A mainstay in every beauty enthusiast’s makeup arsenal, lip gloss is a pout-perfecting product that doesn’t solely add a sheen to your pucker but also creates the illusion of plumper, fuller lips. While it’s less pigmented than its counterparts – including lipsticks and lip liners – glosses lend a sheer, vinyl coating to your lips for a glittery finish.
What is Lip Gloss Made Up Of?
Best Lip gloss is composed of beeswax, plant-based wax, or petroleum jelly to create an emollient base. While essential oils are added to the mixture to intensify hydration and shine, flavours and fragrances help give the product a distinct scent, texture, and colour. Lastly, added preservatives extend the shelf life of the product.
Lip Gloss Finishes
- Clear Lip Gloss: Clear lip glosses often lend a transparent or translucent coating to your pucker – perfect to top off your lipstick.
- Shimmer Lip Gloss: Featuring fine shimmer particles, shimmer lip glosses offer a glittery finish to your pout.
- Tinted Lip Gloss: Tinted lip glosses are the perfect substitute for lipsticks. These highly pigmented offerings – that aren’t super long-lasting – deliver instant colour payoff plus shine.
- Matte Lip Gloss: While ‘matte lip gloss’ seems like an oxymoron, it primarily refers to a product whose formulation mimics a gloss, coupled with the staying power of a matte lipstick.
How to Apply Lip Gloss
Applying this formulation to your pucker isn’t nearly as complex as mastering a lip liner or lipstick. Irrespective of whether your lip gloss comes in a tube or with an applicator wand, dispense the product on your cupid’s bow, making your way to the edges. If you’re wearing lipstick, give your pucker a high-shine appeal with a swipe of gloss along the pout.
Pros of Using a Lip Gloss
- The formulation often boasts moisturising ingredients to keep your lips hydrated through the day.
- When compared to lipsticks, lip glosses are relatively easy to reapply.
- A lip gloss often creates the illusion of plumper-looking lips.
- You can layer your lipstick with lip gloss for a high-shine finish.
Cons of Using a Lip Gloss
- A lip gloss isn’t as long-lasting or budge-proof as a lipstick.
- While tinted lip glosses exist, the colour options may be limited.
- The sticky texture of a lip gloss can make it smudge and transfer.
The Lip Gloss Hacks You Need to Know
A lip gloss goes beyond just lending a sheen to your pout – the versatile product can double up as a highlighter, blush, and flyaway gel, too.
- Glossy lids is a beauty trend that is here to stay. Coat your eyelids with a tinted lip gloss and ace this mesmerising look.
- Did you know your clear lip gloss can double up as a hair gel to tame unruly strands and flyaways? Take some product on your fingers and smooth it over unmanageable tresses.
- A shimmer lip gloss is the multi-tasker you need in your beauty kit. For a luminous glow, swipe some product along the high points of your face.
- Your matte lip gloss can double up as a blush. A few dots of pigmented gloss along the apples of your cheeks are enough for a dewy, flushed look.
The Key Difference Between Lip Gloss and Lip Mousse
Avoid getting overwhelmed if you see a product labelled ‘lip mousse’ when shopping for lipstick or lip gloss. While all three variants may come in a cylindrical tube, they differ based on consistency. A lip mousse is thicker and often intensely pigmented, with a creamy texture that glides on seamlessly. The formulation is air-whipped and lightweight to give your lips a velvety finish.
How to Choose a Lip Gloss Based on Your Skin Tone
- Fair Complexions: Fair skin tones can opt for nude shades with a pink, peach, or coral undertone. Bright reds look flattering on fair complexions, too.
- Dusky Complexions: Deep berry and chocolate-brown shades are most flattering on dusky and dark skin tones. The idea is to steer clear of hues that can wash you out.
- Olive Complexions: Warm nudes, peaches, pinks, and bright berry shades are ideal for olive skin tones.
Prepping Your Lips For Lip Gloss Application
Before wearing any lip formulation, you must prep your pucker for seamless application. A quick and effective lip care routine – featuring a lip scrub, lip oil, and lip mask – can work wonders. Apply some scrub onto your lips and massage the exfoliator in gentle circular motions to slough off dead skin. Ensure that you aren’t harsh, as it may cause micro-tears on your skin. Next, apply lip oil to boost hydration and instantly quench your skin’s thirst. An overnight lip mask boasting soothing ingredients can intensify moisturisation. If you suffer from severely dehydrated lips, consider consulting a professional and using a medicated lip balm.
Conclusion
A lip gloss is a makeup must-have that does more than just lend a high-shine effect to your pucker. This versatile offering can double up as a highlighter and blush while keeping unruly strands in check. Consider investing in a clear lip gloss that can be worn solo or layered over lipstick. But when it comes to tinted lip glosses, one must pick a formulation based on their complexion.
Today, plumping and colour-changing lip glosses are also available in the market. While the former gives the illusion of fuller lips, colour-changing lip glosses are transparent formulations that turn a different shade when they come in contact with your skin’s pH.
