If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, WWD may receive an affiliate commission.
In this article
Lip gloss has always been a reliable beauty staple at the drugstore. Not only is it one of the most forgiving makeup products money can buy (usually no mirror is necessary), but the best drugstore lip glosses have evolved to compete with prestige formulas in lip-loving hydration, non-sticky comfort, and high-shine finishes. Still, the infinite assortment of affordable options can be hit or miss.
The sole objective of a lip gloss is to deliver a juicy finish to the lips, creating the illusion of a fuller pout — but beyond that, you’ve got options. Hydration is the most important factor in any lip gloss formula because otherwise, you’d be drawing attention to a dry and flaky smile (not so cute!). The increasing demand for lip care products on TikTok, like moisturizing lip balms and lip oils, has pushed drugstore brands to develop formulas with high-shine finishes and nourishing skin care ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, peptides, shea butter, or collagen, which allows affordable lip treatments to double as comfortable-wearing gloss. These days, glosses are seemingly more like balms, while lip oils are more like glosses. So, where to start? Consider your go-to lip combo.
Top Drugstore Lip Glosses of 2025
If you’re a lipstick lover, a smooth and moisturizing gloss like the Maybelline Lifter Gloss or Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss is your best bet. These easy-to-layer glazes keep your lips from drying under the lipstick while enhancing the shade you’ve already applied. For added volume on bare or lined lips, the best plumping lip glosses from The Inkey List or E.l.f. softly boost and tint the lips — whereas reflective glosses from brands like Wet n Wild and Physicians Formula utilize fine shimmers for maximum shine. And, if you prefer to stick to a one-and-done lip product, you can’t go wrong with pigmented options from Nyx or Naturium that deposit a fuss-free wash of color with lasting moisture.
To curate our list of the best lip gloss formulas to shop at the drugstore, a team of four WWD Shop product testers closely evaluated 27 formulas during two testing periods that spanned 11 months total. We went shopping at local drugstores, placed countless online orders, and invoked our extensive repertoire of lip care product formulas to narrow down the 11 best drugstore lip glosses money can buy.
Sign up for WWD Shop’s newsletter to get the scoop on the best in beauty and style with in-depth reviews of exciting new releases and buyer’s guides to find the products you need to try ASAP.
Editor’s Choice: Top 3 Drugstore Lip Glosses, Tested & Reviewed
In the realm of makeup, the perfect lip gloss formula is as subjective as it gets. So, it’s important to select a lip gloss based on your desired finish and comfort, like whether you want the appearance of fuller lips, sheer or full color, or a two-in-one hydrator. For that reason, we selected the top three options for different preferences based on 11 months of extensive editor testing. Below, the best drugstore lip glosses that outshine the lot:
- Maybelline Lifter Lip Gloss with Hyaluronic Acid: One WWD Shop editor counts Maybelline’s Lifter Gloss the best tinted lip gloss in her extensive lip product collection — even outperforming formulas that go for quadruple the price. A chubby doe foot wand makes application a breeze, and hydrating properties prevent your lips from drying out while you wear it.
- Kiko Milano 3D Hydra Lip Gloss: Proof that budget-friendly brands have never been more attuned to color trends, our testers say that this Kiko Milano formula has the best shade range out of all the drugstore lip glosses we tested: You can choose from sparkly fuchsia tones with Y2K vibes, or go with more sophisticated neutral shades. This drugstore lip gloss has a high-shine finish that doesn’t dull during the first few hours of wear.
- Nooni Appleberry Lip Oil: If you like your gloss to deposit a good amount of pigment, Nooni has you covered. Though it’s technically a lip oil, our editors consider it a true hybrid product. Expect the shine of a gloss, budge-proof pigment of a stain, and the hydrating properties of a great lip oil.
WWD/ Claire Sullivan
EDITOR’S CHOICE
Maybelline Lifter Lip Gloss with Hyaluronic Acid
Formula type: Plumping, shimmer
Shade range: 15 shades available
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid
Maybelline’s Lifter Lip Gloss has maintained its bestseller status in the drugstore for years — over 36,000 Amazon reviewers rave about its long-lasting wear, non-sticky texture, and flattering shade options for every skin tone. It offers buildable color payoff, making it a versatile choice for wearing on its own or layering with lipstick, and is formulated with hyaluronic acid for impactful hydration and shine.
The chubby doe foot applicator aptly addresses both lips in one swipe and deposits a smooth, visibly enhancing wash of color. You’ll get a subtle plumping effect with this gloss, but, if you prefer more fullness, it’s also available in a chili pepper-infused plumping formula.
Editor testing and review notes: “Maybelline’s Lifter Gloss in shades Ice (shown) and Moon are, hands-down, my favorite tinted lip glosses in my extensive collection. Moon is a nude pink that gives my smile some oomph, while Ice delivers that perfect Y2K frosted lip look when you swipe it over liner. The chubby doe foot makes it easy to apply without a mirror, and the chunky tube makes it easy to find in my cluttered bag. Compared to similar inexpensive glosses, this one feels soft on the lips rather than sticky.” — WWD Shop contributor Claire Sullivan
Price upon publish date of this article: $8.98
WWD/ Claire Sullivan
EDITOR’s CHOICE
Kiko Milano 3D Hydra Lipgloss
Formula type: Hydrating shine
Shade range: 34 shades available
Key ingredients: Flax seed oil and bidens pilosa extract
This Italian-made lip gloss is mega-viral in Europe and has amassed over 10,000 five-star Amazon reviews for its uniquely nourishing formula. Bidens pilosa extract works similar to retinol, smoothing and naturally creating a plumper look to the lips, while flax seed oil brings all the hydration and shine. But the real wow factor comes with the shade range (there are 34), which includes earthy neutrals for a nude lip look as well as bright hues that bring the drama. The Chestnut shade (shown) enhances your natural lip color without overpowering it.
Editor testing and review notes: “Ok, I’m obsessed. This gloss has a tiny bit of iridescent sparkle that gives the lips an extra pop. It glides on silky smooth and does not feel sticky at all. It’s great by itself or layered with other products. The moisture lingers throughout the day, too. Chef’s kiss.” — Former Commerce Writer & Producer Olivia Cigliano
Price upon publish date of this article: $13
WWD/ Claire Sullivan
EDITOR’S CHOICE
Nooni Appleberry Lip Oil
Formula type: Glossy lip oil stain
Shade range: 13
Key ingredients: Appleseed oil, ginseng extract
A runaway hit on TikTok, this Nooni lip treatment wears many hats. Though it’s technically a lip oil, it offers the high-shine finish our editors look for in a gloss, plus pigments that stain the lips for hours of wear time. Our testers were particularly impressed by how evenly it stains the lips and its texture, which felt more silky and luxurious than other similarly priced options. We recommend the Appleberry shade, which reads as a cool pink.
Editor testing and review notes: “I was blown away by the quality of this lip gloss, given its price. It’s intensely pigmented, so you only need one coat to tint your lips — and it leaves behind a gorgeous stain when it fades. I find that it gives me about an hour of moisture; after that, I follow up with a lip balm as needed, since the stain stays put for about four hours. Just note that the proportions of the product are small, including both the amount of product in the tube as well as the size of the wand. ” — Sullivan
Price upon publish date of this article: $9.50
WWD/ Claire Sullivan
E.l.f. Glow Reviver Lip Oil
Formula type: Hydrating
Shade range: 7 shades available
Key ingredients: Squalane, apricot oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, and pomegranate oil
The E.l.f. Glow Reviver Lip Oil has millions of views and searches on TikTok, and we’re happy to report that it’s worth its hype in every swipe. Like dozens of prestige lip oils we’ve tested (that are quadruple its price), this best drugstore lip oil applies incredibly smoothly. You won’t get much color from this one, but this best non-sticky lip gloss offers a slight glow that pairs well with its naturally glossy, hydrating formula.
Editor testing and review notes: “The Glow Reviver Lip Oil offers a very sheer tint, which is nice for a subtle wash of color, and deposits beautiful shine. I noticed my lips continued to soften with wear. It has a minty fragrance that most other E.l.f. lip products have, though it’s not overwhelming or plumping, but rather refreshing. It gives similar lip oils from designer beauty brands a run for their money. My only criticism is that I often have to double-dip into the tube for full coverage on my medium-size lips.” — Cigliano
Price upon publish date of this article: $8
WWD Shop editor Claire Sullivan tests E.l.f.’s tinted lip oil in our New York City office.
WWD/ Adam Mansuroglu
Wet n Wild MegaSlicks Lip Gloss
Formula type: Shimmer
Shade range: 9 shades available
Key ingredients: Jojoba glaze, maxi lip peptides, yaluronic acid, collagen, sunflower oil, vitamin E
The Wet n Wild MegaSlicks Lip Gloss offers shimmer and shine galore. It’s the most affordable drugstore lip gloss on our all-star list, but it doesn’t skimp on prestige-level ingredients like hyaluronic acid, collagen, peptides, and vitamin E. It’s an ideal formula to apply over carefully lined lips or lipstick, as it applies a subtle wash of color and intense wet-looking shine. Consider this the highlighter of your lip rotation that boosts glow and enhances contours.
Editor testing and review notes: “I’ve never been a shimmer gloss girl, but Wet n Wild has converted me. Off the bat, I love the flat and flexible doe foot applicator. It’s surprisingly pillowy-soft and helps to blend the formula into harsh lip liner lines. The gloss itself isn’t too thick or thin, so it doesn’t feel goopy on its own or layered and I didn’t discover any feathering throughout long hours of wear.” — Cigliano
Price upon publish date of this article: $2.28
Naturium Phyto Glow Lip Balm
Formula type: Balm
Shade range: 6 shades available
Key ingredients: Phyto-derived esters, shea butter, cupuaçu butter, and plant squalane
Naturium is a shining example of how a lip balm can play double-duty as a gloss. This best lip gloss for dry lips is formulated with soothing and hydrating ingredients that heal flaky skin and instantly soothe the lips, while leaving behind a tint of color and lacquer-level finish. Its squeeze-tube packaging makes it small and convenient for reapplying throughout the day — or for storing with your skin care as an overnight lip mask.
Editor testing and review notes: “This Naturium lip gloss is a great inexpensive alternative to a certain celebrity-backed peptide lip treatment. It has a serum-like consistency that melts into the lips to enhance shine in a subtle way. I love the tinted options, particularly this on-trend ’90s-inspired Spice shade that delivers a your-lips-but-better result.” — Sullivan
Price upon publish date of this article: $9.99
Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Diamond Plumper Gloss
Formula type: Pumping, shimmer
Shade range: 5 shades available
Key ingredients: Lustrous Diamond Dust
Clear lip gloss is easy to find at the drugstore, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find one as dramatic as this Physicians Formula tube at any price point. The Mineral Wear Diamond Plumper Gloss is a true hidden gem: The gloss-serum hybrid formula is plumping, hydrating, clean for sensitive skin, and blended with Lustrous Diamond Dust for a uniquely dimensional high-shine finish. Wear this top clear lip gloss alone for a simply polished pout, or layer it over your favorite lip stains for your-lips-but-way-better finish.
Editor testing and review notes: “Oh my gloss! This formula ticks every boss for those who crave the look of high-shine lips but would rather source their color from a lipstick or liner. Before I swiped it on, I was concerned that the shimmery particles would feel gritty on my lips, but I was impressed that they feel practically nonexistent, while the formula drenches my lips with smooth moisture.” — Cigliano
Price upon publish date of this article: $6.98
E.l.f. Pout Cloud Lip Plumping Pen
Formula type: Plumping gloss balm
Shade range: 8 shades available
Key ingredients: Maracuja oil, blueberry, watermelon, and pomegranate extracts
At the drugstore, E.l.f. beauty products are MVPs with slam-dunk formulas that are just as competitive as their price points. The E.l.f. Pout Cloud Lip Plumping Pen is a standout from the brand’s lip range, offering a multifunctional formula that serves as a lip plumper, balm, and lip color in one. Its click-pen packaging makes application clean and precise, with an easy-gliding stick formula enriched with softening maracuja oil and fruit extracts. Take your pick from neutral nudes to deep berries and even a rich red — it’s an ideal everyday lip formula you can toss in your designer handbag without the risk of gunky spills.
Editor testing and review notes: “I was not expecting this under-$10 find to perform super well after three months of testing luxury lip balms, lipsticks, and lip plumpers. But, I stood corrected when I found myself sidelining the $25 plumping lip balm I had been using for a week or two; this one is, surprisingly, way better. Its cushiony texture deposits an even (not splotchy) swath of color, and rather than the spicy tingle you get from most lip plumpers, this one’s comfortably cooling.” — Sullivan
Price upon publish date of this article: $7.99
WWD Shop editor Claire Sullivan tests E.l.f.’s Pout Clout Lip Plumping Pen in our New York City office.
WWD/ Adam Mansuroglu
Nyx Butter Gloss
Formula type: Hydrating shine
Shade range: 43 shades available
If you have yet to try this Nyx lip gloss, consider this your cue. This creamy formula is more like a serum-y gloss — your lips will soften and feel so supple after a single swipe of product. It’s one of the best hydrating lip glosses at the drugstore, so even after the color fades, your lips look far more hydrated than where they started. It offers the widest shade range among our top picks and has earned the stamp of approval of over 81,000 Amazon reviews who call it a “must-have” and “new favorite.”
Editor testing and review notes: “This is everything a lip gloss should be: Comfortable, hydrating, and shiny. It applies as smooth as butter and I find my lips are softer hours after application. It has a slight vanilla fragrance that I enjoy and don’t find to be sickly-sweet. It doesn’t bleed, so I apply it without a mirror more times than not, and look forward to slathering on a second coat after a meal or a few hours of wear time. Plus, you can’t beat the price point or the extensive color selection. I keep it on rotation in nearly every shade.” — Cigliano
Price upon publish date of this article: $5.85
The Inkey List Tripeptide Plumping Lip Balm
Formula type: Glossy balm
Shade range: 4 shades available
Key ingredients: Tripeptide complex, Ultra Filling Spheres, hyaluronic acid
The Inkey List Tripeptide Plumping Lip Balm has been an editor favorite for years, so you can imagine our excitement when the brand released three tinted shades last year. The affordable skin care brand formulated this balm to boost lip volume in just four weeks of regularly use, thanks to its inclusion of peptides and Ultra Filling Sphere technology. It repairs lips, naturally plumps, and satisfies with an ultra-juicy finish. Plus, it has a TikTok cult-following amounting to over 40 million views and searches, including reviews that substantiate the brand’s long-term plumping promise.
Editor testing and review notes: “Consider this a tinted lip mask to carry on-the-go. When I apply two coats, not only do my lips look plumped and refreshed, but after hours of wear they’re softer to the touch. Impressively, I notice that fine lines on my lips begin to fade within a week of consistent use.” — Sullivan
Price upon publish date of this article: $13
Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss
Formula type: Hydrating shine
Shade range: 12 shades available
Key ingredients: Agave, moringa oil, and cupuaçu butter
The Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss stands out from the crowd for its glaze-like finish. On the lips, its silky moisture powered by agave, moringa oil, and cupuaçu butter conditions the skin, while a slightly thick — not sticky! — layer of color reflects a high-shine varnish. It’s one of the most pigmented drugstore lip glosses that impressed our editors, as it offers an even, medium to full coat of color that lasts for hours of wear.
Editor testing and review notes: “I love this gloss, mainly because my all-time holy grail lip color is from this line. ‘Supernatural’ is the perfect rosy nude gloss that sits right in the middle between pink and brown. I prefer this non-shimmery shade, as it is so creamy and juicy and looks like an enhanced version of my natural lips. I grab for this formula when I’m already wearing lipstick and my lips are feeling tight and dry.” — Cigliano
Price upon publish date of this article: $9.39
What to Look for in the Best Drugstore Lip Glosses
The best drugstore lip gloss for you will depend on your glam preference, but there are key elements to consider in your hunt for a standout formula.
- Key ingredients: Drugstore lip glosses come in all kinds of formulas these days, but it’s most important that they moisturize your lips, rather than sitting on top in a layer of sticky goop. Keep an eye out for lip gloss formulas that include ingredients you’d enjoy in your favorite skin care products, like hyaluronic acid, peptides, shea butter, collagen, vitamins, and plant-based hydration, as this ensures your lips will stay soft after the shine wears off.
- Formula type: When looking for your ideal drugstore lip gloss, keep in mind that you aren’t just limited to products labeled “lip gloss.” If you have lips that are prone to cracks and splits, go for a shiny lip balm or lip oil instead, as this will give you the best of both worlds. Or, if you are hoping to achieve a more voluminous smile, opt for plumping formulas that temporarily boost your lip fullness. Consider your lip care needs and glam preferences before committing to a formula.
- Applicator: Beyond formula, a lip gloss applicator is critical to your overall lip finish. Applicators that are too big will deposit an overwhelming amount of product, which can lead to color feathering or a heavy feel, while stiff or small applicators can be frustrating for large lips. If you have full lips, you’ll benefit from a chubby doe foot applicator, while small lips should lean into more precise applicators in order to apply a clean coat of gloss.
Where to Shop Drugstore Lip Gloss Online
- Amazon.com: You can shop an incredible assortment of vetted lip gloss and makeup goodies at the e-tailer, from TikTok beauty products to the best hair gels to skin care tools and everything in between. It’s the best place to crowd-source thousands of honest beauty reviews before you take the plunge on a purchase. Plus, you can enjoy Prime benefits like speedy shipping and exclusive discounts.
- Ulta.com: Ulta Beauty offers the widest range of brands at affordable prices. On top of beloved drugstore brands like E.l.f Cosmetics, Maybelline, and Wet n Wild, you can also shop indie brands that’ll lead you to discoveries at affordable price points. Ulta’s website also grants access to exclusive beauty deals, rewards programs, bonus samples, and exciting sale events.
- CVS.com: The digital beauty aisles at CVS.com offer more deals and perks than shopping in-store. If you place an order, you can receive free shipping on select products while racking up ExtraBucks points with a CVS ExtraCare card. You can also sign up for the ExtraCare BeautyClub membership, where the retailer will send you a monthly box of free beauty products and an extra 10 percent off discount on the retailer’s entire beauty stock.
- Walmart.com: Walmart’s beauty page offers a wide assortment of drugstore brands. To ensure you’re shopping from a verified storefront, be sure to navigate from the beauty dropdown menu or click on a product and look for a link to the brand’s storefront (for example, “Visit the L’Oréal Paris Store”). As you scroll through Walmart’s wide product selection, you can discover discounts on top-selling lip glosses, new releases, and viral formulas that are exclusive to the site. Plus, there are added perks like next-day or two-day shipping and store delivery options. A Walmart+ membership — you can sign up for a 30-day free trial here — also grants free local delivery, free shipping with no minimums, early access to product releases and deals, and easy returns from your doorstep.
How We Selected & Tested the Best Drugstore Lip Glosses
To narrow down the best drugstore lip glosses that outshine other formulas, our editors lent our lips to 11 months of lip gloss testing during two testing periods. Before we rolled up our sleeves, we rounded up a testing pool of over 27 lip glosses in different finishes and formulas, referencing extensive market research, buzzy TikTok-viral formulas, and long-time bestsellers. We compared customer reviews on retailer websites, social media, and online forums like Reddit to determine the most satisfactory formulas for a variety of needs and preferences. Any lip glosses that did not provide substantial hydration, wear comfortably, achieve high-shine results, or deliver on impressive claims were cut from our list of the best drugstore lip glosses.
Throughout both testing periods, editors wore each drugstore lip gloss for as long as they stayed put on our lips. We timed how quickly they wore off throughout the day, whether they held up through eating and drinking, and whether the lips felt softer, plumper, or more hydrated than before application. We took note of other factors, like color payoff, product packaging, applicators, fragrance, and overall comfort as key criteria for nailing down the best formulas.
Our beauty test team represents a range of needs and preferences, including varying lip sizes, skin tones, lip care needs, and glam preferences. Each drugstore lip gloss was tested alone and with other lip products to narrow down the most versatile, comfortable, and flattering options.
Why Trust WWD
Since 1910, WWD — often referred to as “the fashion bible” — has been the leading industry voice of authority for senior executives in the global women’s and men’s fashion, retail and beauty communities, while also informing the consumer media that cover the market. Today, WWD’s breaking news and trend coverage continues to be a trustworthy resource for both fashion insiders and consumers alike. Our shopping editors continue to uphold WWD’s editorial standards and values with quality, expert-backed product selections. Learn more about us here.
Meet the Authors
Olivia Cigliano is the former Commerce Writer & Producer at Footwear News and WWD where she writes and edits shopping content across fashion, beauty, footwear, TikTok style trends, and more. Cigliano received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Emerson College, and her byline can be found in publications including Elite Daily and CR Fashion Book. She is currently based in New York City. At WWD, she regularly tests and reviews top-rated and TikTok-famous products like drugstore lip gloss. Cigliano wrote the original version of this article on the best lip glosses.
Claire Sullivan is a contributing writer for Footwear News and WWD, where she writes and edits beauty, fashion, and lifestyle stories. She has over eight years of experience as a writer and editor for national media outlets including Martha Stewart Living, Martha Stewart Weddings, InStyle, and Byrdie. She’s tested hundreds of products during her time as an editor, so she’s well-versed in selecting the products that make a meaningful difference in your skin and hair. Sullivan contributed to the May 2025 update of this article with new product selections after an additional round of testing.