Tinted lip balm and matching liners make up the Lip Idole line from Lancome, a lighter alternative to a full lipstick. The range covers the Butterglow balms, which give sheer colour with a soft cushioned feel, and the Lip Idole liners in coordinating shades for outlining and filling in.
How you use the two together depends on the look. Butterglow on its own gives a wash of colour and a comfortable, glossy finish that works for everyday wear and reapplies without a mirror. Pairing a liner underneath gives the shape more definition and keeps the colour in place for longer, which matters more with sheer formulas than with matte ones. Shade numbers are shared between the balm and the liner, so a 33 liner is built to sit under the 33 balm. If you prefer a softer edge, run the liner just inside the lip line rather than along it. Because the balm carries less pigment than a lipstick, it layers well over a liner without looking heavy, and it suits anyone moving from clear balm to colour for the first time.
The Lip Idole range is stocked at Ronaghan's Pharmacy, a family-run Irish pharmacy, next to the rest of the Lancome lip collection. Browse the shades below to pick a balm, a liner, or the pair in the same number.