If Lip Gloss and Lip Balm Had a Baby, It Would Be One of These Buzzy (and Ultra-Hydrating) New ‘Blosses’
In the market for a new lip product that can seemingly do it all? ICYMI, there’s an up-and-comer that combines the nourishment of a lip balm and the sheen of a lip gloss—often with a pop of color to nail an effortless, no-makeup makeup look. Enter: the lip "bloss," a double-duty product that enhances the look and feel of your lips.
This new class of products brings you the best of both worlds, giving your lips a natural-looking swath of color with a subtle shiny finish. The term "bloss" was coined (and trademarked) by celebrity makeup artist Jamie Greenberg, who introduced a gloss/balm hybrid into her namesake makeup line earlier this year. But though she was the first to show us just how great these types of products could be, versions of them have begun to take the beauty world by storm.
“Natural, effortless beauty is trending now,” she says. “Looking healthy is on everyone’s list, so a hydrating property that feels super comfortable but not sticky is appealing. A little tint with some shine makes for a perfect combo."
Unlike the fruity, sticky lip glosses of the early aughts, these new formulas do much more than simply add shine to our lips. Taking inspiration from balms, they're infused with skin-nourishing ingredients, which means you can swipe them on and feel confident that your lips will stay hydrated and healthy throughout the day (plus, they save you a step of having to layer on two products). To combat dryness and enhance shine, Greenberg suggests looking for formulas infused with shea butter, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, cocoa butter, vitamin E, and avocado oil.
From there, simply select your tint of choice, swipe it on, and kiss stickiness goodbye without skimping on sheen aplenty. If you need some more inspo to get on top of your bloss game, check out our top picks for products worth adding to your rotation.
This glossy lip serum is as luxe as it gets. The plush and pillowy applicator serves as the perfect vehicle to swipe on the clean, sheer formula, which also offers plumping effects via biomolecules extracted from pomegranate flowers. We especially love that this hydrating bloss is long-lasting, super soft, and not even remotely sticky. (Tip: If you prefer statement-making lip color, opt for the brand’s Serum Balm Intense.)
Infused with softening shea butter, restorative vitamin E, and plumping collagen peptides, the moisturizing Lip Treat from cult-favorite Filipina brand Sunnies Face is available in six colorways (plus a clear option) that offer a natural-looking tint to complement all skin tones. This lip-enhancing balm is both high-performing yet low-maintenance, making it ideal for daily use.
Of course, we can’t forget to mention the original bloss, created by Greenberg herself. Available in four shades (pink, red, nude, and clear), it offers “the perfect amount of color, hydration, and shine,” the makeup artist shares. Just smile and swipe, and you’re good to go.
A bestseller at clean beauty retailer Credo, this tinted liquid lip balm packs everything you need for deep-yet-weightless nourishment and lasting shine. Courtesy of soothing shea butter, moisture-enhancing jojoba oil, and other clean-as-a-whistle plant-based ingredients, the gel-oil system glides on like silk. Take your pick amongst six soft and muted or bold and bright shades, and layer as desired (on its own or over lipstick) for a punchier, more pigmented pout.
You can think of lip jellies as the kissing cousins (pun intended) of lip blosses—and one of our go-tos in this department is ShineOn by Tower 28. Whether you opt for a translucent shade, a semi-sheer Milky variety, or the clear jelly with golden shimmer, you really can’t go wrong thanks to the product’s blend of five nourishing oils.
If you like to switch up your lip color from one day to the next, opt for the Tinted Lip Jelly Set from LA–based skincare brand (and dermatological boutique) Facile, which includes rouge, rose, and berry pigments. All the while, your pout will soak up the conditioning and hydrating blend of peptides, jojoba oil, and essential fatty acids.
In the mood for hydration, color, shine, *and* shimmer? Choose from 10 shades of this vegan gloss-balm hybrid, which credits its moisturizing properties to omega-rich sea buckthorn oil and its sheen to sustainably-sourced plum oil.
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