Take a memory lane ride through the ’90s and early ’00s, and we’re guessing visions of sticky lip gloss immediately come to mind—the clear kind, probably applied with a rollerball, oozing a fruity scent. Luckily, those tacky, hair-catching formulas from Y2K parties past are now just a distant memory. The best lip glosses of today have evolved into iterations that offer more than just a glassy finish.
The best lip glosses give you an unbeatable shine and quench your lips all day long with hydrating ... [+] ingredients—our picks do just that.
Nostalgia has beauty mongers looking to the aughts for makeup inspiration, and while we’re going for glossy lips once again, now it’s with a wash of color, a splash of hydration and comfortable wear. The glass vials that used to roll around the bottom of your Juicy Couture bowling bag have been replaced by a more elevated breed of lip gloss. Beauty brands are including more moisturizing and skin-softening ingredients in their versions (think high quality ingredients you’d find in the best face moisturizers on the market), making them feel less sticky and better for you. Ahead, find our top picks that’ll deliver the perfect shine every time.
If a top-notch formula and inclusive shade range aren’t indicative of every product in Rihanna’s line (including this cult-favorite gloss), we don’t know what is. Available in six glossy, shimmery shades ranging from clears to nudes and pinks, each one is made to look amazing on every skin tone in true Fenty fashion. The best part is the formula is chock full of shea butter, so it’s comfortable to wear on even the most parched lips. And the light peach-vanilla scent is just a sweet bonus.
Before you go booking actual injections, consider taking this pout-plumping gloss for a spin. Keep in mind that it all but comes with a warning label, with the brand describing it as being “so powerfully effective, it’s not for plumping rookies.” Going to work in seconds, the formula (which actually feels more like a nourishing lip oil than a classically sticky gloss) gives you a fuller look known to last even after the shine wears off, but not without a proper sting session to get things working.
The only thing harder than finding another lip gloss that offers this amount of powerhouse ingredients in a single tube is catching this product in stock. Hailey Bieber’s Rhode Skin line sold out after its launch, and pretty much every restock since then, and for good reason. The Peptide Lip Treatment rings in at $16 for 0.3 ounces of product. We will say a little bit of product goes a long way, so one tube should last you until the next restock (again, if you can catch it). Based on its ingredient lineup of shea butter, peptides, cupuaçu and babassu, treating yourself to this glossy treatment is a worthwhile investment.
At last, a product that leaves your lips with a glow, and by that we mean a shade just a bit more pigmented and elevated than your natural color. Although the product name seems to suggest the formula lies on the greasier side, it actually has the characteristics of a lip gloss without being too sticky or thick. If your lips tend to be drier, this lip glow will moisturize while simultaneously enhancing your look.
When it comes to lip products, you usually get either a deep color application or a high-shine finish, not both. While this super pigmented glossy lip paint isn’t technically a lip gloss, the finish says otherwise. This vegan and cruelty-free formula boasts the finish of a gloss and the bright pigment and staying power of a liquid lipstick. And you’ll love that the star ingredient in this lacquer is marine algae, which is known for its hydrating properties.
There’s only one way to get to this vegan-friendly formula, and it’s as satisfying as it is genius. Click the bottom like your favorite pen to dispense Tarte’s Maracuja Juicy Lip Balm before drenching your lips in equal parts moisture and subtle color. In case you think a solid couldn’t possibly give you the shine a liquid could, the stick melts on contact to slick your lips with a mirror-like finish that lasts all day. Available in eight shades, this balm is packed with antioxidant-rich fruit extracts and oils, so you can feel good about what you’re putting on your pout.
Who said you have to spend a fortune to get good products? Hydrating (thanks to its hyaluronic-acid packed formula), super shiny and comfortable on the lips, this $8 gloss stacks up against the more luxe options on the market. It comes in 20 shades, which is more than any other brand on this list offers. And since application is everything, we especially love the large doe-foot wand that coats your entire mouth in a single swipe.
This editor favorite and cult-followed lip gloss has garnered over 1,800 reviews that rate four stars or higher. We’re guessing it’s not just for the long-lasting shine and the doe-foot applicator that grabs just the right amount of gloss so you can apply (and reapply) in one swift swipe. The stars of this show are the vitamin E and jojoba oil that moisturize and prevent future dryness.
Your search for your next favorite lip gloss is bound to be a personal journey. While some prefer a subtle wash of color, others look for ones that offer much more pigmented shine. Then, there’s the debate over texture: You can decide if a thick, balmy formula works for you or if you prefer one that’s lighter and more hydrating.
While glosses come in all colors and pigment levels, a high shine takes precedence here. Jenna Kristina, the makeup artist behind the famous faces of Zoey Deutch and Megan Fox says, “I personally find myself choosing a lip gloss with a sheer color payout—I want it mostly for adding shine or shimmer.” She’s also a fan of the Maybelline Lifter Gloss, saying Moon is her favorite shade because “it has a slight pink undertone with the perfect amount of shimmer.”
While the texture of any product, including lip gloss, is such a personal choice, a hydrating formula that nourishes the lips rather than coating them with a sticky texture is key. When working on her clients, Kristina opts for “a lip gloss that is smooth, doesn’t make the lips stick together and still gives high shine.” Luckily, the new breed of glosses makes it so you don’t have to sacrifice shine for a not-so-sticky formula.
Since lip glosses are made to provide a more sheer wash of color, you may not find a shade range to rival the lipstick offerings on the market. The good news is that it’s the perfect layering option for more pigmented products.