The Best Lip Gloss
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Our Picks For The Top Lip Glosses
- 1. NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Cruelty-Free Non-Stick Lip Gloss
- 2. Rimmel Stay Glossy 6 Hour Extended Wear Lip Gloss
- 3. Broadway Vita-Lip Hydrating Lip Gloss Variety Set, 5-Piece
- 4. Maybelline New York Lip Lifter Hyaluronic Acid Lip Gloss
- 5. e.l.f. High-Shine Plumping Lip Gloss
- 6. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Non-Drying Tinted Lip Gloss
With a variety of shades available, this lip gloss is designed to soothe and protect your lips while you’re wearing it. You can choose from all your favorite dessert flavors, from crème brûlée to lava cake and beyond. The 0.27 fluid ounce tube makes it portable enough to secure in your pocket or your purse.
Unique and ComfortableThe buttery soft feel of this lip gloss keeps your lips comfortable while you’re wearing it.
Available in a wide range of shades, this lip gloss will give you the look you want. The wand helps the gloss go on smooth for comfortable, easy application. The formula is designed to last up to six hours, although eating and drinking will shorten its lifespan.
Durable BuildWith up to six hours of staying power, this gloss is built to last.
Formulated to hydrate and nourish your lips, this lip gloss set will let you switch between flavors each day. The glosses build in hydrating ingredients like coconut oil and mango butter, as well as line-reducing ingredients like rosehip oil. The packaging is attractive, making it a great addition to any cosmetics collection.
Great GiftChoose from a pack of five or four glosses with a box in this set, which makes a great gift.
The hyaluronic acid in this lip gloss helps smooth and enhance the lip’s surface for a better overall look and feel. The wand is larger than typical, letting you apply the gloss in just one swipe. You can wear this gloss alone or pair it with lipstick and lipliner.
Easy to UseA large applicator ensures you can get the gloss on your lips with one swipe.
Buying Guide
Lip gloss is a must-have accessory for some, with the high shine catching the light in a way that can make them appear fuller and more supple. Some even call the look “kissable.” But today’s lip glosses don’t just help the lips look healthy. They also build in ingredients that nourish and hydrate the lips to keep them feeling great.
When it comes to cosmetics, lip gloss is a serious contender for most popular item. That popularity will only continue to grow. Lip gloss is expected to be a $4.51 billion market by 2027, with a compound annual growth rate of 4.90 percent. Lip gloss can even be the go-to product for someone who wears very little makeup. A little lip gloss can have you prepared for any occasion, whether you’re hanging out around the house, running errands or going out for a night on the town.
But if you haven’t shopped for lip gloss for a while, you might not realize just how many great products are out there. At one time, lip gloss was simply designed to give the lips a little shine. Today’s lip glosses build in ingredients that help nourish and soften the lips to keep you comfortable while you’re wearing them.
Advancements in lip gloss have also given them a durability that previous products didn’t offer. You’ll find some glosses that can last for hours, although you likely won’t get the same longevity you get from lipsticks. You’ll need to take your lip gloss with you to reapply throughout the day.
The best thing about lip gloss is that you can wear it alone or as a top layer over your favorite lipstick. Layer with lipliner and lip primer beneath your lipstick to keep your lips looking great even as you eat and drink. Some lip glosses build in plumpers to help give your lips that little bit of extra fullness you need, but you can also find lip primer and lipstick that have that feature included.
What to Look For
- Lip gloss isn’t always transparent. You can find glosses that are tinted to give you a little extra color. If you pair it with lipstick, keep in mind that tinted lip glosses can alter the color.
- Flavored lip glosses can add a little fun to your makeup bag. You can find lip glosses flavored like your favorite desserts, fruits and other great tastes. You might prefer lip gloss that has no taste at all, particularly if you don’t want it interfering with your foods and beverages throughout the day.
- Look at the size of the lip gloss you choose. A smaller tube will be more portable, but it won’t last as long as a bigger tube. You’ll need to weigh those two against each other.
- If possible, take a look at the wand that comes with the tube of lip gloss you’re buying. A wider wand will let you apply the gloss quickly, with just one swipe. But you might find you like the control a smaller wand gives you.
- For gifting purposes, you might want a lip gloss set that comes in a box. With pretty packaging, it can make a classy gift for any occasion.
- Many modern lip glosses build in nourishing oils. These will help keep your lips soft and supple. Coconut oil is a popular hydrating ingredient, and mango butter can also help.
- In recent years, hyaluronic acid has become the go-to ingredient for reducing the appearance of fine lines in skin. This product can be built into lip gloss and help reduce the lines in your lips to provide a smoother surface for displaying lip color and shine.
- For a little extra fullness, look for a lip gloss that has plumping ingredients built in. Some plumpers can make your lips tingle after you apply, so be prepared for that side effect.
More to Explore
Max Factor was a pioneer in 20th-century makeup design, having invented the word “makeup” itself, so it’s probably no surprise that he came up with the first lip gloss in 1928. Called lip pomade, the product promised to be “waterproof” and “permanent.” Max Factor’s invention was initially intended for Hollywood actresses, allowing their lips to have a shiny appearance on black-and-white film.
In 1932, Max Factor launched his lip gloss to the public under the name X-Rated. The product took off, leading to imitators from brands across the world. But lip gloss wasn’t just for shiny lips. Both men and women used it initially as a way to shield the lips from sun, wind and water. Flavored lip gloss came along in the 1970s, when Bonne Bell introduced a product called Lip Smackers, which made the product popular with younger consumers.
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