Lip balm is, of course, a handbag essential for an on-the-go boost of hydration and a wash of pretty, sheer colour and one fated day at Wimbledon in 2019, we got a rare glimpse at Catherine, Princess of Wales' go-to formula.
While this wasn't the first time we've been let in on one of her beauty bag essentials (Jo Malone's Orange Blossom cologne is widely rumoured to be Princess Kate's perfume of choice), it definitely sticks in our mind as a very iconic moment. After all, it's not every day a royal gets snapped with a product, in hand, or one so easily recognisable as Clarins' Lip Perfector. As for the shade in question, it's thought to have been 01 Rose Shimmer, which, as the name suggests, offers a soft wash of rose-pink tint to the lips, along with a hydrating shine.
Now, fast-forward to 2026, and the Princess of Wales has again attended the tennis tournament wearing a very similar shade, thus speaking to its timelessness and versatility.
RRP: £25
Formulated with nourishing and conditioning ingredients like shea butter and wild mango butter, this Lip Perfector works hard to moisturise and condition lips. A delicate vanilla scent adds a sweet touch to the formula, while a shimmering finish gives lips a beautifully natural and healthy glow.
RRP: £5
Buildable and nourishing, these balms from DAISE, combine peptides, shea butter, and meadowfoam seed oil to deliver deep hydrate and a non-sticky tint to your lips.
RRP: £19
For another alternative, our beauty team are big fans of Glow Recipe's Glass Balms. They're available in a range of very tempting scents and offer a similar wash of sheer colour to the lips. They're also very hydrating and non-sticky.
As we can see, Kate paired her sheer and rosy lippie with a chic cornflower-blue blazer, and much like her white dress back in 2019, her choice of lip colour complemented the ensemble perfectly.
Alas, this time around, we didn't get to see her exact tinted lip balm in the stands, but as mentioned, the hue does look similar to Clarins' Rose Shimmer, so it may well have been.
Either way, it's definitely one to consider, if you're on the hunt for a new best lip balm or lightweight and hydrating tinted gloss. With a super moisturising formula, it works hard to battle dryness and chapped skin on the lips, while also offering a touch of subtle rose-pink colour. Use as a finishing touch alongside no makeup makeup looks, or layer it over your favourite lipstick for an added hit of glossy glamour.
A sheer, rosy balm or gloss is also a go-to for Digital Beauty Writer, Naomi Jamieson: "As someone who prefers quite subtle makeup day-to-day, I always find myself gravitating towards this sort of warm, blush-pink hue.
"While I haven't used this exact Clarins buy, many of my go-to tinted lip balms boast a similar shade, which is just enough to accentuate my pout and instantly elevate my makeup, without it suddenly looking too 'done.' I also often suffer from dry and chapped lips, so any formula with hydrating and smoothing shea butter gets my vote."
Kate isn't the only person who swears by the Clarins Lip Perfector, with hundreds of shoppers on Sephora giving it five out of five stars in their reviews. Love for its non-greasy and non-sticky finish as well as its staying power comes up time and time again, with shoppers rating it highly.
One reviewer said of the Lip Perfector, "I’ve been using the Clarins Lip Perfector for a while now and really love it. It feels super smooth on the lips—not sticky at all—and gives just the right amount of shine. The scent is light and sweet. The applicator is soft and easy to use, and the packaging feels nice and sleek."
