High-shine lips are having a moment, especially now spring is calling for glossier, sheenier textures. Luckily Fenty Beauty is leading the charge with a new spin-off of its fan favourite Gloss Bomb Stix formula. The product has had a literal glow-up in the form of the Gloss Bomb Stix High-Shimmer Gloss Sticks, which features six new (or cult) shades in a show-stopping shimmery finish.
Like the OG, the texture sits somewhere between a balm and a lipstick, melting into lips with a buttery smooth feel. The difference? The new lil sis formula ups the ante with a wash of glitter in one swipe. It plays into the ‘90s nostalgia that's been trending with its nod to frosted lips, but the juicier glaze gives a more modern rendition.
As for the shade range, there's a mix of rich neutrals and bold colour-pops (like lilac), designed to offer an edit of fun, cute or sophisticated shades to fit all moods and skin tones. But, our editors are divided on whether glitz lips are a vibe or not. Here's what they thought when they tried it out….
The Product:
Mayola, GLAMOUR's Commerce Writer
Shade: Shimmering Fenty Glow
I tried Fenty Beauty’s Gloss Bomb Shimmer Stix in the shade Fenty Glow – my all-time favorite shade from the original collection. Right off the bat, I was impressed by how effortlessly it glided onto my lips. The formula melts on contact, delivering instant hydration. It didn’t feel drying at all, and the pigment lasted throughout my entire office day without needing a touch-up.
It was a bit more shimmery than I expected, but it wasn’t sticky at all. You won’t feel like there’s glitter on your lips – it actually feels more like a hydrating lipstick. This is definitely a product I'll be adding to my roster, especially for a seamless day-to-night look.
Rating: 8/10
Amelia, GLAMOUR's Acting Global Creative Director
Shade: Shimmering C U In Maui
After spending most of my early 20s with my hair constantly glued to my sticky Juicy Tube-coated lips, I’ve stuck to tinted balms and lip oils ever since. I was a bit hesitant to try Fenty Beauty’s Gloss Bomb Shimmer Stix, but with its promise of a lipstick-gloss hybrid, it sounded like a gloss I could get on board with. I opted for the shade C U In Maui, a shimmering coral. Unlike the glosses of my past, this glided on with ease and felt nourishing. It's buildable, creating a peachy sheen on the first swipe and building up to a high shine pop of colour with the second. It's the perfect summer shade and a must-have for your holiday makeup bag, plus it would pair beautifully with a sun-kissed glow. As more of a beauty minimalist, I found the shimmer a bit too much – it leans towards glittery which I don’t like. But, the shade and hydrating formula are a winning combination. If I’m reaching for a gloss, this is how I’d do it.
Rating: 7/10
Robyn, GLAMOUR's Social Media Manager
Shade: Shimmering Hot Chocolit
It brings me no joy to give a 4/10 review to a product created by our Mother, Queen, and Saviour Rihanna, but a sparkly lipstick was never going to be for me. The packaging and bullet are as sleek as the rest of the Fenty range. The product itself glides on effortlessly and is pigmented without being cakey. It has a beautiful sheen and texture, feeling smooth and nourishing, but the fine grit of the glitter is detectable — though not uncomfortable. The colour itself is gorgeous, the perfect deep brown shade. The glitter is also pretty, with a slight iridescence that adds a lovely dimension to the colour. But as I said, glitter lipstick will never find a home in my makeup bag in 2025.
Rating: 4/10
Nikoo, GLAMOUR's Commerce Photo Editor
Shade: Shimmering Flamingo Fling
I’m not usually a fan of lip gloss, but Fenty Beauty’s Gloss Bomb Shimmer Stix in Flamingo Fling has completely changed my mind. The soft pink shade is subtle yet flattering, giving my lips a natural, healthy look without being too bold. What really sets this gloss apart is that the formula’s smooth and non-sticky, which is a huge plus for someone like me who’s not typically into the texture of glosses. It gives my lips a glossy, hydrated finish that feels comfortable all day. The shimmer is just the right amount, and the scent is lovely. Definitely a game-changer.
Rating: 8/10
Katie, GLAMOUR's Senior SEO Manager
Shade: Shimmering Fu$$y
The Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Shimmer Stix is such a fun addition to my lip routine. It glides on so smoothly, and with ingredients like vitamin E, shea butter and squalene to lock in moisture, it adds a fun shine and tint and keeps my lips hydrated. I went with shade Fu$$y, a dusty pink which was a bit more pigmented than I typically go for, but I actually really liked the natural glow it gave. You can see the shimmer in the gloss stick from a mile away, so I was a bit apprehensive that it wouldn’t be appropriate for my daytime rotation, but again, Fenty pleasantly surprised me with the dose of fun it provided to an otherwise normal Tuesday. Word to the wise, a little goes a looong way. I found that with a swipe application versus a tap, I had a lot of excess product that was leaving its mark on my cutlery, water bottle and cups. Because of this, I wouldn’t give it high praise for its staying power, but in terms of how moisturised your lips feel after application, you’re going to be reaching for it all day long.
