Lip glosses can lock in a beautiful glow and highlight the contours on your lips, all with the simple swipe of a wand or a squeeze from a tube for non-sticky, long-lasting shine. To help you find your match, we've shopped from sites in the UK like Boots and Amazon for high-end and drugstore brands such as Glossier, e.l.f. and NYX.
Some of our picks are classics, while others have gone the extra mile by adding moisturising ingredients or a sprinkle of glitter for when you're feeling extra glam. Before we take a look, why not have a read through our buying guide? Moreover, we have partnered with Makeup Artist Marie Dancer for reviewing and fact-checking the article so that we can deliver the best information.
Quick List - Top Clear Lip Glosses
Glossier
For Instantly Moisturised, High-Shine Lips That Will Last All Day
As a professional make-up artist of ten years, Marie's job has taken her all over the UK working at top events, on TV shows and making up beautiful brides. For all her clients she loves emphasising their natural beauty by creating a flawless base that still looks like skin.
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As a professional makeup artist of ten years, Marie's job has taken her all over the UK, working at top events, on TV shows and making up beautiful brides. For all of her clients, she loves emphasising their natural beauty by creating a flawless base that still looks like skin.
Find out more about Marie and what are her favourite makeup products are through her Instagram! She even shares some industry tips on makeup application too. And if you're interested in getting your makeup done by Marie, you can contact her via her email found at the top of her page.
The two main types of applicators are wands and tubes, with each one offering a different coverage. Wands comprise of a small padded brush on the end of a stick that you dip into the product; it's the classic way of applying lip gloss. They offer a great deal of precision for mess-free application and you can apply as many coats as you want.
On the other hand, you can squeeze the gloss out of a tube and swipe the built-in applicator across your lips for light and even coverage. If you want to apply clear lip gloss on top of lip colour, such as matte lipstick, remember the wand will become discoloured and affect the rest of the product.
If you're just looking to wear the gloss on its own for a natural juicy pout, a wand-style gloss offers quick application in one simple swipe. Brush wands are low maintenance and don't need to be cleaned and wiped to remove excess like the tubes do, although both of them are reliable options that boils down to your own personal preference of application.
Check out our selection of the best lip scrubs to slough away dead skin cells to help you achieve a smooth pout.
If you have sensitive skin or suffer from chapped lips, plant oils such as jojoba oil will be of great help. Jojoba oil contains vitamins E and B, along with some key minerals like zinc and copper which will soften the lips whilst protecting the deeper layers of skin beneath them.
You can also look for products containing jojoba, avocado, castor seed or other oil blends to banish dryness, dullness, or cracking. Palmitic acid is another useful ingredient in cosmetics. It's a saturated fatty acid found in plants, animals, and microorganisms and is a major component of palm oil.
However, while extremely nourishing, palm oil is often avoided due to its poor sustainability and eco-friendliness. If you're vegan look for beeswax and lanolin as these are common to create the high shine finish, luckily there are many vegan-friendly clear glosses on the market that have a high-quality finish.
Another popular moisturising ingredient is cupuaçu butter, a soft, creamy butter used to reduce the effects of dry skin. Containing the two essential fatty acids, linolenic acid and lauric acid, it is known for its healing effects and ability to restructure damaged skin.
Don't worry about it looking white, though, as once it's added into your gloss, it becomes transparent and locks in moisture to create an even brighter shine. There's a more familiar relative of cupuaçu butter to consider too – cocoa butter. Similarly high in fatty acids, it can heal dry skin conditions, improve blood flow to the lips, and hold in moisture by forming a protective barrier.
It's important to note that lip glosses only offer temporary comfort and don't replenish the lips to the same level as a specific lip balm. Glosses tend to work by creating a barrier from the petroleum jelly to protect the lips and offer colour or texture to alter the appearance. Some lip glosses contain higher levels of vitamin E, which are usually thinner in texture due to the increased amount of oils.
There are two main elements that make up a good moisturising product: humectants and emollients. Humectants will bind water molecules and bring them up to the surface layer of your lips, while emollients will lock that moisture in, keeping them feeling soft for hours.
Vitamin E is one of the best moisturising ingredients for your lips as it's both a humectant and an emollient. In addition, it's a natural antioxidant so it can reduce the effects of ageing and soothe damage to the lips caused by harsh environments. This rich vitamin is a quick and simple way to keep your lips looking plump and youthful.
Want sexy, poutier looking lips? Here are our favourite lip plumpers!
A subtle shine or a glamorous glow, which will you choose? A plain gloss can be used as a top coat for your lipstick, or simply over your natural lip. It helps to contour the shapes and highlights on your lip, for example, the cupids bow and the curve of the lower lip.
For a more two-dimensional yet equally as beautiful and bold effect, you can choose a gloss with added shimmer. Adding shimmer to your lips can brighten your complexion and can complement your cheekbone highlights and eyeshadow. If you favour a natural look, you'd prefer a gloss with as little shimmer as possible, but for fun nights out, a shimmery gloss is a great choice!
For contouring the lips, explore our buying guide on lip liners!
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | e.l.f. Lip Lacquer |Clear | ![]() | A Super Moisturising, Non-Sticky Gloss That's Cruelty-Free Too | |
2 | Barry M That's Swell Plumping Lip Gloss | ![]() | A Great Option for All-Day Wear on a Budget | |
3 | Glossier Lip Gloss|Crystal Clear | ![]() | For Instantly Moisturised, High-Shine Lips That Will Last All Day | |
4 | MAC Mini Lipglass|Clear | ![]() | An Iconic Mini Gloss With a Bold, Glassy Shine | |
5 | NYX Professional Lingerie Glitter Lip Gloss | ![]() | A Sparkly Night-Out Essential | |
6 | Collection Gloss Me Up Lip Gloss|Clear | ![]() | A Drugstore Favourite That Gives a Subtle Shine | |
7 | Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker XL Lip Gloss|Clear | ![]() | Ultra-Shiny Gloss With Magical Plumping Agents | |
8 | Sleek MakeUP Lip Volve Gloss Transforming Lip Topper | ![]() | A Long-Lasting Gloss You Can Also Use as a Lipstick Topper | |
9 | Revlon Super Lustrous The Gloss|Crystal Clear | ![]() | Fabulously Shimmery With a Dose of Cupuaçu Butter | |
10 | W7 Clear Lip Gloss | ![]() | Back to Basics With This Reliable Essential |
With countless outstanding reviews, this clear lip gloss wipes the floor when it comes to quality and standards, and offers great coverage and a powerful shine. You're sure to love how this affordable, cruelty-free gloss makes your lips pop!
To top it off, it's enriched with a bevvy of plant oils and vitamin E to draw up and lock in moisture, keeping your lips soft for the entire day. Of course, if you want to top up anyway, this lip gloss is non-sticky so you can lather on as much as you like.
Keep your lips sweet, shiny, and plump all day with this affordable, plumping lip gloss. With a bold shine and extreme moisture, this product can define the shape of your lips. It has a slanted wand to make every part of the application process as comfortable and seamless as possible.
If you want natural, fuller looking lips, this gloss will help your lips shine and achieve just that. Also, the container holds 2.5 ml so it's compact enough to fit into even the smallest clutch bag for quick touch-ups.
Glossier has created a fashionable lip gloss that reflects a subtle glaze, perfect for pared-back office or day-to-day looks. It has a non-sticky formula that glides on easily and is super comfortable to wear, plus, it's enriched with Vitamin E and jojoba oil that will condition your lips and create a protective seal.
For a three-dimensional glow, this will help you to achieve cushiony soft and moisturised lips that will last all day. The fuzzy doe-foot applicator also ensures that you scoop out the right amount each time and apply it in a simple swipe.
Just a tiny bead of this clear lip gloss can go a long way as it is a highly-concentrated formula. It also contains jojoba oil to help smooth out dry lips, which is good for autumn and winter weather – we're all more than familiar with the skincare dramas brought by the cooler seasons!
As MAC is a professional makeup brand, this pure gloss's formula is even able to be mixed with a pigment to add a bit of tint, if you're feeling creative. On its own, it looks sleek and subtle, creating a sheen that you're bound to love.
This is a widely-popular lip product from NYX that is perfect for adding a hint of sparkle to any outfit. With a non-sticky formula, not only will this polish your pout, it will also add a glittery finish with a high shine.
So whether you want a clear, shimmer gloss to enhance your natural lip or you want to add a bit of sparkle to your favourite matte lipstick for a glam night out, you're sure to love this product! It is also cruelty-free.
This glassy lip gloss is made with a vitamin-E-rich formula to create a high shine that can stay put for up to six hours. After those six hours, there isn't any sticky residue left over so you can top up nice and easily.
Producing a clear, glowing finish, this gloss comes with a hint of shimmer so your lips will appear more full and pouty than ever before. The wand is described as 'lip-hugging' due to its curved shape that drags lightly across the surface. And, for all the savvy shoppers out there, this product is 100% vegan!
This clear gloss by Soap and Glory is the tube that you need to make your lips pop. Not only will your lips be super-shiny and smooth, but it also contains plumping agents to make them look fuller and rounder, creating a warm tingly feeling upon use – don't worry, if your lips feel fuzzy, it's normal!
Mixed with plant oils to soften the skin, this 10 ml tube of lip gloss requires just one thin coat for you to be able to see some amazing results. For an even fuller looking pout, pair it with your favourite lip liner and lipstick!
A beautiful topcoat for your lipstick, this gloss will achieve a thick layer without taking off the product underneath. This is thanks to its unique silicone applicator which sets it aside from many others in areas such as texture and usability. And the best part about it? Unlike sponge wands, this one won't stain upon contact with your lipstick.
Lightweight and long-lasting are two factors that you need for a gloss so that you can be comfortable wearing it for the whole day, and that's exactly what this product brings to the table. For an everyday shiny pout, this one is great!
This gloss has plenty going for it – it doesn't feel sticky, it's lightweight, and it has a highly-moisturising formula. Along with the famous cupuaçu butter, there's a generous amount of both agave and moringa oil to nourish your the natural way.
This clear shimmer gloss has an extra-wide applicator and according to happy reviewers, it has a sweet candy-like scent. With its long-lasting smooth finish, this is definitely a product you'll want to get your hands on.
A quick and simple gloss at such an affordable price is a perfect handbag essential you can top up with throughout the day. For the price, you get a generous 8 ml of glassy gloss that's non-greasy, plus, it's cruelty-free too!
There's little information about the ingredients used by the brand so its hard to determine just how moisturising this product is. However, if you don't have dry lips and you're just looking for a sleek, glossy coverage, this might be a good option for you.
Written and researched by Annie Speight
We partner with specialists across various fields to proof-read our buying guides to deliver accurate and reliable information. Our specialists do not endorse any products that we recommend.
- mybest UK
No. 1: e.l.f. |Lip Lacquer |Clear
No. 2: Barry M|That's Swell Plumping Lip Gloss
No. 3: Glossier|Lip Gloss|Crystal Clear
No. 4: MAC|Mini Lipglass|Clear
No. 5: NYX Professional|Lingerie Glitter Lip Gloss
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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