Pigmented Lipglosses | 2019 Editor's Favorites
I’m hopeful that as we see more luminous lip color formulas gain popularity that we’ll see some resurgence in glosses, too! If you like your gloss more pigmented, this list of favorites is for you (there’s a separate one for sheerer glosses). I tested and reviewed just over 130 lipglosses over the last year, so there was some variety available, but I’d love to see a few more brands get more into the gloss game in 2020!
Pat McGrath’s LUST Lip Gloss added quite a few shades to enjoy during 2019, while I continued to find favorites in the Urban Decay Hi-Fi Gloss range (like Hot Love). Hourglass also debuted their Unreal Lip Gloss formula, though I’ve only tested a few shades but definitely seems like a promising range, generally.
If you’re unfamiliar with how I like to do my year-end favorites, here’s the low down: I pull from the products I reviewed in 2019, regardless of whether they were new, limited edition, or an established range I’ve only just gotten around to reviewing. These are personal favorites, so they may or may not be the highest rated products reviewed during the year (though they will tend to be better rated, naturally!). (You can check out best of 2018 if you missed it.)
Temptalia’s Favorite Pigmented Lipglosses | 2019
Hourglass Icon Unreal High Shine Volumizing Lip Gloss ($30.00 for 0.2 oz.) is a rich red with subtle, cool undertones and a cream finish. It had...
Hourglass Icon Unreal High Shine Volumizing Lip Gloss ($30.00 for 0.2 oz.) is a rich red with subtle, cool undertones and a cream finish. It had...
Pat McGrath Secret Lover LUST Lip Gloss ($28.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a medium-dark plum with subtle, warm undertones and golden shimmer throughout a...
Pat McGrath Secret Lover LUST Lip Gloss ($28.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a medium-dark plum with subtle, warm undertones and golden shimmer throughout a...
Pat McGrath Carnal Desire LUST Lip Gloss ($28.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a muted, pink-red with flecks of gold, red, and fuchsia sparkle. The gloss had...
Pat McGrath Carnal Desire LUST Lip Gloss ($28.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a muted, pink-red with flecks of gold, red, and fuchsia sparkle. The gloss had...
Urban Decay Hot Love Hi-Fi Shine Ultra Cushion Lip Gloss ($20.00 for 0.23 oz.) is a brighter, medium-dark coral-orange with warm undertones and...
Urban Decay Hot Love Hi-Fi Shine Ultra Cushion Lip Gloss ($20.00 for 0.23 oz.) is a brighter, medium-dark coral-orange with warm undertones and...
MAC Make Me Mercurial Lipglass ($17.50 for 0.1 oz.) is a medium-dark, reddened plum with subtle, warm undertones and fine pearl throughout. It had...
MAC Make Me Mercurial Lipglass ($17.50 for 0.1 oz.) is a medium-dark, reddened plum with subtle, warm undertones and fine pearl throughout. It had...
Hourglass Impact Unreal High Shine Volumizing Lip Gloss ($30.00 for 0.2 oz.) is a medium-dark plum with subtle, cool undertones and a pearly shimmer...
Hourglass Impact Unreal High Shine Volumizing Lip Gloss ($30.00 for 0.2 oz.) is a medium-dark plum with subtle, cool undertones and a pearly shimmer...
Hourglass Solar Unreal High Shine Volumizing Lip Gloss ($30.00 for 0.2 oz.) is a bright, medium pink-coral with warmer, peach and gold shimmer that...
Hourglass Solar Unreal High Shine Volumizing Lip Gloss ($30.00 for 0.2 oz.) is a bright, medium pink-coral with warmer, peach and gold shimmer that...
Urban Decay Disco Queen Hi-Fi Shine Ultra Cushion Lip Gloss ($20.00 for 0.23 oz.) is a medium-dark plum with subtle, warm undertones and holographic...
Urban Decay Disco Queen Hi-Fi Shine Ultra Cushion Lip Gloss ($20.00 for 0.23 oz.) is a medium-dark plum with subtle, warm undertones and holographic...
MAC Pretty Peppa Lipglass ($17.50 for 0.1 oz.) is a medium-dark, reddened plum with subtle, warm undertones and warmer, coppery-gold pearl. It had...
MAC Pretty Peppa Lipglass ($17.50 for 0.1 oz.) is a medium-dark, reddened plum with subtle, warm undertones and warmer, coppery-gold pearl. It had...
NARS No Regrets Lip Gloss ($26.00 for 0.18 oz.) is a muted, medium brown with warm, rosy undertones and a cream finish. It had medium pigmentation...
NARS No Regrets Lip Gloss ($26.00 for 0.18 oz.) is a muted, medium brown with warm, rosy undertones and a cream finish. It had medium pigmentation...
ColourPop Shadow Man Ultra Glossy Lip ($7.00 for 0.11 oz.) is a medium-dark, reddish-copper base with lots of deep, gold shimmer and micro-sparkle. ...
ColourPop Shadow Man Ultra Glossy Lip ($7.00 for 0.11 oz.) is a medium-dark, reddish-copper base with lots of deep, gold shimmer and micro-sparkle. ...
Pat McGrath Sunset Rose LUST Lip Gloss ($28.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a medium coral with warm undertones and a moderate amount of gold sparkle. It had...
Pat McGrath Sunset Rose LUST Lip Gloss ($28.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a medium coral with warm undertones and a moderate amount of gold sparkle. It had...
Ale is a medium-dark, reddish-brown with warm undertones and a cream finish. It had semi-opaque pigmentation in a single layer, which went on fairly...
Ale is a medium-dark, reddish-brown with warm undertones and a cream finish. It had semi-opaque pigmentation in a single layer, which went on fairly...
Chanel Rouge Carmin (824) Rouge Coco Gloss ($30.00 for 0.19 oz.) is a rich, ruby red with a cream finish and moderate shine paired with...
Chanel Rouge Carmin (824) Rouge Coco Gloss ($30.00 for 0.19 oz.) is a rich, ruby red with a cream finish and moderate shine paired with...
Marc Jacobs Beauty Atomic (400) Enamored Hi-Shine Lip Lacquer ($28.00 for 0.16 oz.) is a medium-dark, reddish copper with warmer red and gold...
Marc Jacobs Beauty Atomic (400) Enamored Hi-Shine Lip Lacquer ($28.00 for 0.16 oz.) is a medium-dark, reddish copper with warmer red and gold...
Glossover Averages
Your Year in Review: Pigmented Lipglosses
I thought it would be interesting to read through how readers used products throughout the year, what favorites emerged, what products fell by the wayside… so, if you want to join in, copy and paste the questions below and add your answers via a comment!
- Where did more opaque gloss fit in your routine this year?
- What would make you wear opaque gloss more often?
- What was the most used more pigmented gloss you wore during the year?
Seeing swatches of more sheer products always reminds me (duh!) of how one can wear a sheer shade that Is similar to an opaque shade you would never consider. Do Bite liquified and Nars VLGs fit into this category, or are they different, due to being ‘hybrids?’
I tend to go with however the brand categorizes it – whether they make it seem more like a gloss or a lipstick!
Where did more opaque gloss fit in your routine this year? It fits in for those days when I prefer to wear a gloss instead of lipstick. Not a super common occurrence, but often enough for me to own several really fantastic opaque glosses.
What would make you wear opaque gloss more often? I’m not sure that anything would make a difference, TBH.
What was the most used more pigmented gloss you wore during the year? Probably PMG Heavy Petal LUST Gloss, MAC Star Memoir Lipglass and MJ Atomic Enamored Hi-Shine Lip Laquer.
Where did more opaque gloss fit in your routine this year? I loved bright and more complex shades. I wore them instead of lipstick to change things up. I’ve worn more gloss this year than I have in a long time.
What would make you wear opaque gloss more often? More complex and interesting colors. I’d like to see more like NARS Full Vinyl Lip Lacquers, Fenty Beauty’s Summer Daze and Summer Nights trios, and NYX Duo Chromatic lipglosses. I’ve found small indie glosses are much better for unique colors and finishes, but they’re usully not full coverage level of pigmentation. They usually run medium.
What was the most used more pigmented gloss you wore during the year? NARS Full Vinyl Lip Lacquers in Abruzzo, Cape Town, and Everglades; MAC Grand Illusion Liquid Lipcolour in Ruby Princess, MAC Lipglass in Queen P, and Apocalyptic Beauty Lip Gloss in Hellmouth. (The last two are more medium coverage, but are pigmented enough to wear on their own.)
Where did more opaque gloss fit in your routine this year? When I didn’t want to fuss with a lipstick.
What would make you wear opaque gloss more often? See above
What was the most used more pigmented gloss you wore during the year? Pat McGrath Divine Rose and Blood 2