After years of matte lips being the look du jour, lip gloss has finally made a comeback for its ability to enhance your pout in a beautiful way.
The wet-look effect of the nineties has been embraced by catwalks everywhere this year and is officially here to stay.
Even Rihanna, whose own sparkly lip gloss is aptly dubbed 'Gloss Bomb', has approved. The singer and beauty mogul’s Universal Lip Lumizer first dropped in May and is now available in two hella flattering shades that suit all skin tones.
So, what’s all the hype about? Used alone or over a lipstick, a slick of gloss gives the illusion of more volume with a silky smooth texture. It can also be applied with or without a mirror.
And, if your main concern is that dreaded hair-stuck-on-lip scenario, you’ll be pleased to hear that the newest formulations are designed for more comfortable wear and boast plumping ingredients that improve the appearance of lips.
Ready to make your lips to shine from every angle? Here are some of our go-to glosses.
Fenty Beauty's Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer
The dazzling Lip Luminizer in ‘Fenty Glow’ delivers a rose-nude hue that can be worn on its own or with lipstick. It also makes your lips feel gorgeously soft and nourished, thanks to ingredients like shea butter. We particularly love how the generously-sized applicator makes it a cinch to apply wherever you are.
£16 | Harvey Nichols | Buy it now
Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Color Luminous Lip Gloss in Diamond
In showstopping 12 shades, Elizabeth Arden's glittery Luminous Lip Gloss boasts a non-sticky formula that's enriched with mango and shea butters as well as plumping ingredients that support natural collagen production for fuller lips. It managed to keep our lips smooth and hydrated all day, despite the biting cold weather. Best of all? This gloss comes with a built-in mirror for a breezy on-the-go application (absolute lifesaver on the tubes).
£18 | Escentual | Buy it now
MAC Clear Lipglass
This MAC bestseller promises 'a glass-like finish or subtle sheen' and we can safely say that it delivers. The number one thing to keep in mind is that a little goes a long way – we only needed a teeny-tiny squirt for complete coverage. Made with jojoba oil, the clear formula leaves the lips noticeably soft and conditioned too. Of all the glosses mentioned, this one did the best job of enhancing the shape of our pout.
£15 | MAC | Buy it now
Glossier Clear Lip Gloss
For a three-dimensional pout, swipe on Glossier's crystal clear lip gloss containing no sparkle or stickiness whatsoever. It glides on beautifully in one go and is infused with moisturising vitamin E to ensure your smackers stay soft, smooth and LIT. This formula was not only comfortable to wear, but also lasted impressively long – making it ideal for nights out.
£11 | Glossier | Buy it now
Soap & Glory, Sexy Mother Pucker Lip Gloss
Believe it or not, Soap & Glory's Mother Pucker Lip Gloss sells once every 19 seconds worldwide. Why? It contains 'lip plumping spheres’, which explode in volume when they are met by moisture, and a 'natural plant oil infusion' to instantly boost your lip size (we felt the buzzing sensation straight away). It comes in 12 impressive shades, ranging from pinky nude to deep wine, meaning there's something to suit all. The reasonable £9 price tag is also a plus.
£9 | Boots | Buy it now
Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss in Tiara
Delivering immediate volume and intense shine, the Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss comes in an array of glittery pink and nude shades that will help with your sparkle. The luxurious formula is packed with hyaluronic acid spheres that capture and retain the surrounding water to give lips a pouty appearance. Plus, the crystal-handled applicator means it can easily be applied without a mirror.
£23.40 | Debenhams | Buy it now *On sale now
Rimmel Oh My Gloss in Purrr Glossy Cat
You can count on Rimmel for a brilliant beauty bargain and this shimmery lip gloss is our current favourite. It boasts an oil-based formula and is loaded with vitamin E, meaning your hair won’t get caught in it and your will lips remain smooth. Even better, you get a gorgeous tint of colour that instantly brightens up tired complexions (take that, hangover face).
£5.49 | Boots | Buy it now
Benefit Ultra Plush in Lollibop
Exquisitely packaged, these Benefit lip glosses smell as good as they look whilst offering a silky wash of shine. The coloured formulas are generously pigmented too, so will look great on their own or layered over lipstick. Our favourite is the hot pink ‘lollibop’ hue.
£14.50 | Benefit Cosmetics | Buy it now
