Story time: glosses are usually not my forte, but after getting a much-needed re-up on my lip filler, I’ve decided to dip my foot (err, lips?) into their sticky, tacky waters. Lip glosses are usually nothing revolutionary, and most of the formulas on the market have a nearly-identical shine, shimmer, and texture — honestly, this particular sect of lip products tend to bore me, because they give off a step-and-repeat vibe.
But what if I told you there was a lip gloss that made even me, a jaded skeptic in the depth of the beauty world, excited? Well, there is one in the form of the Gucci Gloss à Lèvres, an ultra-light, sheer, and hydrating addition to my daily makeup bag.
The beauty of this gloss is that its equal parts makeup and skin care. It treats my lips to the plumping, conditioning powers of heavy-hitting skin hydrators like hyaluronic acid and antioxidants as its juicy, honey-like sheen gives my already-inflated lips a pillow-plush look. Sure, it may be pricier than your average drugstore gloss, but its lip-smoothing formulation and flattering finish that doesn’t look like pizza grease (sorry, other lip glosses) are well worth its price. Also, Gucci at less than $50? Enough said.
This lip gloss is currently available in six sheer shades, but I tend to lean toward the sheer Joslyn Clair and the warm red Teresina Red. One of my favorite ways to wear this gloss is using it as a topper over a light, smudged-out shade of lipstick (my go-to is Milk Makeup’s Lip + Cheek Stick in the burgundy shade Muse). One of the biggest green flags about this lip gloss is that it’s not filled with chunks of glitter and opts for a glaze-like finish that even glazed donut skin queen Hailey Bieber would be astounded by. Even on top of a light layer of lipstick, I can still feel its conditioning formula smoothing and plumping the look of my lips.
Speaking of its plumping formulation, as I said before, this lip gloss is just as much skin care as it is a makeup essential. One of its star ingredients is hyaluronic acid, which is known for its ability to provide intensive hydration — a total must-have for chapped, post-procedure lips like mine. It’s most popular for its hydrating abilities, but Karan Lal, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and the director of cosmetic dermatology at Affiliated Dermatology in Scottsdale, Arizona, previously told Allure that it’s also beneficial for lessening the look of fine lines and plumping the skin. “By increasing moisture in the skin, hyaluronic acid can temporarily reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles,” he said. Therefore, this lip gloss can give your lips a fuller appearance while temporarily minimizing the look of fine lines around your mouth — we love a multi-tasker.