I’m a lip gloss aficionado. I have lip gloss on me at all times — one in my hand, two in my backpack (one in each pocket for easy access), three on my person and probably hundreds more scattered across my home and in the most convenient of places. However, don’t take my lip gloss obsession as a goal — no person needs that many. You just need the very best ones, and there is no one more equipped to help you navigate the sticky world of lip gloss than myself! I’m here to help you find the perfect sparkle to add to your lips. And for those of you who aren’t crazy about makeup, keep reading! I’ve got some killer chapstick recommendations too.
If shopping on a budget: you can always bet on the NYX Butter Gloss. At a reasonable $6, this little lady keeps your lips hydrated and soft and does not skimp on pigment. Its familiar smell comforts to no end. For a more traditional lip gloss, you can also opt for the $10.99 Maybelline Lifter Gloss, which boasts shades similar to lip industry tycoons’ products, such as Too Faced’s Lip Injection Plumpers or Fenty’s Gloss Bombs.
Looking for something a little more trendy? Check out the MAC Squirt Plumping Gloss Stick. It went viral last year for its wild shade range, but I can attest that it was not a microtrend as I’m still repurchasing. This lip gloss is fun and fresh; it’s a tad gimmicky with its neon and unconventional colorways, but has the perfect melty formula to back up the hype. MAC has a stellar lip product reputation for a reason.
As for the day-to-day self-care: reach for any of the Malin+Goetz lip lineup — the Lip Moisturizer, SPF 30 Lip Balm or Mojito Lip Balm. With cruelty-free, healthy ingredients, these $16 chapsticks pack a punch, leaving your lips protected and nourished. At your local drugstore, grab a classic Aquaphor Lip Repair or Vaseline Lip Therapy for dire situations. Make sure to stock up for winter for the war against chapped lips!
To treat your lips: splurge on the Dior Addict Lip Volumizer or the Westman Atelier Squeaky Clean Lip Balm. You may have heard of the Dior Lip Glow Oil that was flying off the shelves a few years ago, but that was child’s play compared to the volumizer. With over double the shades, a weightless feel and a precise applicator, it knocks the glow oil out of the game. Now, on the other hand, Westman Atelier offers an experience: luxurious, quality packaging and contents to match. Swiping on the Squeaky Clean Lip Balm feels silky and sheer, purely enhancing your natural features.
Avoid at all costs: the Summer Fridays Lip Oil. In fact, if you even catch a glimpse of it in Sephora, please turn around and walk out the door. Now, I’m speaking from personal experience, because I did give this product a chance — three, to be exact. I mistakenly chalked up my dissatisfaction to the wrong shade; I was seduced by its marketing and desperate to like it. But upon trying all its unflattering shades, I’m resolved to admit that this $26 lip gloss is simply horrible: the packaging is unnecessarily huge despite offering only a mere 0.15 ounces of product. The applicator is also comically large and impractical, and finally, the excruciatingly ordinary formula hinges on sticky. Save your money and leave this one behind.
