Lip products are a cosmetic must-have. You can instantly perk up your complexion in a few minutes or create new looks with a simple swipe. They can help you make your outfit pop when you feel your best. Is lip gloss the right lip product for you? Discover lip gloss pros vs. cons to determine which product you should get.
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Pros Vs. Cons Of Lip Gloss
While lip gloss products are affordable and significantly more affordable than other lip products, they come with pros and cons. Make sure you consider both before picking up a tube in every shade.
Pros
Glossy Finish
Lipsticks cannot compete with a gloss for that alluring, glossy finish. Hence the name lip gloss! These lip products will give you a pop-star shine whenever you swipe them across your lips.
Thicker Texture
Not only will lip glosses give you a shine, but they also have a thicker texture that instantly gives you kissable lips. You’ll instantly look like you have a natural pout with some lip gloss. You will have to put in a lot more work to get that same appearance when you use lipstick or lip liner.
Easy Application And Re-Application
There are so many ways to apply lipstick. You must use a lip brush, a time-consuming method with at least four steps, for more staying power. You can also smudge it as you apply it. That isn’t the case with lip gloss. Instead, you smear it across your lips, and you’re good to walk out the door.
Makes Your Lips Look Full
Because lip gloss has a thicker texture than most other lip products, it can instantly make your lips look fuller. Lip glosses like Too Faced Lip Plumper feature a thick, unique formula to plump your lips. Lip gloss might be the way to go if you want your lips to look fuller without cosmetic surgery.
Lip Gloss Is Moisturizing
This is the one area where lip gloss truly outshines other lip products. Lip glosses are so moisturizing that you won’t have to worry about things like chapped lips in the winter. The gloss can also provide an extra layer of protection against the harsh elements and dry winter air.
Cons
Can’t Be Used For Lip Art
While lip gloss looks great, it doesn’t dry the same as other formulas. Because of that, your looks are limited to the one shade of lip gloss in your hand. You can’t create the same lip art look with lip gloss that you can with other lip products.
Less Staying Power
Almost nothing has less staying power than lip gloss. It will fade within hours of application, if not sooner. Some tips can help make your glossy shine last longer, but even those won’t get you far. You’ll need to throw it in your bag for touch-ups while you’re on the go.
On the upside, the easy application process means it doesn’t take a lot of effort to reapply your gloss every hour. If staying power is essential, check out this lip product! Most lip glosses that aren’t designed to last all day won’t, but there are always exceptions!
Sticky
This is one of the most significant downsides of lip gloss. More products are sticky because they don’t truly dry like other lip products. If you have long hair, it can be a nightmare. You’ll have to pull your hair off your lips even if it’s not a windy day.
Our Recommendations
NYX Butter Gloss
A list of lip glosses simply wouldn’t be complete without this fan favorite! It’s affordable, glossy, and isn’t sticky! This best-seller is available in every shade you could want. It feels lightweight on your lips and helps keep them moisturized. It’s great if you want a lip product with serious pigment and a glossy finish.
NYX Lip Butter is especially great for anyone who has dry lips. The formula doesn’t settle into tiny cracks, which can make them more noticeable. Color won’t cling to tiny pieces of dead skin, either. Instead, you get a smooth, even look until your lips heal.
Why You’ll Love It
- Non-sticky formula
- Glides on smoothly
- Affordable
- Over 35 shades are available
Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Gloss
This vegan lip gloss from Anastasia Beverly Hills is everything you expect and want in a lip gloss—and then some! The vanilla scent teases your nostrils, but it’s not so strong that it’s overpowering. Various shades are available, including formulas with a touch of glitter to create sparkly sophistication.
The weightless formula glides smoothly across your lips. A paddle-shaped applicator ensures a luxuriously smooth application without tugging on your lips.
Why You’ll Love It
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- A high gloss finish
- Over 30 shades are available
- Full coverage color
Other Lip Products
Lip gloss isn’t for everyone. Some people prefer longer-lasting color or don’t want the high-shine effect that often accompanies lip gloss. Perhaps you want to enjoy other benefits, such as how matte lip products pair perfectly with cloud makeup or the way lip oil provides intense hydration.
Lipstick
Lipstick is a classic favorite. Cult favorites are available in every formula imaginable. Modern lipstick formulas are packed with hydrating ingredients and anti-aging powerhouses to help you enjoy a youthful, plump pout.
Our Picks
Laura Geller Jelly Balm
Laura Geller Jelly Balm goes beyond a traditional lipstick. Squalene hydrates the lips, while Vitamin E keeps them nourished and protected. The feather-proof formula doesn’t bleed throughout the day, ensuring long-lasting color. Every tube is packed with hydrating pigment. It’s creamy enough to glide across lips, even if chapped.
Why You’ll Love It
- Inclusive shade range
- Smooth application
- Doesn’t feather or bleed
- Hydrating
Color Fetish Matte Lipstick
Milani Cosmetics offers plenty of lipstick options, including this best-seller. Color Fetish Matte Lipstick delivers rich pigment with every swipe for long-lasting color. An inclusive shade range was carefully selected to ensure there’s something to complement every skin tone. The formula was curated with hyaluronic acid to keep lips hydrated and soft. The velvet-matte finish is ideal for achieving cloud makeup looks or making a statement.
Why You’ll Love It
- Velvet matte finish
- Inclusive shade range
- Cruelty-free
- Non-drying
Lip Balm
Lip balm is everyone’s go-to all year long. These products deliver hydrating ingredients to help keep lips protected and moisturized against harsh winter weather. Many lip balms contain SPF for additional protection. You can find clear formulas and some that offer a subtle shine or dash of color.
Our Picks
Glow Reviver Melting Lip Balm
Glow Reviver Melting Lip Balm is designed to restore your lips’ healthy shine. Its soothing formula gently melts into your lips, providing a beautiful tint and a lightweight feel. Available in six stunning shades, it offers a high-gloss finish. The convenient squeeze tube ensures easy application, so you never have to worry about applying too much.
Why You’ll Love It
- Glossy finish
- Affordable
- Great for on-the-go
- Comfortable wear
- Cruelty-free
Ora’s Amazing Herbal Lip Balm
This lip balm is perfect if you need a product that helps heal and hydrate the lips without a tint. The transparent formula glides smoothly over the lips, leaving a subtle sheen behind. It’s unscented and gently infused with natural ingredients. Coconut helps hydrate and moisturize the lips, while herbal ingredients soothe and heal the lips.
Why You’ll Love It
- Eco-friendly packaging
- Gluten-free
- Unscented
- Long-lasting
Lip Stain
Lip stain is the ultimate way to achieve long-lasting color. Lip stains soak into your lips to deliver a lightweight hue that enhances your natural look, rather than appearing like a product on the surface. Modern lip stains are also hydrating; many are versatile enough to be used on your cheeks and lips.
Pillow Soft Hydrating Lip And Cheek Stain
Dominique created the ideal lip and cheek stain. The color works well in both areas, and a plush applicator enables precise application. Five inclusive shades ensure you can find something for every skin tone. Avocado oil nourishes the skin while hyaluronic acid hydrates it, leaving the skin smoother and softer.
Why You’ll Love It
- Hydrating
- Multi-tasker
- Cruelty-free
- Vegan
Clarins Water Lip Stain
Clarins created the perfect low-maintenance, high-impact lip stain. A few quick swipes with the applicator deliver the perfect amount of pigment to create the color you want. The formula is transfer-proof and long-lasting. The smooth matte finish is so lightweight that you can barely tell you’re wearing it.
Why You’ll Love It
- Transfer proof
- Long-lasting
- Pigmented
- Lightweight
Liquid Lipstick
Liquid lipstick is the ultimate lip gloss alternative. Lip glosses occasionally fall into this category when shopping. You’ll discover liquid lipstick in every formula imaginable, from glossy to matte. Matte finishes were once known for drying out lips, but today’s formulas are hydrating, delivering a true matte finish that’s comfortable to wear. Velvet liquid lipstick is always a great idea!
Smashbox Always On Long-Lasting Liquid Lipstick
If you read the pros and cons of lip gloss and decided you need something that will stay put, this product is worth checking out. It’s specially formulated to deliver a gentle matte finish that stays in place. The waterproof formula stays in place to provide up to eight hours of comfortable wear. Various shades are available, from light pink to deep berries.
Why You’ll Love It
- Long-lasting
- Non-drying
- Doesn’t feather or bleed
- Velvet, matte finish
Maybelline Super Stay Vinyl Ink Lip Color
This no-budge liquid lipstick is designed to provide long-lasting pigment. The glossy formula delivers the same shine as a lip gloss with the long-lasting impact of a liquid lipstick. Various shades are available, including soft pinks and bold reds. The vegan formula delivers up to 16 hours of wear time.
Why You’ll Love It
- Non-drying formula
- Dries quickly
- Large shade range
- Precision applicator
Lip Oil
Lip oil is a unique hybrid product that everyone has come to love. It delivers the glossy finish of a lip gloss with the hydrating and protective properties of lip balms. Lip oils typically don’t contain SPF but do include hydrating ingredients. Tinted lip oils create the look of a gloss. Some formulas are designed to function as lip tint, ensuring you enjoy long-lasting color.
Our Picks
Tinted Sculpted Lip Oil
Tinted Sculpted Lip Oil by Ogee Luxury Organics combines the benefits of lip oil with the ease of application of a lip crayon. A range of tinted shades ensures the subtle color you want, and the lip crayon design delivers precise application every time.
A unique blend of cold-pressed butters and jojoba oil keeps the lips moisturized and nourished. Peppermint oil soothes the lips while hyaluronic acid provides intense hydration. Vegetable-derived ingredients naturally make the lips fuller over time.
Why You’ll Love It
- Soothing
- Plumping
- Certified organic
- Cruelty-free
- Gluten-free
Clinique Pop Lip And Cheek Oil
This hybrid product is the perfect combination of lip oil and tint. It gives you the benefits of a lip tint, can be used on lips and cheeks, and is known for its hydrating ingredients. A nourishing blend of oils keeps lips and cheeks hydrated and smooth. Thanks to the tapered applicator, you can easily apply the ideal amount.
Why You’ll Love It
- Subtle sheen
- Perfect tint
- Hydrating
- Nourishing
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