As someone who tests makeup products for a living, I have high standards for what earns a spot on my vanity. My biggest requirement? Multitasking abilities. As an on-the-go editor bouncing between events, office days, and meetings, I need my weekday glam routine to be as streamlined as possible but without sacrificing results.
This philosophy extends to my lip combo, too. To set the scene: I try hundreds of lip products a year—from long-lasting lip stains to shiny glosses, and there’s unfortunately not enough real estate in my work tote for all of them.
So when an email landed in my inbox announcing that Clinique was expanding the shade range of its iconic Chubby Stick Lip Balm, it felt like fate. The formula promised to replace multiple steps in my routine: a deeply nourishing balm packaged in an easy-to-apply lip crayon plus a sheer wash of color that instantly makes lips look healthier and more polished. In other words, exactly what I want from an everyday lip product.
Naturally, I had to put it to the test for our 2026 Holy Grail Awards alongside a bunch of other new lip launches—and after weeks of swiping, layering, and reapplying, it officially came out on top as one of the very best products of the year. Here’s why:
About Clinique’s Chubby Stick Lip Balm
WHY IT WON
| Shade range | Choose from 14 different shades, from bright corals and pinks to deep browns and berries |
| Multitasking abilities | The formula has mango and shea butter to moisturize the lips as you wear it |
| Format | The crayon tip makes it super easy to precisely apply onto the lips |
My review
The balm slides onto the lips with ease when I apply it, partly thanks to its precise pointed tip that still has ample thickness (so it covers my entire mouth without needing to glide it over my lips multiple times) and partly due to its moisturizing properties. It’s loaded with mango and shea butter to nourish lips as you wear it and over time. Plus, it’s also got castor oil and vitamin E for added softening.
This is perfect for throwing into my bag for daily use and on-the-go touch-ups—it boasts the softness-producing nourishment of a classic lip balm but without the stickiness or goopy mess.
And the crayon’s color payoff is there but subtle, so I love using this when I don’t have a full face of makeup on to accompany it, since it just adds a shiny wash of color. Not to mention, the angled tip makes it easy to apply even without a mirror, so it’s my favorite for a back-of-an-Uber makeup touch-up during bumpy car rides in NYC’s infamous bumper-to-bumper traffic.
Final thoughts
These days, brands can slap the words “lip balm” on anything, even if it’s anything but moisturizing on the lips. However, Clinique’s Chubby Stick actually has tons of moisturizing properties, so you can throw it on when your lips are feeling dried out or when you’re simply in need of some extra shine atop your lip combo.
While, yes, $26 is on the pricier side for a lip balm, the nourishing ingredients, the lip color–accentuating sheen, mess-proof application, and sharpener-free pencil format make it well worth its Cosmo Holy Grail Beauty Award status.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmo, who covers all things makeup, skincare, hair, and more. She tested dozens of beauty products for Cosmo’s Holy Grail Beauty Awards and crowned Clinique’s Chubby Stick the best lip crayon for its efficacy, shade range, and ease of use.
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
