The 12 Best Lip Glosses of All Time
Haven't you heard? The 2000s are back—and so are shiny lips.
Lip gloss is back! As the Y2K resurgence continues to burn its way through fashion in the form of mini skirts and low-rise jeans, it's also influencing the makeup world. Frosty eyeshadow, skinny brows, and lip gloss are having a moment. But the best new lip glosses in 2022 aren't like the ones you may have housed in your Prada bag 20 years ago. The new gloss formulas are packed with skincare-inspired ingredients like plant oils, hyaluronic acid, and shea butter to keep your lips plump and hydrated as well as shiny and slick. Ahead, the 12 lip gloss formulas editors and experts love.
Pros: Long-wear
There is no lip gloss more synonymous with the 2000s than Juicy Tubes. This new iteration keeps your lips hydrated and glossy for four hours (reapplying is half the fun).
Customer Review:
"These remind me so much of my childhood! These were soooo popular circa 2004-2005. Even the smell reminds me of childhood! Very fruity and fun be simple! I’m so glad they still make these glosses! Taste great, very simple with color, hydrating and smells amazing!" - Maxedd
Pros: Hydrating
Somewhere between a gloss and a balm is this sheer tint, which coddles lips with moisture and the prettiest wash of color.
Customer Review:
"Obsessed with this lip oil. I got the cherry colour and it’s the cutest shade (I'm a more tan/olive colour). It’s not sticky at all and makes my lips feel super moisturized." -Elianemaalouli
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Pros: Super Shiny
A favorite of makeup artists everywhere, there is no clear gloss better than MAC's Lipglass. It was designed to wear alone or over your favorite MAC lipstick, so it's not in the business of slipping and sliding around.
Customer Review:
"Where have you been all my life? I bought the mini just to try it out because I have so many other lip gloss that I just don't like. I see many others complaining about the stickiness, but I personally LOVE that about this lip gloss. I can feel it's on. I hate most other lip gloss because they are so runny and won't stay on, and they ruin your lip stick colors. I love this lip gloss, I wear it over the Revlon colorstay lip stick. I will continue to buy this product." -Kay
Pros: Best-seller
Comfortable, long-wearing, hydrating, plumping—what more could you want from a lip gloss? We'd expect nothing less from Rihanna.
Customer Review:
"Fenty glow is one of the best glosses of all time. It smells great and is very hydrating. The color is your lips but better." -Stydia15
Pros: Hyaluronic Acid Infused
This gloss smooths and hydrated lips thanks to hyaluronic acid. Plus, we love all the shade options.
Customer Review:
"I love this lip gloss. I gave this one as a present but I have another one that I just love, it’s so pretty and it shines on the lips." -Meg
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Pros: Not Sticky
If you're looking for all the shine without the stick, this is the gloss for you.
Customer Review:
"The first gloss that I reach for! Shiny, hydrating, non-sticky, and long lasting. I lost my first one and immediately replaced it because I couldn’t live without it. The price is also extremely affordable." - Julia Gaines
Pros: Looks natural
This gloss comes in shades that apply more sheer and others that leave a pop of color if that's more your vibe.
Customer Review:
"The oil in this lipgloss helps to not create that guck that most lipglosses create after 30 minutes on your lips. I love the texture and feel, it looks stunning and natural and you can really pack it on. This is a must-have product for me." -Luxury Doll
Pros: Vitamin-infused
This sheer oil leaves your lips looking just a little bit perkier.
Customer Review:
"Probably the best product you could ever own for your lips. I’ve never used a lip oil this buttery and smooth ever. It keeps my lips hydrated for hours with just one application. I leaned towards it over others because it has no scent and it’s just an overall amazing product to keep your lips extremely hydrated. Plus it just looks amazing on the lips, better than any gloss I own too." -Armando Johns
Pros: Plumps lips
Cons: Intense tingling
All lip glosses will make lips look a little fuller, but this one goes the extra mile with tingle-inducing plumping ingredients.
Customer Review:
"I was very satisfied with this plumper! It showed immediate results, did not burn, was not super-sticky, and my lips stayed full all day with just one application. I have been disappointed time and time again, so this product was such a shock! It actually does what it claims!" -AmyMarieK
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Pros: Hydrating
We're obsessed with the brightening shade Strawberry—it works on all skin tones and is the easiest way to add a pop of color to your everyday makeup look.
Customer Review:
"Absolutely obsessed. I had to leave a review - this is officially my favorite lip product I have ever owned. The applicator cushion is heavenly, the oil feels amazing on (zero stickiness), is hydrating and actually has color pay off. Even after eating and having the glossy shine eventually wear off, my lips were still left with a natural looking pigment. I have the color 'pitaya' but will undoubtedly be ordering other colors." -Ishka13
Pros: So many shades
At less than $5 and with so many shades to choose from, this is the gloss to try if you're just now exploring the world of shiny lips.
Customer Review:
"I love these glosses over any lip color, or by themselves. They look great with liners as well. Would highly recommend!" -Candace Pack
Pros: Subtly plumps
You'll find yourself reapplying this gloss not because you have to (it lasts for several hours) but because it just feels so good on your lips.
Customer Review:
"I have repurchased this over and over. It’s gotta be one of my favorite glosses aside from the Fenty one. I own the shade Charm, which I got once I found that this was the shade Angelina Jolie wore on the movie Salt. Makes your lips look soo juicy and I love that it’s NOT sticky as other glosses that I have purchase, which is huge for me, because there’s nothing more annoying than having a lipgloss with a feeling that you can barely open your mouth. I like to wear this with a lip pencil close to my skin tone. Some people don’t like that you have to reapply, but that is not an issue for me since the more long-wearing it is the more sticky the gloss will be as well. I will forever keep repurchasing this gloss." -Yulz
This article originally appeared in Harper's BAZAAR US.