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I’m a Beauty Editor and These are the Best Lip Glosses of All Damn Time

A coveted mirror-like shine is only a swipe away.

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applying lip gloss to lipspinterest
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If the last time you sported lip gloss was when Desperate Housewives was originally on the air, you're seriously missing out. Modern lip gloss formulas have gotten a wonderful upgrade. They’re no longer a gloopy, sticky mess that our hair instantly latches onto when a slight breeze catches us off guard.

Instead, these lip glosses contain nourishing and conditioning ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, shea butter, and oils. Unlike lip oils, which sometimes leave behind a slight sheen, all of these lightweight glosses impart a coveted shiny finish to the lips. Some, such as the LAWLESS Forget The Filler Lip Plumper, even have the bonus of filling in the lip lines for a fuller effect without visiting a doctor for painful injections.

How do I know they're effective? Well, As Best Products' beauty editor and resident lip gloss hoarder, I've personally tested hundreds of products over the years, and I can safely say these are the best of the best. Some of these lip glosses, such as the Buxom Full-On Plumping Lip Polish, have been a staple for me since high school.

Others became instant favorites since their launch, such as the Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer. Speaking of makeup created by beauty enthusiasts, iconic makeup artists Pat McGrath and Charlotte Tilbury have created my top two recommendations, so you know their quality, feel, and finish are on point.

Regardless of which lip gloss you order for yourself or as a gift for a friend, you can expect these products to enhance any pout with a lustrous finish. So keep on scrolling for these highly rated, beauty editor-approved products that all cost $29 or less.

Best Overall

PAT McGRATH LABS LUST: Lip Gloss

LUST: Lip Gloss
Best Overall

PAT McGRATH LABS LUST: Lip Gloss

$29 at Sephora$36 at Walmart$29 at Ulta Beauty

Legendary makeup artist Pat McGrath is known for creating best-in-class cosmetics, and her LUST gloss is no exception. Boasting a light and nonsticky feel, it provides a glass-like shine that makes a multidimensional twinkle other glosses can't quite replicate.

LUST is sold in three finishes — Shimmer, Glitter, and High Shine — but lately, I've been sporting Divine Rose, a plum rose pink with fine gold shimmer. It's slightly milky, but doesn't run and provides beautiful opaque coverage.

Regardless of which formula someone uses, they all slide on beautifully across the lips and stand out on their own or when layered over a lipliner and lipstick.

Plus, her lip gloss wears for hours and doesn't feel tacky when I touch it up after a meal, which has been an issue for other products I've tested over the years. These are the perfect beauty gift for anyone who is a lip gloss lover, but I enjoy mine so much, I'm willing to bet it'll convert a lip gloss skeptic into a fan.

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For the Ultimate Pink Pout

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Lustre Lip Gloss

Lip Lustre Lip Gloss
For the Ultimate Pink Pout

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Lustre Lip Gloss

Charlotte Tilbury is another famed makeup artist who makes some of my all-time favorite cosmetics, so it's unsurprising that I love her lip gloss.

Lip Lustre is available in 11 shades, but Pillow Talk is the ultimate pink that flatters all skin tones. It's infused with lotus flower extract and antioxidants plus features a glossy formula that creates the illusion of fuller lips without any of the stinging associated with traditional lip-plumping glosses.

For Fuller Lips

LAWLESS Forget The Filler Lip Plumper

Forget The Filler Lip Plumper
For Fuller Lips

LAWLESS Forget The Filler Lip Plumper

Honestly, LAWLESS is a super underrated brand, and their lip-plumping gloss is one of the best in the game. Since it plumps the lips, there's a noticeable tingle, but it doesn't feel uncomfortable. It uses MAXI-LIP to fill in lines, while hyaluronic acid and shea butter soften my lips.

I especially appreciate the larger applicator wand because there's enough product to swipe on without redipping into the tube.

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For Traveling

Too Faced Mini Lip Injection

Mini Lip Injection
For Traveling

Too Faced Mini Lip Injection

All lip glosses are slim and portable, but Too Faced took things a step further and shrunk their signature lip plumper down to a petite tube that can fit into the tiniest Barbiecore clutch.

This clear plumping gloss tingles for around 5 minutes, but it usually varies depending on how many layers I apply. But don't worry: It's not uncomfortable thanks to a blend of avocado oil and vitamin E to help nourish, smooth, and soften the lips.

For a Clean Formula

Tower 28 Beauty ShineOn Lip Jelly

ShineOn Lip Jelly
For a Clean Formula

Tower 28 Beauty ShineOn Lip Jelly

As its name implies, ShineOn leaves my lips luscious and juicy. It's available in six translucent colors with pops of color, such as berry, pink, red, and gold shimmer. There are also six Milky lip glosses with semi-sheer pink and brown nude tints.

ShineOne also boasts a clean and gentle formula that won't irritate sensitive skin. It uses five nourishing oils, including rosehip and apricot kernel, to soften my lips for a lip balm-like feel. No wonder board-certified dermatologist Dr. Shari Sperling, M.D., also recommends this hydrating lip gloss.

Best for a Variety of Colors

Buxom Full-On Plumping Lip Polish

Full-On Plumping Lip Polish
Best for a Variety of Colors

Buxom Full-On Plumping Lip Polish

Meet a lip-plumping gloss so good, I always swipe a tube from my mom's vanity. With just one coat of product, my lips feel a light-to-moderate tingling sensation that creates fuller lips in just a few minutes.

With 36 shades available, Buxom's lipgloss is ideal for beauty lovers who like it when their makeup and outfit match. Available in mainly pink and nude hues, there is still an enticing variety of vibrant purples, rich berries, reds, and sparkly clear glosses to play with when the mood strikes.

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For a Universal Nude Lip

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer

Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer
For a Universal Nude Lip

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer

This show-stopping nude lip gloss has been a staple for Rihanna and her fans — collectively called the Navy — since its debut in 2016. But it's not just for stans. Anyone looking for a deep rose nude lip gloss will enjoy the OG shade of Gloss Bomb. There are five other hues, like pink, clear, and brown, to purchase as well.

Gloss Bomb is made with conditioning shea butter and has an ultra-sweet peach and vanilla scent. It also sports a large doe foot applicator, similar to the Lawless gloss, for quick and even application.

Headshot of Nicole Saunders
Nicole Saunders
Beauty Editor

Nicole Saunders is the beauty editor at Best Products with over seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing lifestyle content. She specializes in breaking down complicated topics, like high-frequency wands and microcurrent devices, into easy-to-understand guides. She takes great pride in heavily researching and testing featured beauty products, — such as hairdryers and foundations — on our site, and spotlights her all-time seasonal favorites in her quarterly column Best New Beauty. And she tests quite literally thousands of launches for our Beauty Awards package.

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