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Summer: that time of the year where the days (for the most part) get brighter, longer and usually warmer. The changing temperatures may call for an update to your beauty routine, specifically the switch from heavy, tacky formulas to lightweight, airy ones. To help make your search for that perfect summer lip color less daunting, we scoured the Internet to find some of the most popular picks that not even the summer heat could melt away.
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Glossier's Ultralip aims to have the finish of a gloss, the color payoff of a lipstick and the “moisture of a balm.” Its formula uses hyaluronic acid to attract and retain moisture, along with a litany of oils—meadowfoam, jojoba and watermelon, to name a few—to provide lips with a smooth finish. Available in nine shades, its lip tint-like consistency allows you to layer the color for a look that’s as soft and sheer or bold and bright as you’d like.
One enthusiastic Glossier customer praised Ultralip for its versatility: “Hands down best product from Glossier. It’s a perfect mix between a lip balm [and] lipstick. I prefer it to their lip gloss as it’s just so creamy. I have shade Lucite. It’s so light and hydrating.”
Get Ultralip at Glossier for $18
Your lips need SPF, too. In fact, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends coating them with “a lip balm or lipstick that contains sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher,” because the lips are susceptible to developing skin cancer like the rest of the body. With a few swipes of the Coola Mineral Liplux Organic Tinted Lip Balm, you can rest easy knowing that your lips are protected from the sun’s rays. It comes in two colors: Original (clear) and Tinted (rosy red). In addition to safeguarding the lips from the sun, it also hydrates with cupuaçu butter. Meanwhile, jojoba and raspberry seed oils provide moisture.
A satisfied Ulta customer vouched for its moisturizing benefits: “I've really been enjoying this lip balm! It's hard to find a moisturizing, vegan, cruelty-free, SPF balm that works, but this has it all! I like the scent, but also appreciate that it isn't overly strong. 10/10 product, I'll definitely be buying again.”
Get Coola Mineral Liplux Organic Lip Balm SPF 30 at Ulta for $10
Who doesn’t love a classic glossy lip? A swipe of Lancôme’s Juicy Tubes accomplishes just that. Thanks to vitamin E, these tubes of gloss claim to provide up to four hours of hydration. The formula comes in three finishes described as “sparkle, creamy and jelly,” along with 10 colors.
“This thing is loved for a reason,” an Ulta reviewer who awarded it five stars wrote. “It hydrates, gives you shine, stays for a long time to be a gloss and has a cute hint of color (depending on the shade you pick). It's just amazing.”
Get Lancôme Juicy Tubes Original Lip Gloss at Ulta for $20
The Dior Addict Refillable Shine Lipstick makes restocking on a lip color a little less of a hassle with its refillable case—all while looking incredibly stylish. You can choose from three case options: Pink Cannage, a tickled pink that features a pattern of overlapping triangles, Indigo Denim, a print that resembles a pair of blue jeans and Metallic Silver, which has a silver-tinted chrome finish. The lipstick's formula includes jasmine wax, which introduces hydration to the lips, along with plum oil that supplies the lips with “essential and omega fatty acids.” Furthermore, Dior doesn’t fall short when it comes to the shade range, as it’s available in 25 colors and two finishes: "shiny" and "glittery."
One Dior customer gave their stamp of approval: “There is nothing not to like about these lipsticks. I originally bought two of these and am already planning on getting more. The hardest part is narrowing down which of the lovely colors to get next. They go on smoothly without any irritation or stickiness, have great color payoff, feel light on the lips and leave just enough 'stain' that even when they wear off, there is still color left.”
Want fuller lips without getting lip service (looking at you, lip filler)? Then consider putting the Buxom Full-On Plumping Lip Polish Gloss on your radar. The brand attributes “a unique peptide complex” to creating a fuller-looking pout and vitamins A and E to adding moisture for a soft and smooth finish. Available in 21 shades and three finishes—metallic, shimmer and high-shine—there’s sure to be something that floats your boat for summer.
“My absolute fave lip gloss, I have multiples in different shades, but 'Erin' is currently my favorite,” one Sephora customer wrote. “It's such a soft feminine color without too much sparkle, so it's usable for a natural look or if you want to go more glam. The minty feeling is *chefs kiss.*”
Get Buxom Full-On Plumping Lip Polish Gloss at Sephora for $23
It can be said that the Clarins Water Lip Stain lives up to its name, given that the brand asserts its formula is “77% water-based.” The formula also contains aloe vera extract, which moisturizes the lips, and “organic raspberry water,” which claims to give the lips a plush feel. You have your pick in four colors: Rose Water (magenta), Orange Water (coral), Red Water (brick red) and Violet Water (dark purple). Each hue comes in a matte finish.
“I've been using this for over a year now and I'm on my second bottle of rosewater,” one Ulta customer wrote. “For everyday wear, I just give it one swipe for a natural kiss of color but if we're going out, I usually layer it up to get a bolder look! I get compliments all the time on it! It stays better than any other lip product I've used, and I've tried a lot over the years.”
Get Clarins Water Lip Stain at Ulta for $30
Whether you’re experiencing chapped lips due to constantly sitting in front of an air conditioner or you’re just a fan of lip balms, consider trying the Summer Fridays Butter Lip Balm. The brand's interpretation of a balm uses shea and murumuru seeds to moisturize and vegan waxes to add shine. Your chapped lip woes can be put to rest thanks to its moisturizing benefits. This balm has two shade options, depending on if you’d rather dress up your lips or keep things simple: “Vanilla Beige” is a coral hue and “Vanilla” is clear.
A Sephora customer took to the reviews to stand by its moisturizing claims: “I love this and cannot be without it. I put it on before bed and I still feel some on my lips when I wake up. I do not find it drying at all. I just purchased the one with a hint for color to use during the day.”
Get Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm at Sephora for $30
Marilyn Monroe once said, “never let anyone dull your sparkle,” and you can make sure no one forgets it with a swipe of the shimmering Patrick Ta Major Glow Lip Shine. This sparkly lip gloss promises to impart a “high-shine finish” in addition to providing a sticky-free, moisturizing feel with a blend of oils. The gloss comes in three shades: “Is She Younger Than Me?” (a bold peach), “She’s an Influencer” (a holographic pink) and “She’s Expensive” (an iridescent “pearl”).
“Beautiful iridescent shimmer and the perfect texture,” one Sephora customer said of its finish. “It’s not sticky and you can’t feel the shimmer in it. It’s a beautiful, long-lasting lip shine!”
Get Patrick Ta Major Glow Lip Shine at Sephora for $22
Similar to the Glossier Ultralip, the L'Oreal Paris Glow Paradise Hydrating Balm-in-Lipstick has the color impact of a lipstick and the texture of a balm. Available in 10 shades, this 2-in-1 lippie claims to hydrate your lips over time while making them “feel softer and suppler.” The main difference between this and Glossier: These are more accessible, as you can snag L’Oréal on Amazon or at the drugstore in a pinch.
One Amazon customer was impressed with the color payoff: “Ecstatic Mulberry is so beautiful! The formula of this lipstick is really versatile. One swipe and you have a subtle wash of color. But keep going and you have a dramatic but very wearable sort of blood red color. Hard for me to describe, but so beautiful and really easy to pull off. I’m also surprised at how well it wears since it’s a moisturizing and glossy formula. It wears quite well. And it doesn’t travel outside of my lip line, even without lining my lips. Love it!”
Get L'Oreal Paris Glow Paradise Hydrating Balm-in-Lipstick at Amazon for $10
If you’re not one to reapply your lip color every few hours, the Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick may be the one for you. The brand claims it stays in place for up to 12 hours while delivering “intense hydration,” not to mention that it’s also transfer-proof. Meanwhile, vitamin E and avocado oil are responsible for keeping the lips moisturized. It comes in three finishes—matte, sheer and shimmer—and 21 shades.
One Ulta customer remains firm on its long-wearing claim: “They aren't playing when they say stay all day! I put it on in the morning and make it through the whole day without having to reapply! Plus this one doesn't dry my lips out like a lot of other liquid lipsticks tend to. I got one as a gift and need to buy these in every shade now!”
Get Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick at Ulta for $22
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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.