After scrolling through the epic BAFTAs and Oscars beauty looks recently, one thing has become clear. There’s a change in the air of the lipstick we’re wearing. For a while now, we’ve seen velvety matte lipsticks take centre stage on the red carpet and our feeds. And what’s not to love? A matte lipstick works for all occasions while giving us long-lasting wear and pigment. It’s also a French-girl makeup staple when worn alone with minimal, natural makeup. However, if there is a shift that we’re seeing as we enter into the warmer months, it’s glossy lipstick—and I’m seeing it everywhere.
When I think of glossy lipstick, I immediately get transported back to the Boots aisles during the 2000s. In the height of Lancôme Juicy Tube mania, we were all obsessed with that lacquered, super-shiny lip look. Every lipstick advert in the magazines had those ultra-shiny, wet-look formulas, and I distinctly remember buying every almost every shade of Maybelline’s Watershine lipstick. And as someone who has chronically dry lips (I’m never more than two feet away from a lip balm), I’m welcoming this hydrating lipstick trend with open arms.
After bringing the topic up in the Who What Wear UK offices, it is apparent that we’re all obsessed with glossy lipsticks once again. Thankfully, the formulas this time around are far more long-lasting, packed with hydrating ingredients and most importantly, less likely to stick to your hair on a windy day. Ahead, you’ll find the 15 best glossy lipsticks that we’ve tried and think are worth it. Time to shine!
Laura Harrier with glossy lipstick at the Oscars.
After some digging on makeup artist Harold James’s Instagram, I found the details of Laura Harrier’s glossy lipstick, which is from YSL Beauty. James used Rouge Volupte Candy Glaze Lipstick in the shade 04 Nude Pleasure on Harrier, which was layered over lipliner. If you want something a little more sheer in pigment, this glossy lipstick is the way to go.
Trust us when we say that these Hourglass Volumizing Glossy Balm lipsticks have a hold on us in the Who What Wear office. So much so, when Who What Wear Insights Manager Sophie shared that she lost hers on a recent evening out, we all gave our condolences. These are ultra-glossy and feel more like a nourishing lip balm thanks to the hydrating and plumping formula (expect a slight tingle) which also manages to be surprisingly long-lasting. When you do need to top up, however, it’s a rather chic experience. The gold pen is perfect for popping in your bag, and you simply twist the base to push the product up.
Who What Wear UK Deputy Editor Maxine Eggenberger rates Cliique’s Almost Lipstick in Black Honey, which is universally flattering.
Clinique’s iconic Almost Lipstick in Black Honey has become a modern beauty icon, and it also happens to be a great glossy lipstick, as Who What Wear UK Deputy Editor Maxine Eggenberger attests. “Clinique’s Black Honey Almost Lipstick was the first lipstick I ever purchased, and it remains one of my favourites to this day,” she says. “Yet another product I’ve devoted countless paragraphs to, it boasts buildable colour, a soft, just-kissed edge and a glossy finish—a look that’s incredibly coveted right now. Use one layer to enhance your natural lip colour, two to create a deeper satin, or three which, on my alabaster skin tone, creates a wearable berry shade. It’s the lipstick I reach for when I don’t want to look too ‘done’, which is pretty much my entire makeup aesthetic right now. Not only do I love it, but my mum, aunt, and Grandma also carry Black Honey in their handbags at all times, such is its appeal.”
MAC’s Lustreglass Sheer Shine Lipsticks are so pretty. Delivering all-day moisture, coupled with a sheer wash of colour, they look great worn alone or layered over a lipliner for a bolder finish. The shade, Thanks, It’s MAC, has been blowing up on TikTok, but the Hug Me shade is equally as covetable.
Price shown is member price. This lipstick is buttery soft, drenching lips in moisture while imparting an expensive sheen that smooths over the lips. Beauty Pie formulated this lipstick in Italy, and those in the know will spot that the best lipstick formulations always come out of Italy, so you should definitely snap this up if you’re in the market for a new glossy lipstick.
There’s nothing chicer than a Chanel lipstick, but this lipstick isn’t just all looks. The formulation is so hydrating, lending lips a healthy sheen. That’s down to the combination of three vegetable waxes—mimosa, jojoba and sunflower.
Revlon’s Super Lustrous Glass Shine Lipsticks went TikTok viral earlier this year, and these really did kickstart out obsession with glossy lips again. Rum Raisin is the shade to pick up (if you can manage to find it in stock), a muted pink-brown that glides on with high-shine payoff. And for £9, it’s super affordable too.
When you want a no-fuss lipstick that you can swipe on, Fenty’s Slip Shine is one you can count on. As the name suggests, it’s more sheer than some of the other glossy lipsticks here, but it delivers just the right hint of pigment that you can easily apply this without having to worry if it’s perfectly applied. It also contains a whole bunch of hydrating ingredients, making it ideal if you want a tinted glossy look that also cares for your lips.
Who What Wear UK Managing Editor Poppy Nash rates Charlotte Tilbury’s glossy Hyaluronic Happikiss for evenings out. “I got Charlotte Tilbury’s Hyaluronic Happikiss one Christmas and now I couldn’t be without it,” she says. “I love a wash of this before a night out as it leaves my lips looking plumper and healthier, feeling more nourished and it gives them a lovely colour (I have the classic Pillow Talk shade but equally love the peachy tones). One thing I would flag is this is pretty glossy. Not one for wearing if the wind is strong, that’s for sure!”
Every single shade in this glossy lipstick is perfection, but this glossy claret hue is great if you want a hydrating lipstick that brings a little bit of drama for the evening. Enriched with a cocktail of avocado, babassu, jojoba, olive oils and cocoa seed butter, it drenches lips in moisture while providing a heart punch of pigment payoff.
It was love at first application with this lipstick. It’s now a mainstay in my handbag to swipe on whenever I want a hint of low-commitment colour with a glossy finish. I have seriously dry lips, and most lipsticks make the situation even worse, but this one manages to restore and protect my lips from cold weather and aggressive office air con. The shade Passiflora is a perfect neutral pink that pairs well with any makeup look.
Dior’s lipsticks are great across the board, but if its a high-shine formula (and chic packaging) that you’re after, then try the Dior Addict Hydrating Shine Lipstick. One swipe delivers long-lasting colour and a nourishing treat to the lips.
If you want a long-lasting glossy lipstick, then Charlotte Tilbury’s Superstar Lips lipsticks are the one to go for. Not only does it contain hydrating hyaluronic acid, but the formula also contains diamond powder (pretty cool, right?) to add that extra sparkle and shine.
Just take a look at this pretty red hue, and that lipstick casing. The formula inside is just a luxe, with a ultra-glossy finish that glides onto lips. This is a lipstick that makes you feel expensive when you wear it.
I’ve not tried a product that I don’t like from rare beauty, so it comes as no surprise that these dewy lip balms are also a winner. They drench lips in moisture, adding a healthy, luminous glow to the lips.
