The e.l.f. Lip Balm Lineup, From Squeeze Me to Glow Reviver

The e.l.f. Lip Balm Lineup, From Squeeze Me to Glow Reviver

An e.l.f. lip balm is vegan, so it skips the beeswax most balms rely on. Here are the Glow Reviver and Squeeze Me shades I would look at, the glossy treatments around them, and balms from other brands that feel different on the lips.

Most lip balms lean on beeswax, and e.l.f. does not use it. The brand is certified by PETA as Global Animal Test-Free and Vegan, which rules out animal-derived ingredients like beeswax, and it has been Leaping Bunny certified since 2022. So an e.l.f. lip balm gets its buttery feel without the usual wax. The e.l.f. lip balm range I keep coming back to has two clear personalities.

The Glow Reviver Melting Lip Balm is the playful one. e.l.f. describes it as a rich, buttery, flavored balm that gives a wash of buildable color, high-gloss shine and a boost of hydration. The Real Dill, Blackberry Sorbet, Yummy Gummy and Strawberry Shortcake are the four I would look at first. Because the tint is sheer and buildable, I swipe once, check the mirror, then decide about a second pass.

The Squeeze Me Lip Balm is the quieter one. It is a lightweight, sheer glow balm with hyaluronic acid to hydrate and moisturize, and it comes in Blueberry, Vanilla Frosting, Strawberry and Peach. I treat these as a glowing balm first and anything else second, which makes them easy to keep in a coat pocket.

A simple test: wear a Glow Reviver one day and a Squeeze Me the next, over the same bare lips. Notice which one you reach for by lunch. That tells you if you want a hint of tint or only a soft glow.

Big numbers collage titled E.L.F. LIP BALM, six products numbered one to six with each product set beside its number: e.l.f., Glossier and KAYALI
e.l.f. Lip Balm

e.l.f. lip balms

Glossy treatments and balms that shine

This grid is for balms that lean glossy. The e.l.f. Thirst Burst Lip Treatment in Clear Pomelo and Sheer Guava is a cushiony peptide balm with 1 percent Peptide Complex to visibly plump lips, plus a butter blend for 12-hour moisture and a clear, glossy finish. The e.l.f. Hydrating Core Lip Shine in Delightful and Lovely is a melting balm with a heart-shaped core of vitamin E, while the outer shell adds a sheer tint.

Outside e.l.f., the choices get more skin care minded. Glossier Balm Dotcom in Birthday is a soft shimmer clear, made with castor seed oil, beeswax and lanolin, and Glossier suggests it as a skin salve for cuticles, elbows and knees too. rhode Peptide Lip Treatment in Unscented is a high shine glaze with peptide, shea butter and vitamin E that you can use day or night. Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm in Pink Sugar is a sheer light pink with shea and murumuru butters, and it doubles as an overnight mask. Sincerely Yours Sugarcoat Gloss in Bubbleberry is a sheer pink gloss balm with a fruity bubblegum flavor, shea butter, and a barrier friendly blend of encapsulated hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and ceramides.

A pairing idea: press the Thirst Burst over a Glow Reviver for extra cushion and shine.

What I would skip: stacking two thick butters in the middle of the day. Save the Summer Fridays for bedtime and keep something lighter in your bag.

Glossy lip balms and treatments

Balms from other brands, from butter to sugar

These are balms from other brands, and they show how different a balm can feel. KAYALI Yum Cashmere Kiss in Yum Boujee Marshmallow 81 is a pink balm with a soft silicone applicator, a warm and sweet gourmand scent, a soft shine finish and up to 8 hours of hydration. Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Kiss Cupuaçu Lip Butter has cupuaçu, açaí and coconut oil for a dewy sheen, and it carries a Brazilian caramel scent. Mango People Hydrating Glossy Mango Butter Lip Balm in Mango combines mango butter, kokum butter and prickly pear seed oil, and it can be worn as an overnight mask.

The simple ones matter too. The Moisturizing Lip Balm in Watermelon is a vegan balm made with 95 percent natural ingredients, for up to eight hours of nourishment, and the Nourishing Lip Butter in Vanilla is a vegan butter made for up to twelve hours of hydration. fresh Sugar Lip Balm in Rose is a rosy pink balm with sugar from beet root and sugar cane, sheer buildable color and 24hr hydration. Kulfi Lip Snack Glossing Balm in Watermelon Sherbet is a sheer light pink with a watermelon scent and a nonsticky, high shine finish. MAKE BEAUTY Serum Balm in Halo Moon is one I can only describe by its name, so I will leave the rest to its product page.

A pairing tip: Sol de Janeiro says its lip butter works as a base under lip stains and lipsticks.

What I would skip: a strongly scented balm right before a meal. Reach for a plain one then.

Lip balms from other brands to try

Choosing the balm that fits your day

Pick the balm by the moment you need it. For a bag balm, the Squeeze Me shades are lightweight and sheer. For a little color, the Glow Reviver is the one I would grab. For nights, a butter or a mask style balm like the Mango People or Summer Fridays does the quiet work while you sleep. If your lips are dry, start with a balm that has a clear job, then add tint on top. A balm should feel good in the first minute and still feel good at lunch, and if it does, it earns its spot.