The 12 Best Lip Glosses for Juicy, Hydrated Lips, According to Our Editors (2025)

TL;DR

If you’re looking for a lip gloss with a high-shine finish and hydrating texture, we recommend the NYX Professional Makeup Butter Gloss, available in 43 shades ranging from sheer to super pigmented with great color payoff. We also love the Lawless Forget The Filler Lip-Plumping Line-Smoothing Gloss, which is easy to apply thanks to its oversized applicator. The gloss also stayed shiny and kept lips moisturized for three hours (assuming we weren’t eating or drinking).

Our Top Picks

Number of Shades: 43 | Finishes: High-shine, shimmer, metallic | Cruelty-Free: Yes

There are many things to love about NYX’s Butter Gloss, starting with the vast shade range. You can pick from 43 hues in three finish options: high-shine, “bling” (shimmer), and metallic. Our tester was impressed with the gorgeous color payoff, which went on surprisingly opaque, and it stayed vibrant for about two hours before fading to a soft, glowy tint. The smooth texture made it easy to apply, and the formula felt incredibly comfortable on her lips; there was no stickiness, just lip balm-like hydration. She did notice some product transfer while eating and drinking, but once she let the gloss dry, it stayed pretty well.

Ashley, tester: “I love how this gloss feels and looks on my lips. It gives me the benefit of a gloss and lipstick in one and is so convenient.”

Number of Shades: 12 | Finishes: High-shine, shimmer | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly gloss, try this plumping option from Essence. As the name suggests, it delivers a glass-like sheen and comes in 12 pretty shades. Our tester loved the one she tried—a pigmented pale pink hue that layered well over lipstick and a liner. The formula has a mid-weight texture that, while smooth, felt a little sticky at first. On the other hand, it had decent staying power, remaining glossy for up to two hours after application.

Ally Hirschlag, associate editorial director: “I love the color of this lip gloss. It's like that perfect neutral pink that pops just enough so you notice it. It looks good on its own or when combined with a lip liner or neutral lipstick underneath.”

Number of Shades: 20 | Finishes: High-shine, metallic | Cruelty-Free: Yes

While all lip glosses generally have a shiny finish, some are more dazzling than others, like this pick from Anastasia Beverly Hills, which comes in 20 flattering tints and gives off a diamond-like finish. Our tester said the formula glided on smoothly and felt nourishing and hydrating. The color payoff delivered, too, boasting a more opaque finish than sheer. This gloss has a thicker texture, which is excellent for longevity (our tester only needed slight touch-ups every two hours), but it did cause a little buildup around the edge of her lips.

Lauren Pardee, senior editor: “It glides on easily thanks to its rich, thick texture that feels super creamy. My lips feel nourished and moisturized.”

Number of Shades: 9 | Finishes: High-shine, sheer | Cruelty-Free: Yes

What’s more icky than when strands of your hair get stuck to your lip gloss? That won’t be an issue with this Bobbi Brown option. The formula comes enriched with avocado, olive, and castor oil and feels more like a lip oil than a traditional gloss. Our tester loved how smooth and moisturizing this one felt, coating her lips in lightweight hydration without any irksome stickiness. She also loved the color, which had a solid color payoff and a high-shine finish. However, this formula wears off fast, especially if you blot it or intend to eat and drink, so keep the tube on hand for easy touch-ups.

Ashley, tester: “I like the smoothness and ease of the application, how it feels on the lips, and the color payoff. It's moisturizing and doesn't feel tacky or sticky, which is a bonus.”

Number of Shades: 6 | Finishes: High shine | Cruelty-Free: Yes

What makes a lip gloss comfortable to wear? For starters, it should feel smooth and hydrate the lips without being too sticky or goopy—which is exactly what this option from Haus Labs does. Enhanced with skincare-grade ingredients, including peptides that help plump and vegan collagen that help slow down the production of wrinkles and sagging skin; our tester liked the medium-weight consistency of the formula, which didn’t require an additional balm to leave her lips feeling soft and moisturized. One swipe provided a nice wash of color and a glazed finish that didn’t cause any buildup. It’s not the most long-lasting formula, so plan for regular reapplication.

Alyssa Kaplan, associate editor: “I love that it's plush and comfortable on the lips and it delivers a really nice wash of color.”

Number of Shades: 19 | Finishes: High-shine, pearl, shimmer | Cruelty-Free: Yes

The right applicator can make all the difference when applying lip gloss, from preventing buildup to defining the cupid’s bow with precise application. This option from Lawless has an oversized, angled doe foot that makes application a breeze, according to our tester. The formula felt smooth, hydrating, and a little sticky immediately after application, then became cool and tingly due to its plumping formula. However, our tester didn’t notice much difference on that front. She did appreciate the flawless color (she tried Rosy Outlook) and glossy finish that “elevates your whole look.” The product’s shiny glow lasted an impressive three hours.

Ashley, tester: “It glides on smooth with its curved plush applicator brush, which is one of my favorite features of this gloss. I love how the sheer baby pink shade elevates my lips and makes them shine.”

Number of Shades: 26 | Finishes: High-shine, shimmer | Cruelty-Free: No

Although this lip gloss isn’t marketed as a plumping product, our tester was impressed with how the hyaluronic acid-enhanced formula made her lips appear fuller. She noted that the nude shade she tried had an impressive color payoff, mimicking the natural color of her lips, giving off a “my lips, but better" look. While it doesn’t necessarily have a high-shine finish, she liked the subtle glow effect. The formula’s pillowy-soft texture felt soft and smooth, but it does tend to build up along the lip line.

Ally Hirschlag, associate editorial director: “I love the color payoff and the effortless boost it gives my lips. They look a little more plump and hydrated.”

Number of Shades: 12 | Finishes: High-shine, shimmer | Cruelty-Free: No

If a mirror-like glassy finish is your goal, reach for this lip gloss from Milk Makeup. It has a weightless, lip oil-like consistency that’s ultra-hydrating, and it gives off plenty of shine without feeling sticky. Our tester appreciated how comfortable the gloss was and layered it over other lip products easily but noticed that it wore off fairly fast. The color payoff was great—opaque and glossy from the first swipe—but it does tend to sink into fine lines if you don’t rub your lips together after application.

Alyssa Kaplan, associate editor: “It has a high-shine finish and looks glassy and wet on the lips. It’s great for those who want a super shiny formula that isn't sticky.”

Number of Shades: 10 | Finishes: Opaque, sheer, shimmer | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Lip glosses aren’t known for being long-lasting, and regular reapplication is to be expected, but this formula holds up better than most. Our tester loved the lightweight consistency, gorgeous sheer color, and glossy finish that “delivered the perfect amount of shine” to her lips. This formula didn’t cause any buildup and layered beautifully, but its most impressive quality was its longevity; assuming she wasn’t eating or drinking (which did inevitably cause transfer), this gloss stayed put well on our tester’s lips. It didn’t do much in terms of volume, though, despite the fact it's a plumping formula.

Shannon Stubbs, writer: “The color stays the same all day, and it didn't change after applying. If I'm not eating or drinking, the shine stays forever, and the gloss stays intact on my lips.”

Number of Shades: 26 | Finishes: High-shine, glitter, shimmer | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you prefer bold, intense pigment from your lip gloss, this one's for you. Our tester achieved her ideal opaque color in just two swipes and got a nice glossy shine that held up well throughout the day with minimal transfer. The formula is easy to apply, but the texture is thicker and it doesn’t feel as smooth or hydrating on the lips compared to other glosses on our list. But that’s nothing a little lip balm can’t fix!

Shannon Stubbs, writer: “I would recommend this product to those who like a full coverage lip look because this gloss does the job in two or fewer swipes.”

Number of Shades: 13 | Finishes: Milky, glossy | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Tower 28’s ShineOn Lip Jelly is enriched with five moisturizing oils (apricot kernel oil, raspberry seed oil, avocado oil, rosa canina seed oil, and sunflower oil) to ensure a soft, supple, and shiny lip finish. Our tester can vouch for its hydrating effects; the lightweight, nourishing formula left her lips feeling “velvety” after one swipe. She also appreciated the high shine and sheer finish, making her lips appear fuller. The only downside is that the formula can transfer easily, so it’s not the most long-lasting.

Ashley, tester: “It feels exceptionally hydrating and adds the perfect amount of shine for an essential, luscious look.”

Number of Shades: 9 | Finishes: High-shine | Cruelty-Free: Yes

While lip gloss looks lovely on its own, it's also great for adding a glossy finish to your go-to lipstick. Our tester said this gloss layered very well with various lipsticks. It delivered a sheer, natural-looking tint and medium-level shine. She loved the way the unique texture of this formula “gripped” her lips, holding strong where it was applied despite being lightweight. It also felt nourishing, thanks to ingredients like aloe butter, black currant oil, and vitamin E.

Lauren Pardee, senior editor: “Since this gloss really grips your lips, it doesn't buildup or crease. It layers nicely over other products and works great on its own, too.”

FAQ

• What is the longest-lasting lip gloss?

  Lip glosses fade quickly, that's just the nature of the product. But if a long-lasting lip gloss is important to you, look for a rich formula with some tackiness. Typically, the stickier the gloss, the longer it will last on your lips. “Something with a butter or wax, as opposed to an oil, won't get absorbed by your lips and will help a formula last,” says Williams. “I also find those with a stronger pigment last longer as they'll stain your lips.”

• What’s the best lip gloss for dry lips?

  A moisturizing lip gloss mitigates the need for an additional balm. Look for formulas with moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, jojoba oil, and shea butter, says beauty entrepreneur Aimee Carr, “which will hydrate the delicate skin and leave your lips with a high-shine, dewy, and glow finish.”

• Which lip gloss colors are best for different skin tones?

  To determine whether a lip gloss shade suits you, your best bet is to try it on your lips rather than the back of your hand. “A good rule of thumb is that the deeper your skin tone is, the richer the colors should be,” says Carr. “Cooler undertones will look best with cooler color choices, and warmer undertones will look best with warmer choices.” You can also learn how to find your undertone here.