13 best clear lip glosses for a subtle sheen
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After years of matte lipsticks and lip stains dominating the makeup scene, I'm genuinely delighted to see that clear lip glosses are finally making a comeback. Despite the fact that they're are typically passed over in favour of a pigmented formula, they're once again getting the recognition they deserve
Forget the tiny tubes that used to come with your favourite magazine when you were a kid, glosses these days have been expertly developed to provide a whole host of different benefits — whether that's plumping the lips, infusing them with moisturising and nourishing ingredients or simply giving off a gorgeous high shine. Whether you're looking for a glossy top coat to finish off your carefully sculpted red lip or you're applying it to a completely bare face to make you feel a little more put together as you head off to an exercise class, a good clear lip gloss always comes through when you most need it.
Best clear lip glosses at a glance:
- Best Overall: REFY Clear Lip Gloss, £16, REFY
- Best Plumping: Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme Lip Gloss, £24, LookFantastic
- Best Everyday: Anastasia Beverly Hills Crystal Lip Gloss, £19, Cult Beauty
- Best Affordable: e.l.f. Cosmetics Lip Lacquer, £4, Beauty Bay
- Best Premium: Hourglass Unreal High Shine Volumising Lip Gloss, £30, Space NK
For "no make-up" make-up days when you want something that stands out a little more than a standard lip balm or oil, a gloss is truly your go-to gal. For me, it's the one makeup item that you can guarantee I'll always have on me — even if it's simply hidden right at the bottom of my handbag. You just never know when you could do with a little bit of shine.
Not sure where to start when it comes to picking the perfect clear lip gloss for you? Don't worry — we've assessed all the top contenders, and looked at everything from how easy their applicator is to use, to how long their formulas last on the skin, and carefully curated this edit of glosses that are well and truly leading the way. From budget buys to premium picks, there's bound to be at least one clear lip gloss in this list that makes you want to get that perfect pout.
Scroll to view our edit of the best clear lip glosses to add to your makeup bag ASAP…
Why we love it: Designed to smooth out any fine lines in the lips while also giving them a healthy dose of hydration, there's a lot to love about this cult-favourite clear gloss. Packed with natural plumping ingredients like shea butter, jojoba oil, and hyaluronic acid, it's delightfully non-sticky, and stays in place all day. But the best thing of all? It's got to be the genius metal applicator. Not only is it lovely to use, but it also takes out the faff of adding unwanted pigments to your clear gloss if you're using it on top of another colour.
Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme Lip Gloss
Why we love it: Want the look of freshly-filled lips without having to fork out for an appointment with an aesthetician? Look no further than this gorgeous tingly gloss by Too Faced. Inspired by medically proven blood vessel dilating technology, it gives the lips a proper plumping — while ingredients like avocado and jojoba oil provide maximum nourishment and hydration. It's a must-have gloss for a voluptuous pout.
Save when you shop for clear lip glosses with these LookFantastic discount codes.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Crystal Lip Gloss
Why we love it: More about accentuating the lovely lips you've got — rather than necessarily making them look bigger — this is the kind of gloss that requires no other makeup. Its formula is non-sticky and long-lasting which makes it ideal for everyday wear, it leaves bare lips with a full and smooth glass-like finish. It's a handbag staple.
Save when you shop for clear lip glosses with these Cult Beauty discount codes.
Why we love it: With its super nourishing vegan formula, high-shine finish, and affordable price, it's no surprise that this clear lip gloss is such a strong contender. Enriched with hydrating vitamin A and nourishing vitamin E, it's the perfect non-sticky gloss to layer over lipstick.
Save when you shop for clear lip glosses with these Beauty Bay discount codes.
Hourglass Unreal High Shine Volumising Lip Gloss
Why we love it: Packed with powerful active ingredients like VululipTM and hyaluronic acid, this premium lip gloss definitely lives up to its hydrating claims. Designed to leave lips looking subtly plumper and fuller — but never fake — it's got gorgeous light-reflecting pigments that ensure your smile is lovely and shiny.
Save when you shop for clear lip glosses with these Space NK discount codes.
KIKO Milano 3D Hydra Lipgloss 20
Why we love it: This KIKO Milano lip gloss comes in thirty-five different shades — including clear — and has a soft wand applicator that's been designed with precise outlining in mind. Best of all, the gloss formula contains Biden's pilosa; a form of bio-retinol that's extracted from a plant, and has been shown to increase the skin's production of collagen and elastin. So, expect smooth lips with minimal lines.
Save when you shop for clear lip glosses with these Amazon discount codes.
Makeup Revolution Pout Bomb Plumping Gloss
Why we love it: A great high-shine lip gloss, this clever formula lightly tingles and cools the lips so they look lovely and plump. Easy to apply and not too gloopy, it's even infused with conditioning vitamin E to keep your lips in prime condition. Plus, it leaves behind a rather refreshing minty smell and taste.
Save when you shop for clear lip glosses with these LookFantastic discount codes.
GLOSSIER Glassy High-Shine Lip Gloss
Why we love it: Another gloss that feels closer to skincare than make-up, this Glossier option promises to leave your lips with a crease-free and cushiony look and feel. Infused with Gloss-Lock Technology's emollient mix that works to provide long-lasting shine, it's got a formula that's a little on the thicker side — so it's ideal if you're after something that'll lock your lips in moisture and shine all day.
Save when you shop for clear lip glosses with these Sephora discount codes.
Tower 28 Beauty ShineOn Lip Jelly
Why we love it: At GLAMOUR, we love a hybrid product. With the shine of a gloss and the feel of a balm, this is the gloss to go for if you're after a formula that leaves behind maximum shine and zero stickiness. A truly lovely lacquer, it's also really conditioning thanks to the unique blend of five nourishing oils in its formula.
Save when you shop for clear lip glosses with these Cult Beauty discount codes.
Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer
Why we love it: When we say we're looking for a gloss with shimmer, what we mean is a little bit of glow — not full-on holographic vibes. Rihanna totally understood the assignment. As well as your lips looking fuller and smoother in an instant, this gorgeous gloss leaves behind an impress amount of shine that stays put all day. Plus, we're also pretty obsessed with its addictive peach-vanilla scent…
Save when you shop for clear lip glosses with these Sephora discount codes.
NYX Fat Oil Lip Drip Lip Gloss
Why we love it: With its oil-like formula, this gloss definitely doesn't leave your lips feeling horrid and sticky. It's packed with good-for-you ingredients like raspberry oils and squalene that give your lips a proper plumping, and it also promises an impressive twelve-hours of hydration. The fat applicator is really nice to use, and the affordable price means that it's a definite yes from us.
Save when you shop for clear lip glosses with these Amazon discount codes.
Rimmel London Stay Glossy Lip Gloss
Why we love it: This gloss is all about leaving behind a lovely shine — so it works really well as a finishing touch on top of a dry matte lipstick or lip stain. It's got a slight silver shimmer to it which feels perfect for evenings out, and applies really smoothly and easily thanks to the clever lip-hugging applicator.
Save when you shop for clear lip glosses with these Amazon discount codes.
Morphe Dripglass Glazed High Shine Lip Gloss
Why we love it: Morphe are one again making moves with this gloss, and have taken the famous glazed doughnut trend from manis to mouths. Offering semi-sheer coverage, this lovely gloss acts like a glas-like veil over your lips, and leaves them dripping in dew and shine. With its delicious formula of plant-derived squalane and vitamin E, it's super nourishing — and it's also really buildable, so customising your coverage is a breeze.
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