Clear lip gloss was all the rage in the ‘90s—but the formulas were seriously sticky. In recent years, brands have improved their formulas to ensure your lips not only stay shiny but are moisturized as well and not sticky. With the no-makeup makeup trend, a clear lip gloss is exactly what you need to add to your arsenal of ‘barely there’ beauty supplies. Versatile and on-trend, clear lip glosses not only enhance your pout’s natural hue when worn solo, but can also transform the finish of matte lipstick and provide a plumping effect when worn over lip liner. Let’s check out some of the best clear lip glosses on the market.

Fenty Beauty Glass Slipper Gloss Bomb

Rihanna wanted this gloss to really shine bright like a diamond, and it certainly does. Not only is this peach-vanilla scented lip gloss vegan, but it has shea butter to leave your lips moisturized. Fenty Beauty Glass Slipper Gloss Bomb is addictive for any beauty junkie who’s seeking an attention-grabbing, fuller,, and smoother lip looks. Rihanna once said of this gloss, “I made it because I wanted the girls to get kissed more.”

Lime Crime Wet Cherry Lip Gloss

Cherry scented clear lip gloss used to be all the rave in the 90s and early 2000s. Lime Crime’s

Wet Cherry Lip Gloss in Extra Poppin is the perfect throwback lip gloss with a sweet cherry scent and it smells as good as it looks. The formula is lightweight and comfortable ensuring you get a non-tacky megawatt gleam.

 MAC Cosmetics Clear Lipglass

MAC products can be found in many beauty gurus and makeup enthusiast's makeup collections and the MAC Clear Lipglass is an iconic lip gloss every beauty lover must- have. This will leave your lips looking like glass with its mirror-like finish. This product has jojoba oil to soften and condition our lips with each application. Just a tiny squeeze of the famous tube is enough for the full effect. It looks equally great alone or layered over lip color. Famous beauty YouTuber Aaliyah Jay says this is one of her favorites!

E.l.f. Cosmetics Lip Lacquer

One of the best budget-friendly clear lip glosses, Elf’s Clear Lip Lacquer is vitamin A and E infused, and the enriched formula promotes healthy, soft lips while also giving them a high shine. The non-sticky formula will have your lips twinkling from the first swipe.

Maybelline Lip Lifter Hydrating Lip Gloss

Another budget-friendly clear lip gloss that is great for the perfect pout. The Maybelline Lip Lifter Hydrating Lip Gloss has everyone’s favorite moisturizing ingredient - hyaluronic acid. Since hyaluronic acid infuses the lips with moisture, they’re visibly smoothed and plumped. The lip gloss formula visibly smoothes lip surface and enhances lip contour with high shine for hydrated, fuller-looking lips.

NARS Triple X Lip Gloss

NARS has a plethora of great products and their clear lip gloss doesn’t disappoint. The NARS Triple X Lip Gloss is moisturizing and anti-aging and contains a potent dose of sea lavender to keep lips soft and subtle, while minimizing the look of fine lines. Its doe-foot applicator allows for an easy glide across the lips.

Tower 28 Beauty ShineOn Jelly Lip Gloss

Tower 28 Beauty ShineOn Jelly Lip Gloss is the perfect gloss to pamper your pout. The formula features a melange of nourishing oils such as apricot kernel oil to nurture and soothe, raspberry seed oil to shield skin from free radicals, and rosehip oil to repair the lips. All while common irritants like lanolin, menthol, camphor, or beeswax are excluded. Beyond those good-for-you benefits, you’ll also get a gorgeous jelly-like shine.

Byrdie

WWD

Essence

Elle

Editorialist

 Boitumelo Masihleho is a South African digital content creator. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Rhodes University in Journalism and Media Studies and Politics and International Studies.  

She's an experienced multimedia journalist who is committed to writing balanced, informative and interesting stories on a number of topics. Boitumelo has her own YouTube channel where she shares her love for affordable beauty and lifestyle content. 

Read more from Boitumelo Masihleho:

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