Best Lip Glosses and Lip Oils for Ultra-Shine

Best for: Clear gloss

Giving you the best of both worlds, Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Lip Oil Crystal Elixir combines eight of the most high-tech skincare ingredients (think: hyaluronic acid, Alpine Rose and Swertian Leaf Extract) to drench your lips in hydration and reduce the appearance of fine lines, along with a 5-crystal complex to boost lip volume and shine. The result? An ultra-hydrating, seriously glossy serum for your lips with serious staying power.

The hype: “The original Charlotte Tilbury Magic Lip Oil Crystal Elixir gives you the best thing about lip balm (the hydration) and the best thing about lip gloss (the shine) but minus any stickiness or hair getting stuck to your lips. We've been obsessed with the product ever since it launched.” - Popsugar     

Best for: Splurge

A hybrid between lip gloss and lip balm, this Hourglass formula is one of a kind. True to form, it features a particularly bougie 24ct gold-plated applicator along with 28 (yes, really) ingredients within the formula—14 essential oils, 10 plant oils including hazelnut, sweet almond and jojoba oils as well as a host of vitamins and potent actives. The hardworking formula helps minimise the appearance of wrinkles and volumise your lips.

The hype: “Sure, it's a little extravagant—hello, gold-plated applicator!—but it's also effective. Thick and packed with vitamins, moisturizers, and anti-agers, it actually treats the lips, rather than just protecting them from the elements. Wear it during the day and you'll get a dose of pretty, non-sticky shine; slather it on overnight and you'll notice a softer mouth by morning.” - Allure

Best for: Dry, chapped lips

Reimagining the brand’s cult Pillowtalk lipstick, the latest arrival courtesy of Charlotte Tilbury comes with a soft, shimmering finish. With the same lip-plumping formula as the iconic Pillowtalk collection - minus the matte finish - CT’s latest Lip Lustre harnesses the power of skin-boosting ingredients like sunflower seed oil and hops extract to help nourish and condition your lips as well as emollient oil—so you get all of the benefits of a lip balm with the shine of your favourite gloss.

The hype: “The gloss is subtle with good coverage and has some serious staying power, perfect for when I want something with a little more oomph but I'm not going all out with red lip. Personally, I think the gloss version of Pillow Talk suits me better than the matte. I've rediscovered my love of a high-shine pout.” - Rosie, Evening Standard

Best for: Glass finish

Enriched with vitamins, botanical oils and antioxidants, Kevin Aucoin’s Glass Glow Lip is as nourishing on the lips as the formula is innovative. A favourite among beauty editors and makeup artists, the three-dimensional reflective particles create a unique glass-like finish - one of the biggest trends in beauty to know right now too - to leave your lips with intense shine. Top tip: apply it over your favourite red or nude lipstick to switch up your look. 

The hype: “I love these lip glosses! I have all three shades and I love each and every one of them. They create a really unique glittery look unlike anything I’ve ever tried before.” Customer review

Best for: 3D shine

Trust Hourglass to create a volumising, hydrating and highly pigmented gloss all in one go. A hybrid formula, this gloss is enriched with shea butter, avocado oil and hyaluronic acid to intensely hydrate your lips, along with active ingredients to naturally boost your pout’s natural plumpness (but without the uncomfortable sting you get from other formulas!). Choose your finish - shimmer, shine or pearl - and always start at the centre of the lips and then blend outwards!

The hype: "A seamless, lustrous, non-sticky formula that adds a healthy oomph to lips. The colour options are gorgeous, with the shocking coral, Horizon, a firm favourite." - Glamour

Best for: Volumising

Imparting a subtle shine and plumping finish, ICONIC London has created yet another winning formula. As for the science behind it? Infused with a biomimetic peptide, the formula helps support natural collagen production in order to boost lips’ plumpness, whilst nourishing aloe vera and green coffee oil help keep them soft and nourished. Available in soft pinks and nudes, they add a subtle sheen to the lips while the formula gives lips noticeable fullness. P.S the minty scent gives a slight tingle too.

The hype: “The colour of this lipgloss is perfect for what I wanted! It makes me feel so confident and goes great with a natural look or a dolled up look. Has a minty tingle as well.” Customer review