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I’m deeply suspicious of people who never change their minds. To be so completely sure of anything as to be permanently entrenched in any position isn’t something I admire, which is why I shove an olive into my mouth every couple of years and hope it finally takes.
I do the same with lip gloss, with historically similar results. Fashion has, until recently, been on my side. Less sophisticated than lipstick, overshadowed by TikTok trending lip oils, less effortless cool-girl than tinted lip balm, gloss has barely had a look-in these past few years, but new formulas steal from other formats for a better user experience and, well, like everything eventually, lip gloss is back in vogue.
The launch of Nars’ Afterglow Lipshine (£28.50) was what first got me hooked. Its smooth, unsticky texture, lack of scent and lasting moisture make it a pleasure, and a characteristically thoughtful colour range makes the whole lineup feel as adult and sophisticated as lipstick.
Smooth Talk, a cool, sheer cocoa brown, was my most worn lip colour of last winter (either alone or over lipstick) and will soon see me through another. I’ll be adding in Nympho, an unusual cool taupe. Abbey Road, a golden, shimmering (who even am I?) bronze has lived in my handbag all summer, alongside a nude lip liner and … not one lipstick.
More recently, Chanel has relaunched its Rouge Coco lip glosses as Rouge Coco Hydra Gloss (£39), a more moisturising, thinner, unsticky version of its bestseller in interesting but wearable shades. Icing looks as it sounds – a translucent, milky pink, wet glaze that looks gorgeous on its own (it’s a perfect lip for a natural bridal look) or over another lip colour to make it more muted.
Accessoire – a neutral, classic Chanel beige – is my other everyday favourite. Naturally, the packaging looks beautiful pulled out of a handbag, and even when the gloss is carelessly slicked on, lips stay moisturised for a good couple of hours.
The high street comes into its own with lip gloss, but even so, Maybelline’s Lifter Gloss (£8.99) is a standout. If you ignore the scent (sweet, warm) and needlessly chunky packaging, the product itself is indistinguishable from many luxury lip glosses. This is a not-at-all-sticky, very comfortable, easy-to-use gloss in some very pretty, wearable shades. Stone (008), a neutral peachy taupe, is my favourite that would suit anyone. Toast is a glorious reddish brown that makes me long for autumn knits.
