Some people are on a constant quest to find a mascara that gives them the longest, fullest lashes. Others are on a mission to find a lip gloss that isn’t sticky. Matte lipsticks have been the lippy of choice thanks to Kylie Jenner‘s crazy popular Lip Kits and all of the enviable new launches. Looking at you, Too Faced. However, it is spring now, and it is the time of year when we look for lighter, less fussy lip formulas.
If you’re looking to trade your dark matte lipstick for a pretty gloss, but do not want to end up with one that feels all gooey, I put some new formulas to the test to see what ones have textures you will actually want to wear. I tried glosses and some liquid lipsticks that could pass as glosses to see what ones were comfortable to wear and what ones felt like they were going to drip off of my lips.
Take a look at the results:
1. Essential Lip Gloss in Rio ($16, Cargo)
This bold gloss looks more like a liquid lipstick in the tube. It delivers high shine and a creamy color to rival a lot of liquid lipsticks too. The formula felt light as air with no obvious stickiness when I applied it. Plus, it is long-wearing and felt very nourishing on my lips even after I was wearing it for awhile.
2. True Color Plumping Liquid Lipstick in Liquid Lilly ($9.99, Nuance Salma Hayek)
This is called a liquid lipstick, but it definitely feels and looks more like a gloss when you apply it. You can build up the color, so you can get a bold, glossy finish. The lippy is infused with green tea extract to help plump lips without any tingling sensation. The gloss had that refreshing minty sensation on my lips and it felt very moisturizing. As for the stickiness, it definitely falls into the lightweight, creamy category as opposed to the goopy, tacky one.
3. Big Bang Illusion Gloss in Infinite ($22, Lipstick Queen)
Inspired by the Big Bang theory, Lipstick Queen creator Poppy King devised her own theory to create a plumping lip gloss without the tingling. The gloss does plump lips and feels like any regular gloss. No cinnamon burn here. The serum formula makes it almost feel more like a lip balm when it is on your lips. Soon after I applied it, I forgot I was wearing it because it didn’t feel goopy or sticky at all.
4. No Lipgloss Lipgloss ($30, Perricone MD)
This one is intriguing because it looks like a lip gloss, but is named a “No Lipgloss Lipgloss.” It is dubbed as a lip treatment that enhances youthful color and definition. It also offers broad-spectrum SPF 15 coverage. It has a doe-foot applicator like your regular gloss. It felt creamy on my lips without feeling gooey or thick. It was another gloss that I soon forgot I was wearing. It also smells a bit like chocolate. I did love the universally flattering rose color, but I wish it would be available in so many options.
5. HD Lip Gloss in Lucky in Love! ($21, Ramy)
This lippy is described as a “high definition conditioning, non-sticky lip gloss.” It is also one of the few in the lot to have a brush applicator as opposed to a doe foot. When I applied it, it brought me back to the heyday of 2000′s glosses because of the very light formula and a hint of sparkle. Unlike a lot of the older formulas, this one didn’t make it feel like I had a thick coating of goop on my lips. It felt very moisturizing like I had applied a lip oil. Plus, there was no grit from the shimmer.
6. The Lip Sculptor Lipstick & Lip Gloss in Rogue ($24, Tarte)
This dual-ended lippy has a lipstick on one side and a gloss on the other. As this is all about glosses, I only applied the gloss for this test. As soon as I applied it, I was won over by the warming vanilla scent. The lip gloss gives you a good color payoff and shines while making your lips feel moisturized. Read: Not sticky.
7. Longlast Velvet Liquid Lips in 01 Tearose ($30, Studio 10)
This is dubbed a demi-matte liquid lipstick. It promises a non-sticky formula that won’t flake off or transfer. The lippy has a souffle-like texture when you apply it to your lips. It dries almost instantly but still feels comfortable to wear. It’s the true shine of a gloss you’re after, you will probably wish this one had more. However, if you want just a hint of shine and some color, it’s a good option.
8. Sheer Brilliance Lip Gloss in Bali ($32, Le Metier de Beaute)
This gloss looks like Dorothy’s ruby red slippers in a package. It goes on sheer with a very, very fine shimmery finish. The formula is enriched with vitamin E and lanolin and it is evident when you apply it to your lips. It feels as nice as a balm without any typical lip gloss tackiness.
9. Hydrating Lip Plumper in Clear ($27, GrandeLIPS)
If you want a lip plumper with a glossy finish, give this one a try. It does have the familiar tingly sensation. However, note that it doesn’t kick in instantly upon application. It took about a minute. After a couple of minutes, it subsided to a minty sensation. The clear non-sticky formula is great for ’90s lovers, but there are also colorful shades available.
10. Lip Glitter Gloss in Smack ($27, VMV Hypoallergenics)
A glitter lip gloss can be intimidating but this one has such a fine dose in it. It is formulated with green tea extract and without parabens, waxes, phthalates, and dyes. This gloss felt almost dry when I applied it to my lips and I mean it is the best kind of way. If I didn’t know what I was applying to my lips, I would have thought it was a lip balm.
11. Sunforgettable Lip Shine SPF 35 in Champagne ($29, Colorescience)
This lippy gives you a glossy tint of gloss. When I applied it, it felt more like a non-drying matte liquid lipstick. There was no drip potential or goofiness in the formula. Bonus: It’s water-resistant for up to 40 minutes.
