Lip gloss is firmly back in vogue. While it never fully disappeared, there’s been a clear shift towards shinier finishes in recent years.
Make-up artist Anna Payne has noticed the change too, with more people choosing high-shine gloss over matte lipstick. The appeal, she says, lies in the “fresh and youthful” look it creates. The best lip gloss “adds another dimension to your make-up and can make your lips look bigger, juicier and healthier.”
Thankfully, long are the days of overly sticky formulas, with brands now opting for skin-loving ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, vitamin E and natural oils, to create a shiny sheen, but also help to moisturise and hydrate our lips at the same time.
To find the best lip glosses that are actually worth your money, I tested a wide range of formulas, including plumping options and those designed for dry lips. Here are the ones that made the cut.
The best lip glosses for 2026 are:
- Best overall – Refy lip gloss: £16, Refybeauty.com
- Best budget buy – Rimmel London thrill seeker glassy gloss: £8.99, Lookfantastic.com
- Best on-the-go gloss – Summer Fridays lip butter balm: £23, Cultbeauty.co.uk
- Best luxury lip gloss – Chanel rouge coco gloss: £37, Chanel.com
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How I tested
To bring you the best lip glosses, I tested a whole host of different formulas, assessing colour, shine, consistency and application.
Those that were sticky, sickly or drying did not make the cut. I wore each lip gloss throughout a busy day, seeing how well it held up against straws and coffee cups, and noted how often I had to reapply.
Read more: 15 best mascaras for length and volume, tested by a beauty writer
Refy lip gloss
Best: lip gloss overall
Size: 13ml
Shades: Red, rosewood, papaya, guava, clear, taupe, fawn, sepia, blush and dusk
Vegan: Yes
Why we love it
- Flattering shades
- Juicy glossy sheen
- Refreshing and unique metal applicator
- Buildable
The cool metal applicator gives it a high-quality feel and it feels refreshing on the lips. Despite being an avid avoider of red lipstick, we were impressed with the rouge shade and found it built on our natural lip colour and didn’t look too bold on the face. The buttery, non-sticky formula is packed full of hydrating ingredients, such as jojoba oil and shea butter, which leave lips feeling nourished and healthy long after application. Owing to the slippery texture, it’s best applied with a mirror.
Buy now £16, Refybeauty.com
Rimmel London thrill seeker glassy gloss
Best: budget lip gloss
Size: 10ml
Shades: Coco sugar, pink candy, peachy vibes, pink to the berry, pine to the apple and berry glace
Vegan: Yes
Why we love it
- Great for matching with a lip liner
- Great price
- Smell and taste delicious
Take note
- Shades lack variety
The solid chunky applicator wand and non-sticky formula make this lip gloss easy to apply. The colours are not overpowering and layer well with a bold lip liner. But, we would have liked to have seen a wider variety of shades, as they do look fairly similar when applied. That being said, it’s a solid pick if you’re looking for a pocket-friendly pick.
Buy now £8.99, Lookfantastic.com
Summer Fridays lip butter balm
Best: on-the-go lip gloss
Size: 15 g
Shades: Brown sugar, cherry, iced coffee, pink sugar, poppy, sweet mint, vanilla and vanilla beige
Vegan: Yes
Why we love it
- Super hydrating
- Easy tube application
- Subtle but super flattering shades
- Doubles as a lip balm
- Buttery gloss-finish
Take note
- Strong scent
- Not the boldest colours
Summer Fridays is a brand on everyone’s lips, with the hype very much justified. While we love its skincare, this lip gloss is also a firm favourite. The shades are natural, and while not as pigmented as other glosses, each colour adapts to your colouring. A “your lips but better” look, if you will. There was no stickiness and the formula is hydrating and long-lasting, thanks to the powerhouse of ingredients (think seed butter and botanical extracts for extra nourishment).
Buy now £23, Cultbeauty.co.uk
Made by Mitchel beam lip gloss
Best: glittery gloss
Size: 5ml
Shades: Coral, milkshake 4 me, loved lacquer - a magenta pink, orange u glad, cream cream, see right thru, the juice, candy cute, nude mood, natural nights, drippin in pink, in between shifts, party pearlzzz, coppa droppa and on the dancefloor
Vegan: No
Why we love it
- Bold glitter
- Compact size
- Great shade selection
Take note
- Not the best texture
This is a party gloss. This compact little lippy packs a glittery punch. The short stubby applicator took some getting used to, but the small size made it great for chucking in a bag before a night out. The glitter is fun, more than bold enough to stand on its own but also a great way to revamp your lipsticks. Our only gripe is the formula – it was on the stickier side and the glitter did leave our lips feeling gritty. But overall a fun, sparkly gloss at an affordable price point too.
Buy now £12, Boots.com
Nars afterglow lip shine
Best: all-rounder lip gloss
Size: 5.5ml
Shades: Orgasm, nympho, aragon, A-lister, Chelsea girls, lover to lover, super vixen, tripple X, Turkish delight and unbroken
Vegan: N /A
Why we love it
- Super soft application
- A perfect pink shade
- Not too glittery
- Sits comfortably and effortlessly on the lips
Arguably one of the most famous shades, this Nars lip gloss is a firm favourite. The packaging is slick and glamorous, much like the product inside. A mere two swipes and our lips were perfectly coated in a glossy pink sheen. The formula has gone through many makeovers throughout the years and we are happy to say this latest concoction is non-sticky. Thankfully, it’s lightweight and almost feels non-existent when you’re wearing it – yet, the strong pigment and sparkle still remain.
Buy now £28.5, Lookfantastic.com
Fenty Beauty gloss bomb universal lip luminizer
Best: wand applicator lip gloss
Size: 9ml
Shades: Cheeky, Fenty glow, fu$$y, fuscia flex, glass slipper, hot chocolit, Riri and sweet mouth
Vegan: Yes
Why we love it
- Big applicator wand makes applying it super easy
- Smells and tastes great
- Super glossy
- Great range of colours
This lip gloss is a great example of a thick formula that’s easy to apply and doesn’t glue your mouth shut. The extra-large soft applicator wand makes applying effortless and fool-proof, so you won’t need a mirror. The sweet smell and taste are strong enough to make us nostalgic but not so much that it’s sickly. If it’s good enough for Rhianna it’s more than good enough for us.
Buy now £13.3, Boots.com
Chanel rouge coco gloss
Best: luxury lip gloss
Size: 5.5g
Shades: Melted honey, amarena, magnolia,bourgeoisie, tendresse and caramel
Vegan: No
Why we love it
- Looks glam feels glam
- Great way to do glitter in a chic and classy way
Chanel’s rouge coco gloss is the perfect classy touch of sparkle. The shade melted honey is delicate on its own and powerfully sparkly when combined with a liner. While it has a thicker formula, this means it does have long-staying power.
It may be on the pricier side but it adds a sophisticated touch of sparkle to any make-up look and works as a great way to turn your matte lipsticks glossy. And let’s be honest, it doesn’t get chic-er than Chanel.
Buy now £37, Chanel.com
Hourglass phantom volumising glossy balm
Best: fool-proof lip gloss
Size: 2g
Shades: Reveal, wish, rise, trace, sense, mist, desire, slip and impulse
Vegan: Yes
Why we love it
- Super easy to apply
- Buttery feel
- Luxurious
- Not sticky or too shiny
Take note
- Not much pigment
Certainly the cool girl of the lip gloss world, the packaging alone screams quiet luxury. With an almost buttery texture and fool-proof application, this was one of the nicest-feeling lip glosses we tried. We were expecting it to be slightly more pigmented, especially given the price point, but there are a number of different shades to choose from. The application was fool-proof and it goes on super smoothly.
The brand calls it their three-in-one lippy, as it plumps, nourishes and glosses. While it’s certainly minty in smell and taste, we didn’t notice any plumping benefits. But the balm element is an obvious one, our lips were not sticky and stayed hydrated for hours, even once the appearance of the gloss had gone.
Buy now £36, Spacenk.com
NYX butter gloss
Best: lip gloss for shade options
Size: 8ml
Shades: 34
Vegan: Yes
Why we love it
- Perfect glossy finish
- Amazing range of shades
- Super affordable price
Take note
- Some wont like the very small wand
Another pocket rocket gloss, this lippy from NYX surprised our tester. Despite its teeny tiny wand, applying it was surprisingly smooth and mistake-free. This is likely due to the formula, the product glides onto the lips perfectly, comfortably coating them in a thick buttery gloss. The high-shine finish is exactly what we want from our gloss, not sticky and overpowering but bold enough and glassy.
If you’re indecisive or simply prefer to have a lippy colour for every mood then the butter gloss has you covered, with a whopping 34 shades it is impossible not to find a colour you’ll love. Our tester particularly liked the brown and purple shades like cinnamon roll, perfect for autumn.
Buy now £7.49, Lookfantastic.com
Your questions about lip gloss answered
What is the best lip gloss?
One lip gloss will not suit all, that is a given. What I found is a wide range of options, sure to have something for everyone. But a gloss that excelled in all arenas and really stood out as one to stand the test of time was Refy. Cool and modern packaging combined with carefully considered ingredients and chic mature colours means this lip gloss is one I reach for time and time again.
Rimmel offered an excellent budget option, showing quality make-up really doesn’t need to break the bank to look classy. Speaking of classy, Hourglass and Channel showed how the classic beauty brands do it, proving gloss can be a mature and terribly chic option. Lipstick may last longer but there’s no denying that lip gloss is just way more fun.
How I tested
I wore each lip gloss for at least a day and assessed the following qualities:
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Ella Duggan has written product reviews for IndyBest since 2023. She covers a wide range of topics, from beauty and fashion to film and theatre. Her reviews include roundups of the best body washes and the best sulphate-free shampoos. No matter what the product, Ella rigorously tests it in a real life environment, only giving her honest opinions and highlighting products that work as they should.
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