I’ve loved Fresh’s tinted Lip Treatment since as far back as I can remember (Fig, a come-kiss-me berry, and Poppy, a creamy nude are two of my can’t-live-without beauty staples). Sometimes, your look doesn’t require a full-on lip, but you still want some color… and perhaps some hydration. The trick is to find a product that doesn’t look like you’re actually wearing any product — just enhances what you already have. That’s why tinted balms are a necessity in every beauty arsenal.
I just tried Context Nude Balm ($20), a new launch of four varying nude shades, from peachy-nude to berry-nude, and it’s my current go-to for a balm with a hint of hue. The colors are pretty, not flashy or wow-look-at-me, but they give good tint and they mix well together. The formula isn’t creamy like Fresh’s (I love the creaminess because it really moisturizes; I loathe the creaminess because it always slides and ends up on my teeth); it’s sheer so it has an ever-so-subtle gloss finish. Not glossy, like gooey or slick, more like your lips look super hydrated and naturally plumper. All four colors are universally flattering for all skin tones, but my favorite is Nobody’s Fool, a rosy-nude (one shade up from petal pink nude, Heartbreaker), that gives serious lip attitude with the slightest tint of mauve. There’s zero shimmer, just pure hydration and a bit of tint. It’s your lips, just better. All four col...