Lipsticks are now pulling double-duty as several chic new balmy blends debut

Let’s face it: lipstick is tricky. Not only can color choice create dilemmas, but applying it correctly can confound even the most experienced of beauty junkies. Thankfully, several brands have recently introduced a new iteration of it into their product ranges—hybrid lipsticks with the color delivery of the original, conditioning effects of a balm and low sheen of a gloss.

“What people are looking for is a trusty chapstick that doesn’t come in a sporty plastic tube,” says Sasha Plavsic, founder of the organic, lip-focused beauty brand Ilia, which just launched six new hybrid lipsticks in on-trend shades. “Most people like lipstick but don’t like how it can leave lips dry; others prefer gloss but may not be a fan of how sticky they can be. In the end most women will have a lip balm they use in between takes of gloss and lipstick. It made sense to offer this in a different format that would be appealing to use for its feel and color selection.”

Though highly pigmented, these new lipsticks all offer more sheer coverage and glide-on application thanks to richly moisturizing formulas packed with ingredients like beeswax and cocoa butter. Make Up For Ever’s new Rouge Artist Natural, blended with cuapaçu butter, which is rich in essential fatty acids, comes in 50 drool-worthy shades in three finishes (satin, iridescent and diamond).

Also new are 12 bold shades of Dior Addict Extreme with its combo of hyaluronic acid, four waxes and shine-enhancing oils. You can also match your nails to your lips (something we’ve been seeing more and more) with Dior Addict’s new nail polishes, four of which coordinate perfectly with statement-making hues from the lipstick collection. Lancôme launched Rouge in Love and Vernis in Love last month with a range of 24 on-trend hybrid lipsticks and matching nail lacquers for that perfectly polished ladylike look.

And it’s not only about the balminess: Kaplan MD infused its new range of eight conditioning lipsticks with SPF 20 as well as peptides and 22 USDA-certified organic extracts that add moisture and fullness and repair the delicate skin of the lips. Never has lipstick been so easy—or beneficial!