In January 2017, two beauty names launched tinted lip balms within weeks of each other: Yves Saint Laurent Beaute with the Volupte Tint-in-Balm, and Laneige with the Two Tone Tint Lip Bar. Both followed existing bestsellers, and both promised colour with real moisture.
The launches came at a turning point. Matte liquid lipsticks had dominated 2015 and glosses returned in 2016. Lip balms with a tint offered a softer, more nourishing alternative.
YSL Beaute Volupte Tint-in-Balm
At launch, the Volupte Tint-in-Balm cost $54. It was a hybrid of YSL’s Rouge Volupte Shine lipsticks and its Volupte Tint-in-Oil. The colour was sheer, but modelled on the Tint-in-Oil for staying power. At the centre sat a lip-shaped core of nourishing balm.
The colour built with each swipe. The more it was applied, the deeper the shade got and the longer it lasted. Even at its deepest it stayed a sheer wash rather than a full-coverage lipstick.
The texture was the selling point. It was buttery enough to melt on with each pass and was described as completely non-sticky. The moisture lasted a few hours, though it felt pleasant enough that reapplying was tempting.
The range had 12 shades. One favourite was No. 5 Dare Me Plum, which after several swipes gave a wine-stained plum colour, close to a Ribena-toned balm.
Laneige Two Tone Tint Lip Bar
Laneige’s bar was priced at S$32 and arrived in January 2017, according to Marie France Asia. It was a sequel to the original Two Tone Lip Bar, which had made the Korean gradient lip look easy to achieve.
The difference was in the design. The original bar had its two shades meet in a single diagonal line. The new version cut the tint section into a V. The tint sat on the inner part of the lips, while the balm cared for the drier outer area.
The result was still the K-beauty gradient, but with a sheerer colour payoff and a more nourishing finish. The bars came in eight pastel combinations, such as blue, mint and purple. Once on the lips, they gave off various shades of red. Two of the eight were combinations chosen by brand ambassador Lee Sung Kyung.
The balm used the same Moisture Wrap technology as the brand’s Lip Sleeping Mask, designed to lock moisture in and keep lips hydrated.
How to get the gradient
- Apply to the lower lip with the tint side facing up.
- Flip the bar upside down for the upper lip.
- Press the lips together to blend the gradient.
Choosing between them
The two products suited different tastes and budgets. YSL’s was the pricier, with a single-swipe build-up in a deeper wine or plum shade. Laneige’s, at S$32, was the cheaper choice and the one that gave the two-tone ombre effect. Both put care before colour.