New cult lip balm promises 24-hour hydration without a mask-like feel.

A newly updated cult balm claims it can help - bringing tint, shine and long-lasting care.

Constantly reapplying something to your lips only for them to feel rough again a short while later is a familiar frustration. In the beauty world, a revamped version of NARS’s well-known Afterglow Lip Balm is currently drawing plenty of attention. The brand’s promise is ambitious: lips that look smoother and feel cared for, plus a wash of colour that lasts throughout the day.

The hybrid trend: skincare and make-up in one

Over recent years, more and more people have gravitated towards so-called hybrid products. Rather than choosing between a traditional lipstick and a straightforward balm, formulas like NARS Afterglow Lip Balm aim to deliver both: a visible finish and credible lip care.

The balm comes in a simple twist-up tube with a metallic sheen, so at first glance it could pass as a standard make-up item. But its role is intended to go further: softening chapped lips, visually minimising fine dryness lines, and leaving a lightweight, sheer veil of colour at the same time.

"The Afterglow Lip Balm is designed to combine the comfort of a care stick with the look of a soft lipstick - without a sticky feel and without harsh edges."

NARS Afterglow Lip Balm upgrade: what’s changed in the formula

For years, NARS has positioned the balm as a “no make-up make-up” favourite: a touch of shine, a hint of pigment, but nothing that reads as heavy or overly “done”. Now the brand has reformulated it and is claiming moisturising benefits for up to 24 hours.

The goal is to keep the familiar buttery glide and the light, glossy finish, while making the conditioning effect last noticeably longer. In everyday terms, that should mean less topping up and fewer moments of tight, dry lips as the day goes on - at least in an ideal scenario.

Skincare-style tech in a lip balm: what’s inside

At the centre of the updated formula is a “Moisture-Locking” complex, intended to slow down moisture loss from the lips. Within that complex, NARS points to several familiar skincare ingredients:

• Hyaluronic acid spheres: help bind moisture and may make lips look slightly plumper.
• Mango seed oil: replenishes lipids, softens, and supports the skin’s natural barrier.
• Shea butter: a classic for dryness that adds comfort and a protective feel.
• Squalane: sits on the lips like a gentle shield without feeling overly greasy.
• Vitamin E: acts as an antioxidant and is meant to help defend against harmful environmental influences.

The brand also refers to clinical testing with a smaller group of participants. According to those results, skin hydration remained significantly higher for longer. In parallel, participants reported in questionnaires that the balm was easy to apply and felt comfortable to wear. Claims from manufacturers can be useful indicators, but they are not a substitute for large-scale independent studies.

What the “Moisture-Locking” effect means in practice

Lips have very few sebaceous glands, which is one reason they lose moisture quickly. A balm cannot change that biology, but it can:

• create a protective film,
• help keep water in the upper skin layers,
• smooth the surface,
• reduce dryness-related stinging.

A “24-hour” effect will always depend on your routine. If you drink and eat frequently, talk a lot, or spend winter days in persistently dry, heated air, you’ll usually still need to reapply. The balm may extend the time between applications, but it cannot eliminate every external factor.

Everyday shades: from nude to warm rose

When it comes to shade selection, NARS focuses on wearable, day-to-day tones. Instead of bold reds or purples, the range leans into understated colours that echo natural lip tones. One particularly well-known shade is “Orgasm” - a soft peachy-rose with a subtle golden shimmer that has long circulated on social media as a brand signature.

The line-up runs from very sheer options that are barely noticeable through to muted rose and rosewood shades. Some colours pull slightly orange, which can make paler complexions appear more lively. Every shade stays semi-transparent, letting your natural lip texture show through. The result reads less like a classic lipstick and more like “my lips, but better”.

Who are these shades best suited to?

This balm is primarily aimed at people who:

• don’t enjoy a heavily made-up look,
• find lipstick “too much” for everyday wear,
• struggle with dry lips,
• want a product for the office, university or video calls that doesn’t look like party make-up.

Because the coverage is sheer, the shades don’t need to match your skin tone precisely. They tend to adjust visually, making a shade mismatch less likely than with highly pigmented lipsticks.

How to work the balm into your routine

The Afterglow Lip Balm is positioned as a flexible all-rounder. It can slot into a minimalist care routine just as easily as it can complement a more involved make-up look. Three common ways to use it include:

• Everyday, on its own: quick to swipe on without a mirror, adding shine and a little colour - handy for travelling or top-ups in between.
• Over lipstick or lip liner: layered on top of a matte product, it boosts comfort and gives a glossier finish.
• As a night-time boost: if you don’t like thick, sticky overnight masks, you can apply a slightly more generous layer before bed.

Use	Effect
Thin layer during the day	Light tint, subtle shine, fresher look
Multiple layers	Higher shine, more visible colour, cared-for finish
Over lipstick	Softer edges, increased comfort, less dry feeling

Marketing promises vs reality: what users should keep in mind

“24-hour hydration” sounds dramatic, but in real life it’s best treated as a guideline. No lip product can perform identically in every situation. Anyone who drinks coffee several times a day, picks at their lips, or frequently wets them will inevitably remove oils and active ingredients.

Even so, a well-constructed blend of emollients and humectants can feel meaningfully different. If you’ve mainly used basic balms built around mineral oils, moving to formulas featuring hyaluronic acid, shea butter and similar ingredients often brings a noticeable increase in comfort.

"Anyone who understands that lip care isn’t just a shiny film of oil, but a thoughtfully balanced blend of ingredients, will make better purchasing decisions in the long run."

How to spot a good lip balm

Regardless of brand name or hype, it pays to check the ingredients list. Common positives that many dermatologists point out include:

• plant oils and butters (for example shea butter, mango seed oil)
• squalane or similar skin-identical lipids
• moisturisers such as glycerin or hyaluronic acid
• antioxidants like vitamin E

Less favoured are formulas that rely mostly on inexpensive mineral oils without additional caring actives. They can soften quickly, but the conditioning effect is often less lasting.

Risks, limitations and sensible pairings

Even a carefully formulated balm is still a cosmetic product. If you have very sensitive skin or known allergies, it’s wise to review the ingredient list. Fragrance, for instance, can be irritating - even when it smells pleasant.

It can also help to pair a balm with supportive habits: drinking enough, limiting overly dry indoor heating air in winter, and avoiding intense UV exposure. For longer periods in the sun, a dedicated lip product with SPF is the better choice for targeted UV protection - many tinted balms do not provide that.

If your lips crack often, gentle exfoliation can help too, such as using a damp flannel or a dedicated lip scrub. Once loose flakes are removed, a product like the Afterglow Lip Balm can perform better because there’s less roughness in the way.

Ultimately, the popularity of the NARS balm highlights a broader shift: people no longer want strict categories separating make-up from care. They expect both - a visible effect and genuine comfort. Hybrids like this lip balm meet that demand and put pressure on traditional lip care to offer more than a short-lived oily coating.