Rimmel’s Colour Rush Balms are the Best Drugstore Chubby Sticks

I've been thinking a lot about my annual end-of-year “Best New Beauty Products” list, coming to a blog near you, i.e. this blog, very soon. (Here are last year's picks, FYI.)

Then I realized. Meep! It's almost the end of December, and I haven't even written about these awesome Rimmel Colour Rush Balms yet. Spoiler alert: they're gonna be on the list.

Now, I know I said the Revlon ones were the best drugstore lip crayons back in January 2014. And I did think that, at the time. But that was before the Rimmels came into my life, and now I think they rule the entire drugstore chubby selection. They might even beat out the prestige brands, too.

Why's that? Because of the balmy feel, glossy finish, high pigment, huge range of flattering colours, and complete absence of shimmer and iridescence. (I know that's coming back, but I'm not quite there yet personally.) Oh, and they're under $10 apiece, nice and cheap.

Here's how cute these things are:

Don't they make you happy already? Here's a colour comparison and no, I can't draw straight lines:

Now onto the lips. Note that my lips have quite a bit of natural pink pigment, showing through with some of the sheerer shades. So your experience may vary….

Give Me a Cuddle is a sheer, light peachy-pink. As with many light colours, it does tend to accentuate any dry patches or grooves in your lips, so if this is an issue for you, I'd probably go for the next shade instead, which is…

110 Make Me Blush

Make Me Blush is the same intensity as Give Me a Cuddle, except it's a cool-toned pink instead. I found this one showed up better on my lips.

120 All You Need is Pink

All You Need is Pink is a pretty reddish-pink that's a little more muted and sheer compared to the other hot pinks in the range, Boom Chic a Boom and Rumour Has It. 

130 I Want Candy

I Want Candy is an electric orchid shad—very bright, very cool-toned and somewhere in between pink and purple. There are some minor coverage issues with this one, and I wish it was more pigmented, but the unusual colour makes up for it.

200 Keep Mauving

Keep Mauving is the marsala-ish shade of the bunch, a mauvey brownish-red that's made wearable with its sheerness. It gives lips a really nice bitten effect—like your lips, only better.

210 Boom Chic a Boom

Boom Chic a Boom is your classic hot pink. It's quite bright, goes on like a dream, and is richly pigmented. Total winner.

220 Rumour Has It

Rumour Has It is a bright raspberry pink, similar to Boom Chic a Boom but with more red tones in it. This one also went on great and really gives lips a wonderful pop of colour. 

300 Viva Violet

Viva Violet is a magenta pink. Compared to Boom Chic a Boom, it is a little more sheer and has a purplish cast that seems to really come out on the lips. 

500 The Redder, The Better

The Redder, The Better is a bright, candy apple red. It's another high-pigment one, gives good coverage and feels amazing on the lips. 

600 On Fire

On Fire is a sheer, muted orangey-red. This is great one if you want a little colour but aren't up for the challenges of a full-fledged opaque orange.

610 Sun-Kissed

Sun-Kissed is a sheer coral. It's similar to On Fire, but with more pink than red in it. 

620 Lady Marmalade

Lady Marmalade is the pure orange in the collection. It's not quite as pigmented as the rich reds and pinks, and goes on a bit sheer, so my lips' pink undertones affect the colour. 

700 Not an Illusion

Not an Illusion is a sheer rust colour, and along the same lines as Keep Mauving in terms of enhancing your natural lip shade (except warmer). If you're looking for a nude that doesn't wash you out, this would be a great option. 

710 Drive Me Nude

Drive Me Nude is the true nude here, kind of a pale, greyish peach. Because it's so sheer, it lets your natural lip tone peek through and is quite flattering.

One more look at these bad boys:

Honestly, I don't think you can go wrong here—no matter which shade(s) you choose—and the colour payoff is SO great.

Where To Buy

Find the Rimmel Colour Rush Balms online at:

• Amazon.com
• Amazon.ca
• ASOS
• Walmart.com
• Look Fantastic

Have Your Say

Have you tried the Colour Rush Balms yet? Which shades do you like best?