16 Long-Lasting Lip Glosses to That Are Actually Comfortable to Wear
Design by Cristina Cianci
Reviewed by Ashley Rebecca
Does long-lasting lip gloss sound like an oxymoron to you? You're not alone. For years, I thought that glossy textures equaled high-maintenance lip products that needed constant reapplying. So not my style. Now, consider me a converted gloss girl. After a wave of popularity in the early 2000s, lip glosses are back — and they're shiner and longer-lasting than ever. Plus, they're actually comfortable to wear. Ahead, we share the best long-lasting lip glosses you’ll want to add to your makeup stash ASAP.
Meet the Experts
Merav Adler is a Los Angeles-based makeup artist who specializes in beauty and special effects looks.
Kate Synnott is a bi-coastal makeup artist in New York and Los Angeles.
Pat McGrath Labs Lust: Lip Gloss in Flesh 4
Pat McGrath Labs Lust: Lip Gloss in Flesh 4 ($28)
This Pat McGrath Lust Gloss in Flesh 4 feels like it was made for me. Any time I post a selfie on Instagram wearing it, my DMs go crazy full of girls wanting to know the shade ID and men complimenting me. I'd like to call it my signature gloss for a fire selfie.
The mother of makeup hit the nail on the head again with this winning formula that's far from sticky. Imagine a silky veil of color swept across your lips that lasts for hours.
Rhode Peptide Lip Tints
Rhode Peptide Lip Tint ($$16)
Hailey Bieber's beauty brand dropped these buzzy new lip tints in the fall of 2023. Representing Rhode's first foray into color cosmetics, the tints come in four lip-smacking colors: Ribbon (light pink), Raspberry Jelly (magenta), Toast (brown-toned pink), and Espresso (rich brown.)
“One of my favorite things about our new Peptide Lip Tint is that I get the same nourishing formula as our Peptide Lip Treatment, but with a hint of color," Bieber previously told Byrdie. "We spent years formulating to get the perfect four shades.”
The formula in question is packed with nourishing ingredients — including shea butter, peptides, and babassu — that keep lips hydrated and plumped for the long haul. You don't have to reapply it throughout the day, but you won't risk chalkiness if you just can't help yourself: The buildable tint was made for layering.
Trinny London Lip Glow
Trinny London Lip Glow ($$22)
Trinny London, the buzzy UK beauty brand, has a gorgeous lip color that has the lightweight feel of a balm and the glistening finish of a gloss. With a sheer, buildable tint, the long-lasting formulation has a light watermelon scent — apply it with your finger or a brush, then go about your day. Whether you choose the gloss in a soft-shell pink, a sheer orange red, or another one of its peppy hues, the color will last from your first morning meeting to your last nightcap.
Glossier Lip Gloss
Glossier Lip Gloss ($14)
Sometimes you want a glossy lip sans glitter. This crystallized finish will give your lips a light-catching shine and is filled with skin-first ingredients. "This is like a lip stain and a gloss love child," says makeup artist Kate Synnott. "It leaves a hint of color on the lips with a super shiny finish."
Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer
Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer ($19)
Fenty Beauty is inclusivity at its finest. The first and most popular iteration of this high-shine gloss is a universal rose nude that works on all skin tones. RiRi and her team have since released more shades for all skin tones, including clear for people who just want a little bit of shine. Not even the glittery shades are gritty, and the texture locks onto your lips for hours. Makeup artist Merav Adler touts the gloss as one of her favorites for its conditioning, non-sticky formula. "The applicator is great, too, so you don’t need a separate brush to apply," she says.
Kopari Coconut Lip Glossy
Kopari Coconut Lip Glossy ($13)
Kopari created a hydrating formula full of coconut oil and shea butter. This one is more like a balm than a gloss. Don't get us wrong: It has a gloss effect. But, the primary benefit is that it packs a serious moisturizing punch. Plus, it won't melt off, smear, or dry up.
Nyx Butter Gloss
Nyx Butter Gloss ($5)
This cult-favorite line of glosses is super inexpensive but offers a major color payoff. In an array of neutral, wearable shades, this smooth texture lives up to its name.
Laura Mercier Lip Glacé Blush
Laura Mercier Lip Glacé Blush ($28)
"This is one of the few lip glosses that doesn’t make your lipstick (especially darker colors) bleed when applying it on top," says Adler. "I like to use this with a small lip brush when applying." Plus, it's versatile: wear it layered on top of matte lipstick for extra shine, or wear it alone for a sheer, high-shine look.
Buxom Full-On Lip Polish
Buxom Full-On Lip Polish ($21)
Blended with vitamins A and E, this lip gloss has a serious plumping effect and it gives your lips a lustrous shine. Just know that the plumpers are definitely active—you might get a surprise with how tingly your lips are.
Nars Lip Gloss
Nars Lip Gloss ($24)
This nourishing formula has a doe-foot applicator that makes gliding it on easy. It also has moisturizing ingredients and is very long-lasting. "One of my favorite shades is Orgasm," says Adler. "It's so pretty on its own or under a pinky coral lip."
Dior Addict Lip Maximizer Plumping Gloss
Dior Addict Lip Maximizer Plumping Gloss ($35)
This enhancing gloss will give you instant volume and a noticeable shine. It's a makeup kit staple for Synnott, who says you can wear it with or without liner and it'll look gorgeous either way.
Roen Beauty Kiss My…Liquid Lip Balm
Roen Beauty Kiss My…Liquid Lip Balm ($24)
"This is my go-to gloss for the red carpet because it looks shiny like a gloss but feels more like a balm on the lips," says Synnott. "The formula isn’t sticky so it's perfect for special events. Plus, it's clean and full of nourishing ingredients that hydrate the lips."
Hourglass Unreal High Shine Volumizing Lip Gloss
Hourglass Unreal High Shine Volumizing Lip Gloss ($30)
If juicy lips are the goal, this pick by Hourglass is a game-changer. "The formula is so highly pigmented that it’s like a lipstick, lip gloss, and lip liner all in one," raves Synnott.
Smashbox Gloss Angeles
Smashbox Gloss Angeles ($20)
For that L.A. cool-girl look, look to this pick from Smashbox. It features a light-refracting sheen that fakes plumper lips while keeping you hydrated with conditioning ingredients like vitamin E.
Jane Iredale PureGloss Lip Gloss
Jane Iredale PureGloss? Lip Gloss ($26)
Gone are the days of gritty lip glosses. Jane Iredale'sultra-creamy formula offers just a hint of color in a glossy, nearly sheer wash. PureGloss lasts all day—through breakfast meetings to Happy Hour—and even quenches dry lips when temps drop.
Be a 10 Belong to Me Lip Gloss
Be a 10 Belong to Me Lip Gloss ($22)
We can't decide what we love more about this gloss: its angled tip for seamless application, the opaque color, or the no-feather formula that doesn't budge.
Up Next: The 15 Best Clear Lip Glosses
Read the original article on Byrdie.