Best Lip Glosses (2022) | Editor's Top Picks
If you’ve been reaching for glosses this year for something easy to apply but offers some hydration and comfort, you’ll find this guide to the best lipglosses (2022 edition) will give you a lot of insight into the top-performing lipgloss formulas that I’ve tested and tried over the years. They are editor-approved and editor-tested, featuring the best highlighters for 2022 (as they’re presently available). I’ve tried to include a mix of brands, shades, and formulas so that our list of best lipglosses offers something for everyone.
Every product recommended below has been tested and reviewed by me, your editor-in-chief, and I test thousands of products every year–so each product really had to earn their way onto this list. To read more about a specific shade or view swatches, make sure to use the drop downs and buttons below, as we’ve tried to make this guide comprehensive and easy to use!
ColourPop Glossy Lip Stain
It's supposed to have the "long-lasting powers of a lip stain" with the "shine of a gloss" paired with "medium to buildable coverage" that is "non-drying." The initial texture was almost watery, overly spreadable (and the applicator often picked up more product than necessary, so take care during application) but dried down to a more satiny shine that was less glossy and more like a satin lipstick with some translucency. Read more...
Tom Ford Beauty Gloss Luxe
The formula is supposed to have "sheer-to-medium coverage" with a hydrating base that feels like a "liquid balm." The impressive feature of the formula was the smooth, cushion-like consistency that was spreadable, plush, and comfortable to wear with no tackiness. Read more...
Pat McGrath LUST Lip Gloss
The formula is supposed to have "multidimensional shine" with a "non-sticky texture" that "nourishes" with "exceptional adherence." The opacity ranges from "opaque to transparent." The color coverage really does vary quite a bit, but most of the shades I've tried are sheer to medium in coverage--the brand could be clearer on which shades are opaque. Read more...
Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Lip Luminizer
The formula is supposed to have a “peach-vanilla” scent (I’d agree–sweet, lightly fruity) and be “conditioning.” It was designed to be worn alone or layered over other lip products. The consistency was very smooth, light-to-medium in weight, non-sticky, and comfortable to wear. It had a plusher consistency that helped it stay out of most of my lip lines. The shimmer was moderate but noticeable, and it distributed evenly across the lips. They last about three hours on my lips but are hydrating.
Pat McGrath OpuLUST Lip Gloss
The formula is supposed to "seamlessly glide" onto lips with "multidimensional sparkle with a smooth, non-sticky finish" that has a "shimmering, move-resistant glasslike finish" and "otherworldly opacity." The pigmentation varied from semi-sheer to mostly opaque depending on the shade, and "otherworldly opacity" combined with the brand's promotional images and swatches all points in the direction of "pigmented'," and I think there are at least a couple of shades that were designed as sheerer on purpose but lack any description suggesting they were different than other shades in the range. Read more...
ColourPop Ultra Glossy Lip
The formula is supposed to have "hi-shine" with a "non-sticky" texture that "feels amazing" and includes five finishes "from 3-D pearl to sheer tinted colour." They are designed to be a sheerer formula, so many shades are sheer with a smattering of shimmer or sparkle and then a few are more tinted with sheer to semi-sheer coverage but no shimmer. Each gloss has a short, brush-type applicator, which worked better than I expected and didn't leave streaky results behind (in general). They had a sweet, vanilla scent but no discernible taste. Read more...
Bobbi Brown Crushed Oil-Infused Gloss
The formula is supposed to be "ultra-shiny" (it is) with a "cushiony, comfy feel" (nailed it) that has a "burst of color" (sheer to medium coverage) that is "ultra-hydrating." It has more of a smooth, gel-like texture, which is where it gets that "cushiony, comfy feel," and it spread easily over my lips and felt comfortable to wear. Read more...
Huda Beauty Lip Strobe
The Lip Strobe formula is supposed to be “sheer to full coverage” depending on the shade and can be worn “alone or layered.” Per the brand, the semi-sheer shades are: Posh, Enchanting, Ritzy, Snobby, Shameless (sheer base), Mystical, and the full-coverage shades are: Boujee, Saucey, Foxy, Fearless, Moody (Angelic’s coverage was not described). Read more...
Patrick Ta Major Glow Lip Shine
The formula is supposed to have a "high-shine" finish that has the "cushion and slip of a lip balm" without being tacky designed to be sheerer. If you love a balmy, gel-like gloss that isn't tacky, has a lot of shine, and a bit of sparkle to it (without being gritty), it's a very comfortable, easy-to-apply formula. It's not particularly long-wearing (three to four hours) but definitely hydrating and glass-like in its shine. Read more...
NARS Velvet Lip Glide
It's supposed to be a hybrid between lipstick and lipgloss that is hydrating, richly pigmented, and comfortable to wear. They have stronger color payoff, a non-tacky consistency, and a smoothness to their consistency that is a lot like a good lipstick, while they have a plusher, thicker texture that gives lips a plumper, fuller look along with a glossy sheen that is more like a gloss. Read more...
New for 2022: Top-Rated Lip Glosses Just Released
Check out the current top 10 highest-rated lipglosses (individual shades) reviewed by the editor in 2022–this list will update automatically!
ColourPop On the Ritz Fresh Kiss Lip Lacquer ($8.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a brighter, pinky-plum with cool undertones and a glossy, cream finish. It had...
ColourPop On the Ritz Fresh Kiss Lip Lacquer ($8.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a brighter, pinky-plum with cool undertones and a glossy, cream finish. It had...
Tom Ford Beauty Bare Assed Gloss Luxe ($57.00 for 0.24 oz.) is a medium-dark, rosy plum with subtle, warm undertones and a dusting of gold...
Tom Ford Beauty Bare Assed Gloss Luxe ($57.00 for 0.24 oz.) is a medium-dark, rosy plum with subtle, warm undertones and a dusting of gold...
ColourPop Sidecar Fresh Kiss Lip Lacquer ($8.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a bright, medium-dark red with cool undertones and a glossy, cream finish. It had...
ColourPop Sidecar Fresh Kiss Lip Lacquer ($8.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a bright, medium-dark red with cool undertones and a glossy, cream finish. It had...
ColourPop It's Grr Time Fresh Kiss Lip Lacquer ($8.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a bright, cherry red with cooler undertones and a jelly-like, cream finish....
ColourPop It's Grr Time Fresh Kiss Lip Lacquer ($8.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a bright, cherry red with cooler undertones and a jelly-like, cream finish....
ColourPop Scotch Kiss Fresh Kiss Lip Lacquer ($8.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a brighter, berry pink with cool, blue undertones and a glossy, cream finish. It...
ColourPop Scotch Kiss Fresh Kiss Lip Lacquer ($8.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a brighter, berry pink with cool, blue undertones and a glossy, cream finish. It...
ColourPop Sippy Sippy Lux Gloss ($8.00 for 0.16 oz.) has a subtly, copper-tinted base with flecks of gold and copper sparkle throughout paired with a...
ColourPop Sippy Sippy Lux Gloss ($8.00 for 0.16 oz.) has a subtly, copper-tinted base with flecks of gold and copper sparkle throughout paired with a...
Lisa Eldridge Cinnabar Gloss Embrace Lip Gloss ($25.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a deep, reddish-copper with a more muted quality to it paired with a...
Lisa Eldridge Cinnabar Gloss Embrace Lip Gloss ($25.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a deep, reddish-copper with a more muted quality to it paired with a...
ColourPop It's On Me Fresh Kiss Lip Lacquer ($8.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a bright, medium pink with moderate, warm undertones and a glossy, cream finish....
ColourPop It's On Me Fresh Kiss Lip Lacquer ($8.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a bright, medium pink with moderate, warm undertones and a glossy, cream finish....
ColourPop Brandy Fresh Kiss Lip Lacquer ($8.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a darker pink with moderate, warm undertones and a glossy, cream finish. It had opaque...
ColourPop Brandy Fresh Kiss Lip Lacquer ($8.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a darker pink with moderate, warm undertones and a glossy, cream finish. It had opaque...
ColourPop Cabaret Fresh Kiss Lip Lacquer ($8.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a brighter, reddish-plum with strong, warm undertones and a glossy, cream finish. It...
ColourPop Cabaret Fresh Kiss Lip Lacquer ($8.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a brighter, reddish-plum with strong, warm undertones and a glossy, cream finish. It...
Our Methodology
The way I approach my guides is by focusing permanent formulas that have stood the test of time–they are high quality, consistent, and all formulas that have performed well. Every shade is thoroughly tested and reviewed, and these are formulas where I’ve often tested every shade in the line of, so I really grasp each formula’s strengths and weaknesses!
More product guides: Best Blushes, Best Highlighters, Best Eyeshadow Palettes, Best Single Eyeshadows, Best Lipsticks, Best Blush Brushes, Best Eyeshadow Brushes.
Wow! You’re getting these lists up so fast! Thank you so much for posting them before the Sephora sale time.
Fenty glosses have been the big winners for me this year. They don’t look terribly exciting in the tubes, but somehow they’re amazing looking on the lips. I wore Fenty Glow/Universal more than I have any lipgloss in a long time! Great formula, too: Not too sticky or too runny, nice shimmer dispersal, comfortable and moisturizing. They smell really yummy, too.
I really want to try some of the Pat McGrath glosses.
Because I love me a good glossy lip, I have at least one of each out of the first 5 brands mentioned, plus a few of the other brands mentioned. I love Fenty Gloss Bomb, PMG LUST Gloss and one not mentioned, MAC Lipglass.
I love the PM glosses so much! I really enjoy the Fenty ones, too.
And I rediscovered my Buxom glosses and realized that they’re really good. Haha. I like the Colourpop So Juicy lip glosses, too.
For some reason, I didn’t like the ABH ones and I’m not sure why.
Excited to try some of the ones you listed!
Lipgloss is mostly love/hate for me. It can really elevate and look incredible over lipstick, but I find it interferes with wear time and reapplying two layers on the go is just too much fuss. I also find if I want a glossier lip, I tend to grab lip balm instead..something that might actually hydrate my desert lips. It does looks fabulous in photos.
Sephora Ultra Shine and UD Hi Fi Shine are definitely my favorites. I have about 10 of the Ultra Shines and just love them. Colourpop will return to a favorite when the fix those darned brushes. I have quit buying them at this point. I got an Ofra gloss recently in an Ipsy and I like that formula as well. I’m such a gloss girl! I can’t wait to try some of the other ones listed here. I think the only other one on this list I’ve tried is the Huda Lip Strobe and I keep it because it can look cool as a topper, but I don’t like the stickiness and how it wears down.
I must say.. my all time favorite lip glosses are Pat McGrath. I love love love them. I used to buy MAC because of the color selection but they always make my lips peel. PMG formula is amazing and there colors simply beautiful. I do have other glosses but I just don’t reach for them now that I have my PMG
Some of these are so sticky, I can’t believe they made the list. 😳
Most of these aren’t sticky in my experience? But sticky isn’t something that is negative. Goopy, sure, when something is thick and sticky to the point where it streaks or is hard to manage to keep in place.
For me MAC makes the best lip glosses, I try other brands, but get back to MAC again and again.
From this list of brands I only have one from PMG, I like it, it’s shimmery and quite nice.
I’m going to order Spark Joy today, I think I’ll love it.
Thank you for these lists by the way. Put together like this it makes it so much easier to decide what to buy, or if to buy.