There was a dark time just a couple of years back, a period in the 2000s where low-rise mini skirts and tight tank tops were deemed absolutely fabulous. A time where Mean Girls and the Lindsay Lohans of the world set the standards. There was also the lip gloss. We wore them, hoarded them and then we didn’t anymore. The matte liquid lipstick came along and the rest was history. Or, is it? After all, no one would willingly go back to pulling strands of hair out off of sticky lips. Right?

Well, if we’re being fair, lip glosses win by a landslide when it comes to hydration. As someone who struggles with dry and scaly lips, I want a lip product that plays for my side. Something that’ll keep my puckers hydrated enough and keep me from picking at my lips with my fingernails. Despite its shortcomings, glosses do that.

As far as our knowledge stretches, there is no ultimate non-stick lip gloss product, even if some claim to say so on the packaging. Your hair will continue to stick to your glossed-up lips and they will come off with every sip and bite you take. But what do you get in exchange? Super shiny lips that look and feel hydrated with far more dimension and character than a matte lip. Let’s not forget those incredible patent lips that came down the runway at Dior and Louis Vuitton last fall. For those of us with chronic chapped lips, glosses also make for smoother, easier and less bumpy application. Finally, if natural is what you’re going for, peach and pink glosses can give you that natural “licked lips” look that no matte liquid lipstick can come close to. For example, makeup artist to the stars Hung Vanngo told us that he intentionally used a lip gloss for Selena Gomez’s lips “Fetish” for a more natural look.

Below, we’ve rounded up some of the best glosses we’ve ever come across. They’re not overly sticky, which is already a major plus point. Some can be paired with your favourite lipstick, others are so pigmented that they can stand alone. Some even come with ingredients that nourish your lips. Looking at you, Hourglass and Charlotte Tilbury.

Make Up For Ever Artist Plexi Gloss

Chantecaille Brilliant Gloss in Charm

Illamasqua Sheer Lipgloss in Artifice 

BH Cosmetics Enhancing Lip Gloss in Bonfire

Dior Addict Fluid Stick in 754 Pandore

Marc Jacobs Beauty Enamoured Lip Lacquer in Moonglow

Kevyn Aucoin The Lip Gloss in Bloodroses

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Lustre Luxe Colour-Lasting Lacquer in Seduction

Hourglass Extreme Sheen High Shine Lip Gloss in Child

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