artists, and facialists alike have all been fawning over Chanel's new sustainable beauty line, N°1 De Chanel. That said, this dewy lip and cheek balm has quickly become one of the most-wanted products in the collection. (In fact, it sells out at retailers again and again!) The colors are gorgeous and the ingredients are fab—think luxe touches like nourishing red camelia oil.
Rich in antioxidants and other natural ingredients like beetroot extract and rosehip oil, Ere Perez's hydrating tint is one of the top-rated lip-and-cheek duos on the market, point-blank. It's a great one to prioritize if you're trying to clean up your makeup routine.
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