According to the Internet, we're entering a year of reboot. So instead of out with the old, we're full-on embracing all our favorite throwbacks. The 'clean girl' aesthetic? We're burned out. The 2016-era of velvet chokers? Those are now becoming the chicest accessory of 2026. And the OG Clinique Chubby Sticks? They're so back — and with a bigger shade line-up.
What are the Clinique Chubby Sticks?
Despite being a beauty writer, I feel guilty to admit that I had never tried the Clinique Chubby Sticks before this review. Though the Chubby Stick Lip Balm is slightly older than me, I’m no stranger to the name. They've been popular through the late '90s into the early 2000s, so for many people, the Clinique Chubby Stick has long been a reliable staple.
Originally released in 1997, the Clinique Chubby Sticks were one of the first multi-use makeup products on the market, according to a statement from the brand to Shop TODAY. At the time, the Chubby Stick line was a lip-only product, designed as a crayon-like lip balm that equally hydrates and delivers color. But its main intent that drew consumers in (and continues to) was its easy and portable no-mirror-required application.
In 2014, Clinique expanded the Chubby Stick line by releasing the cheek version of their lip balm, says the brand, which we now recognize as the Chubby Stick Cheek Color Balm Cream Blush. Just like its lip counterpart, the Chubby Stick Cheek Balms deliver comfortable, lightweight and 'mistake-proof' wear that can be mixed and layered with the Chubby Stick Lip Balm. And soon after in 2015, the Chubby Stick Contour and Highlight Balms completed the Chubby Stick line with the same performance expectations.
What's different about the new Clinique Chubby Sticks collection?
Bringing back the original product in an expanded lineup (that does't exceed a price point of $32), the relaunch welcomes 16 additional colors to its range of lip, blush, contour and highlight products, transforming from a selection of 12 to 28. It's the same formula you know and love, just with a small, yet impactful, upgrade.
Regardless if it's a contour or lip, the Chubby Stick line is all about playing with color. Even if you prefer a natural or full face of makeup, you can easily use all four of the Chubby Stick products to complete an entire routine, or use a single Chubby Stick for every step — they're that versatile.
Plus, all Clinique products are dermatologist- and allergy-tested and fragrance-free, so all skin types can comfortably wear the Chubby Sticks, according to the brand.
What we like
Although Clinique relaunched the Chubby Stick collection, we can confirm the formula feels the exact same: lightweight and buildable. To my team, who have continuously sung praises about the line before I even asked them for feedback, the relaunch didn't mean a 'rebrand' — it signaled a new era of the Chubby Sticks.
For this review, myself and a few of my colleagues focused our testing on the new Chubby Stick shades in the lip and blush formulas only.
Pigment is natural, but buildable
If you're new to the Chubby Stick line like me, the blush is what I'd reach for first. Depending on the shade, some are slightly more pigmented than others, but all are equally natural-looking at first swatch. I used shade ‘Ramp’d Up Rouge,’ a bright pink-red, which only required a swipe on each cheek to deliver in pigment. However, I noticed the blush can easily be built in intensity, too, without getting patchy.
The Chubby Stick Lip Balm, however, is more so 'your lips, but better.' With a formulation of mango and shea butters, it goes on smooth and melts into a nourishing sheen. It's not as nearly as pigmented as the blush (despite what it might seem in the swatch below) even when built, but each layer of product didn't cause my lips to feel or appear sticky.
"I personally find that the product lasts forever in my makeup bag, too, so I rarely have to replace it," adds partnerships associate editor Erica Marrison about the Chubby Stick Lip Balm.
Blending and applying have never been easier
Clinique emphasizes the blend-ability of the Chubby Sticks no matter the product type. And after reviewing, I can understand why this specific feature makes the collection so iconic.
Echoing commerce writer Danielle Murphy when it comes to the Chubby Stick Blush, "This might be one of the creamiest blush formulas on the market right now." If you struggle with blending, the blush is easy to diffuse with a brush, sponge or even your fingers with minimal effort. "It blends like a dream and blurs into a soft pop of color on my cheeks," she continues. "But it’s still buildable — seriously, I added quite a few layers and it never got patchy...This makes for a nice base that doesn’t feel heavy."
The pointed tip of the Chubby Stick lip balm, specifically, makes application precise, especially around corners and the cupid's bow, so you won't have to clean-up any edges.
No sharpening required
Both the Chubby Stick Lip Balm and Cream Blush come in retractable packaging that makes traveling with, mess-free (the highlight and contour have this packaging, too). By twisting the silver bottom of the Chubby Sticks, more product dispenses up with every swivel.
What to consider
- It might not last as long if you have oily skin. According to Murphy, who has an oily complexion, the Chubby Stick Blush lost pigment with wear. Although the shades are naturally sheer (and the product being oil-free, per the brand), she noticed it became less noticeable throughout the day without a powdered product set on top. So if you have a similar skin type, you may want to use a powdered blush in addition to the Chubby Stick Blush.
- The payoff is more sheer. The Chubby Stick Blush has a natural flush. Although some shades are more intense than others, those who prefer high pigment might want to consider other formulas.
- The Chubby Stick Lip Balm is, as the name suggests, a true lip balm. It was noticeably more faint in pigment, specifically in the shades we tested. I'd use this more for its formula than color, unlike other tinted lip balms I've personally reviewed.
More Clinique Chubby Stick picks to shop
Because you can't have a full face of Chubby Sticks without contour, the Chubby Stick Sculpting Contour now comes in three shades that promise to sculpt, lift and define. Whether you use it for bronzing or contour, the brand says the new launch can easily be layered over your foundation and other makeup without disruption.
If you've been hesitant about highlighter, don't fret: This pick doesn't go on with pesky sparkles. Instead, the Chubby Stick Sculpting Highlight Stick accentuates high points of the face with a natural radiance.
“It has a nice shimmer (not too sparkly), which delivers that dewy look so many people are going for right now," says Marrison. "And it feels so light on the cheek — perfect for those who don’t like a cake-y feel."
Why trust Shop TODAY?
The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources, look through hundreds of customer reviews, and use our own experiences with products and brands to make shopping easier for our readers.
Madison San Miguel is the editorial assistant at Shop TODAY, who has over six years of experience in the beauty industry. She has previously been published in Allure, InStyle, Byrdie, Bustle, Elite Daily and more.
