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Say goodbye to sticky, goopy lip gloss. empty bottle of mascara
Likely, your memories of lip glosses didn’t start with a perfect pout. The sticky residue caught hair; every time you took a sip, your cup looked gooey and gross. Plus, you were probably reapplying and wasting product. Luckily, lip gloss has entered its chic era, with glosses so light and kissable that they’ll put a smile on your hydrated puckers. Whether you’re looking to plump up your lips, enhance shine, add a pop of color, or all of the above, today’s lip glosses are next-level.
To find only fresh and nonsticky, long-lasting formulas, we tested 20 of the most popular options. InStyle editors have ranked glosses, taking into account key ingredients, shades, longevity, and skin feel.
Why We Love It: For a lip gloss to win our “Best Overall” title, it needed to do more than just look good. When we observed how this product smoothly glided over our lips, didn’t cause a sticky sensation, and remained perfectly intact for 30 minutes, our interest was piqued. The luscious berry shade definitely swayed us to fall in love with this product as well—even more so when the color remained put through drinking and eating. But it was really its ability to not cause any tacky feeling, hold onto food particles, or collect in the corners of our mouths that impressed us most. We were able to go about our day without needing to check our mirrors or reapply every half hour; the lip gloss had an ability to go unfazed through the day.
Who It’s For: Anyone looking for a lip gloss that lasts for hours without falling into the typical pitfalls of this category of beauty product will appreciate this option.
Key Ingredients: Almond oil, jojoba oil, shea butter, seed oil | Shades: 6 | Scented: No
Nikki, tester: “This product is neither sticky or tacky. The gloss is very smooth and my lips glide when pressed together.”
Why We Love It: NYX didn’t become one of the leading makeup brands over the decades for no reason. The budget-friendly beauty brand delivers lasting formulas with beautiful colors, and this butter gloss is just another example. To start, we loved the sheer number of shades available to choose from—a whopping 32 options. The opulent color we picked was easy to layer, and while it did transfer to any cup we drank water out of, it still looked perfectly intact on our lips. The creamy gloss was easy to glide on as well, coming out with the perfect amount and being neither too thick nor too thin.
Who It’s For: This product does an excellent job of locking in existing moisture, making it great for cooler months where lips are just starting to get dry.
Key Ingredients: Beeswax, rice bran wax | Shades: 32 | Scented: Yes
Mandy, tester: “This gloss is comfortable enough for daily use. It's easy to apply and easy to throw into one's bag and go.”
Why We Love It: On top of delivering a beautiful shine and color, this lip gloss helped to hydrate and soften our lips. Lip Jelly, as Tower 28 calls it, is meant to be a combination of a gloss and a balm, and we found the thick formula to glide on lusciously without feeling too heavy or too much. While it was on, we were surprised to notice a cooling and calming sensation. It didn’t tingle or feel tacky, just refreshing. Even when the gloss was wiped off, we were delighted to find our lips had actually softened.
Who It’s For: This softening lip gloss/balm combo is perfect for pouts that need a bit of extra TLC.
Key Ingredients: Apricot kernel oil, avocado oil, raspberry seed oil, rosehip oil, castor oil | Shades: 12 | Scented: No
Samantha, tester: “This product feels super hydrating! It does not feel dry at all—it makes my lips very soft and looks even more hydrating than it feels.”
Why We Love It: We found this to be the best two-in-one lip gloss, thanks to its extraordinary hydrating capabilities and super shine. To begin, let us just say that a lot of gloss comes out at once. Without a mirror, we would easily make a mess. That said, it only takes a little to create an impactful shine, so the stick itself should last you a while. Once on, we noticed a slight tingling sensation caused by the minty flavor, which was the menthol helping to soothe and cool our lips. We also noticed it immediately pumping hydration in, giving our chapped lips some much-needed relief.
Who It’s For: This lightweight gloss stick is great for anyone who hates the feeling of product on their pout, but still wants that extra shine.
Key Ingredients: Menthol crystals, ginger root oil, coconut oil, shea butter, avocado oil | Shades: 10 | Scented: Yes
Stacey, tester: “This gloss does not feel greasy at all. It feels lightweight and brings a great glow and sheen to the lips.”
Why We Love It: Consider this the product for enhancing your natural lips so they look subtly flirty and healthy. The gloss is neither too thick nor too sticky and delivers just the right amount of product for a little shine. It’s pigmented, but only enough to make the natural color of your lips pop. And if we wanted to make it more noticeable, it was easy to build on by adding an extra layer or two. When the wind blew in our faces, some strands of hair did get caught in the luscious trap of our lips. However, it was easy to remove and neither gooped nor left any residue in our hair.
Who It’s For: Anyone looking to replace their trusty Chapstick with a more luxe (but still natural) version will appreciate this subtle pop of color.
Key Ingredients: Maracuja oil, grapeseed oil, goji, acai, vitamin E | Shades: 33 | Scented: Yes
Michelle, tester: “This product felt smooth, thin, and was not goopy on my lips.”
Why We Love It: We are heading into balm territory with this Plum Plump Hyaluronic Acid Lip Gloss, so for those of you looking for a deeply hydrating product with a little shine, this is it. The gloss felt absolutely great on: silky, smooth, and far from tacky. As a matter of fact, almost no hair got stuck during our fan test, which was surprising considering that it’s not particularly lightweight.
Who It’s For: Since there is no color to it, this product creates a natural, nonliquid look that doesn’t bleed or transfer for those who prefer a “your lips, but better” vibe.
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, kakadu plum blend, raspberry extract | Shades: 1 | Scented: No
Skye, tester: “This gloss balm wasn't extra lightweight—there's some heft to the formula—but in a pleasant way.”
Why We Love It: The Fenty Gloss Bomb surprised us, as we were expecting a more sticky gloss and instead received a hydrating cream that didn’t feel goopy or oily. The lack of a greasy feel made it a delight for daytime use, especially when combined with the little pop of natural color that looks especially great on those with darker skin tones. In the tube, the gloss almost looked matte, but it glided on in a delicious (and we mean that literally, the cherry flavor was to die for) gloss finish. And although the shine dulled down after 10 minutes, the color held up nicely.
Who It’s For: Instead of going into lipstick territory or in-your-face shine, this product creates a natural, semi-hydrating sheen fit for everyday use.
Key Ingredients: Shea butter, sunflower seed oil | Shades: 5 | Scented: Yes
Robyn, tester: “This feels great and is just a nice touch of color to go with the barely-there look I like for daytime.”
Why We Love It: Selena Gomez’s beauty brand Rare Beauty got the stamp of approval from dermatologists, meaning that its products are safe for all skin types, including sensitive ones. The texture of this particular product was relatively thin, but in a pleasant way. It didn’t goop or weigh down on our lips, glossing over them in a silky manner. It’s neither hydrating nor drying, so it’s definitely more for the look than any kind of function—but oh boy, does it truly look stunning.
Who It’s For: This gloss (and the whole Rare Beauty brand, for that matter) is cruelty-free, vegan, and paraben-free—perfect for those who are ingredient-conscious yet still want to look good.
Key Ingredients: Lotus, gardenia, white water lily | Shades: 5 | Scented: No
Robyn, tester: “This gloss was comfortable to have on at the office without feeling like I was overly made up with product.”
Why We Love It: You know what we don’t have time for? Constant gloss reapplication. Luckily that's not an issue with this Bobbi Brown gloss. Aside from the fact that this gloss remained put for the duration of our test, it also felt comfortable the entire time. The creamy, condensed milk-like consistency made for a natural and hydrating sensation. Because of its lightweight nature, it didn’t feel greasy or sticky, either. Nor did it settle into creases or bleed around the edges.
Who It’s For: The delicious sweet orange starburst scent of this long-lasting gloss makes it a nice option for those who like their lip products to smell just as good as they look.
Key Ingredients: Coffee seed oil, olive oil | Shades: 12 | Scented: Yes
Sheila, tester: “This is definitely comfortable enough for daily use. It has a nice color and would definitely be my go-to product. It's also light weight and barely noticeable with a pop of color, and easy to apply.”
Why We Love It: We’ve tried a plethora of Jones Road products in the past, but the lip products outshone them all—this Cool Gloss fits right in with the brand's killer lip line. The more layers we added, the more vibrant it became, without ever feeling too thick or heavy. The color also lasted the day, which was impressive. We loved that there was minimal stickiness—just enough to remain firmly put on our lips. Shine and hydration were present, but not overpowering, so the focus was much more on the beautiful shade.
Who It’s For: Formulated with a bit of peppermint, the lip gloss awakens lips with a smooth and cool feel—ideal for those who like to feel their lip product plumping up their pout.
Key Ingredients: Shea butter, peppermint | Shades: 8 | Scented: Yes
Stephanie, tester: “The product feels smooth and cool (literally cool, there's definitely mint extract in this gloss formula), with a minimal amount of stickiness. Overall the lip gloss glides on quite nicely and removes easily with a simple makeup wipe.”
Why We Love It: Looking for a special beauty look for a night out? Perhaps something with a little more pop? Pat McGrath Lust Gloss is the one to go with; it happens to be a favorite for professional makeup artist J Guerra. While it is quite thick, it spreads evenly and smoothly and without clumps. The hue of the gloss and overall shine is very noticeable, so while it’s not something you’d wear to the office, it’s certainly a head-turner for a night on the town.
Who It’s For: This bold gloss will suit anyone who prefers all eyes on them—or, more specifically, their lips.
Key Ingredients: Vitamin E | Shades: 16 | Scented: No
Cristina, tester: “I didn't think I put that much on but one simple coat applied to the top and bottom lip was more than enough.”
Why We Love It: Let’s not sleep on these drugstore brands, because a lot of them have been around for decades and know exactly what they are doing. Maybelline is one of those brands, and for an attractive price, we got juicy-looking lips in a single swipe. We also felt as though it had just the right consistency to allow us to build as needed. Even with two or three layers, it felt neither thick nor runny, remaining light and airy on the lips.
Who It’s For: This product is more sheer than many of the other lip glosses we tried, making it easier to use over lipsticks or lip liners without having any colors clash for those who want to create a multidimensional look.
Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, hyaluronic acid | Shades: 21 | Scented: No
Sunita, tester: “Initially the gloss felt a little sticky after application, but within a few minutes it felt comfortable. My hair did stick to my lips during the fan test, but was easy to remove and I did not feel any residue on my hair.”
Why We Love It: We love a classic Lancôme product, and the brand's Juicy Tubes Lip Gloss had us feeling like we were in an old-school movie, smacking lips and looking bubbly (even the tube is reminiscent of our beloved Y2K years). The formula of this gloss is very viscous and has a nice sparkle to it. When we pushed a blob of product out, it held its shape until we manually spread it across the lips. There was a slightly tacky feeling when we put our lips together, but not a disturbing amount. We could still drink out of straws without feeling like we kissed away the product or needed to reapply the gloss.
Who It’s For: Anyone who prefers a more glittery look (without going over the top) will appreciate this high-shine product.
Key Ingredients: Vitamin E | Shades: 9 | Scented: Yes
Trisha, tester: “The feel of this product is smooth and silky.”
Why We Love It: You know when you look your healthiest—eight hours of sleep, sun-kissed, well-hydrated, and all? Summer Friday’s products work to bring out just that vibe. The Lip Butter Balm has nine different shades that help make your natural lip color pop. Adding just a tiny bit of tint (yes, the formula looks more opulent in the tube than on the skin), it glosses over the lips in a subtle yet flirty shade. The balm squeezed out of the tube effortlessly and spread over our lips in a single swipe. There’s some stickiness to it, but it didn’t transfer onto our hair in an icky way.
Who It’s For: This product is neither greasy nor heavy, making it ideal for everyday use and throwing in your purse to touch up on the go.
Key Ingredients: Shea butter, murumuru butter, vegan wax, vanilla | Shades: 9 | Scented: Yes
Mandy, tester: “This gloss was easy to spread on the lips and it was easy to wipe off any excess.”
Why We Love It: Not all people love the juicy and rich look (or feel) of traditional glosses. If you’re one of them, then opt for this sheer hyaluronic acid lip gloss instead. We found it very lightweight and easy to manage, creating a barely-there feel. It simply gave our lips a little smooth shine without any of the tacky feeling. Its humble nature also allowed it to blend into our lips seamlessly without bleeding or looking patchy.
Who It’s For: Thanks to the hyaluronic acid in the formula, this gloss feels very moisturizing and comfortable for those looking for a more nourishing product.
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, botanical blends, lactic acid | Shades: 13 | Scented: No
Sunita, tester: “The lip gloss felt light and comfortable on my lips—very sheer, almost bare.”
Why We Love It: This option functions not only as a clear gloss but as a hydrating lip balm as well. We were extremely pleased with the pillowy effect it brought onto our lips, making them feel soft and supple with all the moisture that got pumped into them. Immediately after application, we noticed a liquid shine over our lips that we loved. The wow factor kept coming as we realized how non-sticky it was, keeping hair off our lips even through the wind.
Who It’s For: Anyone looking for a pillowy effect for their lips (without filler) would do well to choose this subtly plumping product.
Key Ingredients: Rosehip fruit extract, probiotic complex, ginseng extract | Shades: 1 | Scented: Yes
Stacey, tester: “There was no residue with this gloss and it was super easy to remove.”
To find the best lip glosses, we first searched the internet for the most popular and well-rated products. We called 20 of the winning options into our testing lab, where 20 different women put them to the test. We first took note of how the lip gloss felt when applied—whether it tingled, looked goopy, or felt runny. We then let a fan blow hair into our faces as we tested how sticky the formula was. By pressing our lips against cups and eating granola bars, we were able to see if any product transferred or disappeared.
Any products that came with the added benefit of hydration received extra points. Products that made it past all of our tests won a spot on this list.
Choosing the right lip shade can be difficult, especially when shopping online. Guerra says to “consider the undertones of your skin. If your skin has warm undertones, look for shades with similarly warm hues like bronzes, golds, deep reds, or rich browns. These colors can complement and enhance the warmth of your skin.”
Those working with cool undertones can benefit from “berry shades like deep plums.” If you want to keep things safe, “universally flattering shades on light to medium to deeper skin tones are neutral shades of sand, honey, and molasses. They look natural, yet glowing and beautiful,” he says.
Some brands allow you to virtually try on the different shades. Play around as you get a better idea of what suits your skin tone the best.
Lip gloss in itself is not hydrating or drying, but you’ll find plenty of options on this list that are a hybrid between a balm and a lip gloss, or possess moisturizing ingredients for a more skin-friendly product. For example, some contain coconut oil, which heals the lips, while others use hyaluronic acid to lock moisture into skin cells. If you want to ensure your lips stay hydrated, Dr. Murphy-Rose recommends “wearing a Chapstick under lip gloss, as it tends to be more skin nourishing and occlusive.”
black lipstick case Bianca Kratky is a writer for InStyle with over two years of experience covering fashion and beauty stories. As someone with sensitive lips, she pays extra close attention to ensuring the lip glosses chosen are nonirritant and comfortable for all. To write this article, she dove deep into the insights of the testers and spoke to makeup artists J Guerra and Elizabeth Seropian and board-certified dermatologist Dr. Blair Murphy Rose, M.D., FAAD for insights on what to consider when shopping for the best lip glosses. Allison Lax, InStyle writer who loves enhancing her lips with her own Jane Iredale gloss, contributed additional reporting to this story.