Try: Burberry Lip Glow Balm, $28

One of the higher-end new lippies, this balm version of Burberry's signature lip gloss couldn't be more glamorous. With its weighty, magnetized gunmetal tube and embossed bullet, this balm makes your utilitarian tube of Chapstick look frumpy.

Not only does this look like a lipstick in the package, it wears a little like a lipstick, too. Its texture is velvety rather than shiny, making it appear more like a stain on the lips. It comes in three sophisticated-looking shades -- the fuschia Pink Peony, the coral Orange Poppy, and the deep, wine-y Pink Azalea -- that look great on a variety of skin tones. I only wish that its scent was a little less perfume-y. (Yes, it even smells expensive.)

Try: Sephora Collection Kiss Me Balm, $8

Sephora's new tinted balm is adorably and distinctively packaged (imagine if Eos lip balm and an Easter egg had a baby). So if you're a compulsive re-applier, you'll have no problem finding this thing in the dregs of your handbag. Not to mention it delivers a surprisingly heavy load of glossy pigment and smells like fruity deliciousness. And the price point is fantastic; you can feel free to finally ditch the Carmex and load up on multiples of these, guilt-free.

Sephora claims that Kiss Me Balm offers up to four hours of hydration, and I'm not about to argue. The shades are great for summer, practically neon in the pot but a bit subtler on the lips. I like Melon Sorbet, which convinced me I really can wear an orange lip. As summer fades to fall, I'm looking forward to sporting the red Candy Apple and Soda Pop, a plummy purple.

Try: Bite Beauty BB for Lips, $24

There are BBs (aka beauty balms) for your face, body, hair and even nails. So why not lips? Bite Beauty's new balms are packed with the kind of benefits you'd see in a high-end BB face cream: trans-resveratrol, one of the most potent antioxidants; repairing lipids; and SPF 15 sunscreen.

If you're into the no-makeup look, you'll love this product: It made my lips look supple, smooth and full without looking shiny or, well, makeup-y. Plus, the balm's shades are earthy and natural-looking -- no fuschias, violets or tangelos here. My two favorites are the reddish-brown Tawny, which looks great with a faux tan or dusting of bronzer, and Dolce, an approachable sheer burgundy that I can't wait to wear in fall. Other shades include the coral Flush and brown-pink Suede. As one of the drier balms, this made my lips a little parched after several hours of wear, but this benefit-packed balm fills a unique spot in the market -- and in my makeup drawer.

Try: L'Oréal Colour Riche Balm Pop, $7.99

Nars Pure Matte Lipstick in Carthage: It's been sitting in my makeup drawer forever. I refuse to get rid of this electric pink lipstick, yet I've worn it twice. It's the makeup equivalent of shouting into a megaphone.

Thus, Colour Riche Balm Pop. It lets you wear the super-bright shades that your bold inner self gravitates to, but it's not so opaque that your outer self isn't too shy to wear it. The orange-y Fiery Red would look great on dark or olive complexions, and there are no fewer than three wild pink shades, including (natch) Electric Pink. Jojoba oil and shea butter give it a purported eight hours of moisturizing capabilities. That claim seems exaggerated, methinks, unless these people expect me to go eight hours without drinking coffee or eating peanut butter pretzels, which -- let's face it -- never happens.

Balm Pop is on the more opaque end of the tinted balm spectrum, and while I usually prefer sheerer formulas, I've been adding Electric Pink to my beauty routine and enjoying it. Who knows? I may even work up to Carthage.