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Whether it’s chrome nail polish on our fingertips or silver handbags slung over the shoulder, all that glitters is gold this season. Luxury makeup brands are also taking cues from the champagne we sip on New Year’s Eve, offering sparkling spins on top lipsticks and glosses this season.
Rather than chunks of glitter that feel gritty and look, well, tacky, today’s shimmery lip products feature metallic flecks brewed into creamy glosses and buttery balms for a comfortable feel that’s refined, but still ready to party. “A shimmery lip has this vintage, ’80s sort of aura to it,” explains celebrity makeup artist and KJH Brand founder Katie Jane Hughes. “It’s very glam, and it’s very Studio 54.”
Dior’s Rouge Dior Forever Liquid Lipstick was the first glittery lipstick to bubble up in popularity on TikTok, surpassing 163 million views on the app. Part of the appeal is its transformative formula, which switches from a standard red lipstick to a swath of velvet sequins when you smack your lips together. Alas, as many TikTok-famous beauty products tend to do, it sold out swiftly. In short order, Mac Cosmetics’ Fizzy Feels Lip Balms achieved similar social fame, tallying up millions of views on the app and disappearing from the virtual shelves in mere weeks.
Although the Dior and Mac Cosmetics products are currently out of stock, you can find incandescent iterations of lip products that range from strobing sequins to candlelit pigments. “The more finely pearled you go with the texture of the shimmer, the more elegant it looks; the more chunky that you go, the more fun and disco it looks,” Hughes explains. Once you’ve decided on your desired level of luster, consider the lip formulas you reach for the most. Try Fenty’s top lip gloss for holographic sparkles and hydration, or go with Tarte’s pearlescent Maracuja lipsticks if you’re always reaching for lip plumper.
If you’re after more dimension, bejewel yourself by way of layering. Start with one of your best lipsticks, then swipe on a satiny lip gloss or a gleaming lip balm. Looking for intense luminosity? “Use a little bit of a glitter eyeshadow or highlighter and push it into your existing lipstick to create a shimmery effect,” suggests Hughes. Her pro tips for a smooth application: Prep the lips with a damp washcloth and cleansing balm for gentle exfoliation, then focus the shimmery lip product on the perimeter of your mouth versus where your lips open (as the latter gets more distressed from sips and snacks).
Teamed with a few makeup bag essentials, light-reflective lips are your shortcut for party-ready glam. “My favorite makeup look to pair with a shimmery lip is dewy, fresh, balmy skin,” explains Hughes. She recommends a cream highlighter on the high points of your face; Hughes’ KJH Brand Hyper Shine High Lite Kit is a peerless option for the task. Then use a bit of matte concealer in the T-zone to tamp down unwanted shine, and complete the look with thick black mascara or an optional pop of glitter on the eyelid. Ahead, the glittery lipsticks that’ve put a glint in our gaze this season.
Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Plump
Sephora Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.8/5 stars
Tarte debuted a shimmery iteration of its famous Maracuja Juicy Lip Plump for the holiday season in eight shades, spanning from clear to rich ruby. Our WWD Shop editors are smitten with the Berry Shimmer Glass shade for its cool undertones that make teeth look brighter.
Price upon publish date of this article: $24
Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer
Sephora Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.8/5 stars
Ulta Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.8/5 stars
With holographic pigments that skew pink, tawny, or technicolor depending on the lighting, Fenty Beauty’s Gloss Bomb in Hot Chocolit Fantasy wears like a custom color on your lips. Team it with a cocoa lip liner for a glowing neutral lip.
Price upon publish date of this article: $21
Mac Cosmetics Fizzy Feels Lip Balm
The Mac Cosmetics Fizzy Feels lip balms are a TikTok sensation: Each one adjusts to the pH of your lips, enhancing your natural smile with a flattering-for-you shade. Finely milled sparkles make it wearable for day and night.
Price upon publish date of this article: $25
Dior Lip Addict Lip Maximizer Gloss
Nordstrom Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.8/5 stars
A sheer, sparkly lip plumper is an essential for any Y2K-inspired beauty lover. Dior’s take doesn’t sting, instead making your lips look fuller with hyaluronic acid and cherry oil. Layer it over red lipstick to fib the look of Dior’s sold-out sequin lipstick.
Price upon publish date of this article: $40
Bobbi Brown Crushed Oil-Infused Lip Gloss
Nordstrom Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.8/5 stars
Sephora Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.8/5 stars
Nude lip gloss belongs in every makeup wardrobe — swipe on Bobbi Brown’s Crushed Oil-Infused Lip Gloss for daytime wear or layer it over any lipstick color for more depth, and in this case, eye-catching sheen. We’re partial to the new Bellini shade for its peachy undertones.
Price upon publish date of this article: $33
Milk Makeup Odyssey Lip Oil Gloss
Sephora Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.8/5 stars
Two WWD Shop editors can’t get enough of Milk Makeup’s Odyssey Lip Oil Gloss for its ability to hydrate your lips like one of the best lip masks on the market. The brand’s newest shade, Globetrot, provides celestial shimmer with icy blue undertones for a frosty effect.
Price upon publish date of this article: $26
KJH.Brand Hyper Shine High Lite Kit
If you’re layering shimmer over your favorite lipstick, Hughes has a tip: “Don’t sleep on a highlighter that’s not too white or deep for your skin tone.” Her Hyper Shine High Lite Kit is a one-stop shop for achieving a glittery lip and corresponding makeup look: Squeeze the gloss into the pigment, then use the included makeup brush to dust the dewy pigments on the high planes of your cheeks and your cupid’s bow.
Price upon publish date of this article: $75
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Clé de Peau Beauté Cream Rouge Sparkles Lipstick
Neiman Marcus Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.5/5 stars
Barbie can get behind the glitter lipstick trend with Clé de Peau Beauté’s Rouge Sparkles Lipstick. Layer the flashy gloss over your best pink lipstick or wear it on its own — the color payoff falls between a gloss and a tinted balm. Argan oil, vitamin E, and a blurring effect that smooths and plumps the look of your lips make this luxury lipstick worth the price tag.
Price upon publish date of this article: $50
Isamaya Lip Balm
Your lips will look like they’ve been cast in precious metals with Isamaya’s Lip Balm. Recommended by Hughes and created by makeup artist Isamaya Ffrench, this top lip balm is the shiniest on our list — just the thing for New Year’s Eve.
Price upon publish date of this article: $34
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Meet the Expert
Katie Jane Hughes is a British celebrity and editorial makeup artist born in England, raised in New York. When she’s not on set or working with clients, Hughes captivates beauty enthusiasts worldwide by sharing her expert beauty tips and tutorials online. Her fun and creative style and mission to keep skin looking like skin has cultivated a devoted community around the globe. Hughes is also the founder of KJH Brand.
Meet the Author
Claire Sullivan is the Senior Beauty and Lifestyle Commerce Editor for Footwear News and WWD, where she writes and edits beauty, fashion and lifestyle stories. She has over six years of experience as a writer and editor for national media outlets including Martha Stewart Living, Martha Stewart Weddings, InStyle, and Byrdie. She keeps her finger on the pulse of all things related to beauty and wellness, including trending makeup products like glitter lipsticks.
