AND WE ALL SHINE ON.

Posted by Roni 12.18.09

PHOTO CREDIT: smashbox.com

Tonight I’m slicking on glosses with enough shine to reflect the light of my menorah. For certain moods and looks, nothing beats a clear, ultra-shiny lip. What I can live without are sticky formulas that always seem to attract my hair and goop up my glass. With so many on the market, I’ve tried my fair share of hits and misses. Here are a few standouts.

MAC Clear Lipglass is designed to be worn on its own or over lipstick, and it provides major impact shine along with great conditioning. I love the moisturizing jojoba oil and easy application. A tube retails for $14 and will last an eternity, as you only need a teeny bead of this highly concentrated product to achieve the full effect.

Smashbox Reflection High Shine Lip Gloss ups the ante with by providing saught-after high shine along with vitamins and hyaluronic acid to plump your pout, fill in lines and moisturize. It isn’t quite clear, but the “Super Glossy Pearlescent Shine” is universally flattering and subtle enough for any setting. It costs $19 for a tube.

Maybelline Shiny-licious Lip Gloss comes in nine colors, and I decided to test drive the Clear when I spotted it on a recent visit to Ulta. For about $5 a tube, it was a low risk proposition that paid off nicely. That’s the thing about lip products; I love treating myself to luxury products, but always mix it up with budget brands because there is nothing worse than being out with dry, dull lips and no fix. I stock every bag with multiple options for every mood, and Shiny-licious is a great, affordable choice. It looks fantastic and has texture and shine on par with many of its pricier counterparts. Love it.

Note to beauty brands: I haven’t had any success finding a clear, high shine gloss that’s paraben-free. If I could find a beautiful, shiny gloss with a good formula that’s good for me I would buy a lifetime supply, and that’s an awful lot of lip gloss.

*Purchased*

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