The Best Lipsticks and Lip Gloss
Lipstick product reviews
Mini lipstick product reviews to help you find the best lipsticks for your lips.
Although often forgotten as a step in a daily makeup routine lip colour can really change a look and create a flattering finish.
Go Bold
Going bold with a lip colour is a really fun step in your makeup routine. It can also be super flattering. As people age the edges of their lips become less defined and the natural pigment can fade. Lipstick can combat this to create a youthful finish
Top tips for your best lipstick application ever
1. Lip Liner
First, don’t skip the lip liner. Use this to line your lips for a defined shape and to keep the lipstick or gloss from bleeding.
Ideally, pick a liner colour close to your natural lip colour or close to the colour of the product for a seamless look. Although there are plenty of trends which feature different colour liners to lipstick.
Apply the pencil lip liner over your whole lip before applying lipstick to help the lipstick last longer. This doesn’t apply so much to gloss.
2. Lip care
Lip balm is an important step. Try applying straight after lipstick removal for a refresh. If using to rehydrate before lipstick application apply lip balm before the rest of your makeup and lipstick last to give all the layers time to sink in.
Follow my lip care steps below for more lip care tips. Just like skincare before makeup, lipstick looks best on healthy lips.
3. Careful application
After lining your lips use a brush, not the bullet, to apply lipstick within the liner shape. Whilst overlining lips can look on camera think about the fact you are wearing yours in reality.
Using a brush is better for
- precise application
- control
- hygiene
4. Seal in it
When you are finished applying lipstick/s use a sealing product to help the makeup last longer. Try Barry M’s Let’s Be Clear Lip Fixer (which can also be used around the lip edges pre-application) or Lipcote liquid lip sealant.
Lipcote 5/5
A first-in lipstick innovation on the market. A clear liquid and brush that actually helps lipstick last longer. I always found that it does tingle and some lipsticks can dry and peel (sometimes over time) but so helpful for longer-lasting colour and less frequent applications.
- apply lipstick to lips
- blot
- reapply lipstick
- lightly blot
- apply Lipcote with the included brush (or separate, washable brush for hygiene)
- enjoy your day!
Let’s Be Clear Lip Fixer Barry M 5/5
Apply this lip fixer around the edges of your lips to stop lipstick feathering. Coat lips after lipstick application to increase longevity.
Lipcare and Lip balm
Lip care and lip balm are important products, especially over winter when weather and heating are both harsh on the skin.
Top tips for lip care
- Use lip balm regularly
- Be aware of the different types of products for example lip butter will add moisture to your lips whilst other products create an oily barrier.
- Try a lip scrub such as Lush Lip Scrub, a sugar scrub designed especially for lips.
Lifeology Love, Life, Lips 5/5
A nourishing lip product which feels both light and hydrating. It has a light pleasant fragrance and is effective a helping lip hydration.
Friends x Revolution Lipstick for Men 4/5
Actually, a lip balm this product leaves lips hydrated but as it is blue it does leave a weird toned sheen (not colour) on your lips. I’m often asked if I’m feeling alright if I have worn it!
H&A Character Lip balms 2/5
Generally in a character tin these lip balms are just slick, shiny grease. More for aesthetics than treatments they do add instant shine and refreshment to lips but the effect doesn’t last. You could also find it is more drying in the long run. Cute, useful tins though!
The Body Shop Lip Butter 5/5
These natural, and often vegan, lip butters are my top recommended lip care item. I love them. Intensely moisturising but not too overbearing on the lips.
Carmex Moisturising Lip Balm 5/5
A classic lip balm renowned for its moisturizing properties, it also contains SPF 15. Whilst probably not enough to actually be your SPF it’s useful to be in there.
Mad Beauty Colour Changing Lip Balm 5/5
A fun colour-changing lip balm that goes from black to a shimmery pink leaving lips hydrated.
Bubblegum Lip Scrub, Lush 5/5
A little goes a long way on these delicious and effective lip scrubs from Lush. Dry skin will be gone quickly and leave lips hydrated.
Lipliners and Lip Kits
Ps… Lip Kits 5/5
For £3 these kits contained a lip liner, which was particularly good, a little tub of glitter and then either a tube of lip gloss, matte liquid lipstick or lip vinyl. As you can imagine the glitter (particularly the chunky glitter) didn’t last too long on the lips but it looked fun and pretty on application. But the lip gloss and tonal lip liner did last and some colours were particularly unique and pretty.
Kiko, Free Spirit Lips and Cheek Crayon 3/5
This jumbo crayon is suitable for use all over the face for a coordinated look. I have used shade 04 which is a vibrant pink shade. This looks very bright but pretty on and does blend nicely. However, it is a little sticky on application and lacks long-lasting staying power.
No7 Perfect Lips Pencil 5/5
If you are new to lip liners or are only going to purchase one this is the one I would recommend. Available in a wide range of shades this twist-up product is small enough to line your lips as well as strong enough to fill them in too.
Lipgloss
Lipgloss is as the name implies a gloss product, designed to add shine to lips and makeup looks. Generally in tube format but sometimes in a tub/pot.
Studio 10 Balm Gloss 5/5
A beautiful gloss which does have some of that trademark stick but not too much gloop for the beautiful tint and shine you get in return!
Thats Swell XXL, Barry M 4/5
This plumbing lipgloss does what it says on the tube and plumps lips beautifully but realistically. It does tingle but doesn’t hurt. Don’t expect lip filler effects, just a little extra plumbing.
I’ve used this in both Diamond and a pretty nude shade called Get It and liked them both.
Lip Amplification Lip gloss, Revolution 1/5
A range of fairly pigmented lipglosses, that are quite matt for a gloss and kinda look like you’ve put concealer all over your lips. But they still feel sticky like a gloss. Why?
Miss Selfridge Lipgloss 3/5
Classic gloopy lipglosses in fun fashion shades. These look pretty enough on and feel fine, but expect to reapply frequently and be prepared to detach your hair from your gloopy lips too.
Sexy Mother Pucker, Soap and Glory 4/5
This lipgloss sounds gloopy but it isn’t too bad after application. A plumping gloss, it applies evenly with a light tingle. Even the coloured glosses such as Bare Enough, have more of a sheer finish than opaque colour.
Collection 2000 Day to Night lipgloss 4/5
A dual-ended lipgloss one with colour and one with a clear shimmer. Not too gloopy and with an impressive colour payout. The thing that always confused me is surely you get colour into the clear tube when layering?
XX Revolution The Matrix Lipgloss 4/5
A sticky gloss but with an amazing colour payout. The dark colour is impressive but it’s definitely a gloss you can feel on the lips and it transfers to everything!
Lip toppers
These products are generally lipgloss adjacent but basically designed to layer over lipsticks to create new and dynamic products.
Holographic Lip Topper, Barry M 5/5
This gorgeous gloss is a Holographic Lip Topper from Barry M in the shade Wizard. A multi-tonal blue-purple pigmented gloss designed to go over lipsticks but is also super pretty on its own. If you press your lips together firmly to remove some of the gloss then the purple glitter really shows through!
Barry M Glitz Stick 5/5
I have been playing with this gorgeous glitter lipstick or Glitzstick from Barry M! It is so pretty and perfect for that glitter hit! It works well over lipsticks or on its own. On some lipstick products, it is best to press/dab the glitz stick on rather than swipe it over the products.
Liquid Lipstick
Liquid lipstick is similar to a gloss in that it comes in tube (or similar) form. However, it has a stronger pigmentation level and often is matte rather than glossy. Lipgloss is glossy by definition!
Barry M Matte Me Up 2/5
A dramatic range of matte lip colours with sadly a lack of staying power and can feel quite drying on the lip, especially with the need to reapply
Revolution Pro Matte Lipsticks 3/5
I tried two Revolution Pro Matte Lipsticks in two very dramatic shades Psychedelic (White) and Greyscale (Grey).
I applied these with a brush and felt it took a lot of product to get an even and opaque coverage. It also took a looooong time for the products to dry to a matte state-during which time I had to keep my mouth apart so the colour didn’t transfer which it really wanted to.
In the end, I pressed my lips together which transferred the white over the grey slightly but at least the product finished drying.
I probably wouldn’t buy these products again or use them on clients but I will use them in more dramatic and character looks.
XX Revolution The Matrix Liquid Lipstick 4/5
I haven’t yet found a perfect black lip but this comes pretty close. Thick and easy to apply this dries for a dramatic black finish. You will need to reapply to maintain its finish throughout the day.
Ofra Liquid Lipsticks 4/5
These liquid lipsticks are highly pigmented and last. They dry down to a nice velvety finish however I found they also dried up quickly in the tube. As they dried in the tube, they became thicker and harder to apply. Be careful when applying as these stain the skin instantly.
Considering 4 tiny tubes cost £15.99 I felt these were on the more expensive end of lip products.
Bullet Lipsticks
Bullet lipsticks are the traditional lipstick which comes in a twist-up casing.
Avon Mark Lipsticks 5/5 (in Mermaid and Enchanted)
I have this lipstick in two bright shades-Blue and Purple respectively and I love them. For bright colours these apply well and most importantly last.
Rimmel London Lasting Finish 4/5
This lipstick is one of the longest-lasting lipsticks I’ve tried. I also appreciated how secure the lid of the bullet feels meaning I’m happy to pop it into bags for throughout the day top ups.
Constance Carroll Lipsticks 3/5
If these weren’t in your makeup bag as a teenager then we’ve lived very different lives. Available in a range of flattering and range of fun shades these lipsticks were always very pigmented if a little sticky. They also need frequent reapplying but I think that’s part of their fun.
ColorsensationalPopsticks, Maybelline 4/5
These clear and sweet-smelling lipsticks were almost more of a balm than a traditional lipstick. They leave a coloured tint on lips, feel smooth and not sticky.
Colorsensational, Maybelline 4/5
A range of highly pigmented and long-lasting lipsticks which apply nice and smoothly.
Maybelline Moisture Extreme 4/5
These lipsticks are highly pigmented with a dewy moisturised finish. They apply nicely on the lips but you will need to frequently reapply.
Lacura Beauty Lipsticks 4/5
A cheaper lipstick but great for the price. Still highly pigmented, still easy to apply but needing frequent applications. As it’s less dewy however this is a great product to pair with Lipcote.
Intensely Lavish, Kiko 4/5
A very highly pigmented lipstick which applies smoothly but is less shiny, and therefore less greasy, than other products. The packaging with its metallic finish and magnetised lid also feels a classy step above.
Deco Delight, Kiko 3/5
Style over substance here slightly. The packaging is very pretty, and secure, and the pattern is carried over onto the lipstick decoratively. This lipstick is less pigmented with a slightly sheer finish and a definite stickiness.
Pro Lipstick Kit Far Away Collection 4/5
A collection of 5 Star Wars-themed lipsticks that apply nicely and last well. These are in five fun and unique colours but I am not sure that I agree that they are high-intensity. It takes multiple layers for a full opaque colour.
Avon Golden Lipsticks 4/5
Said to contain 24k these golden lipsticks (lipsticks with gold flecks) come in a range of fun and pretty colours. Fairly long-lasting, smooth and hydrating these are a little more dry than other lipsticks so also less greasy.
Power shine Satin Oriflame 4/5
A gentle lipstick that glides on evenly and smells so good. Easier to apply than a traditional bullet as the lipstick is smaller. Rose Glow is my favourite shade for a flattering finish.
Moisture Drench, No 7 4/5
A smooth buttery lipstick which applies evenly and feels good on the lips. Not too greasy or overly shiny but with a dewy finish. The packaging feels great and is secure for handbag adventures.
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Alex
Professional makeup artist with an interest in natural, complimentary makeup but also fun makeup designs and nail art too! Life is too short to be stuck with trends that don't suit you!
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