Lip gloss hasn’t always had the best reputation, thanks to years of sticky formulas that attracted errant hairs like a magnet and made windy days something of a nightmare. But on Saturday, Beyoncé made the ultimate case for a glossy pout with a #flawless selfie ahead of Sean “Diddy” Combs’s 50th birthday party in Hollywood. Complementing the look with gold shimmer eyeshadow and voluminous brunette waves, Bey chose a wet-look gloss with an iridescent shimmer for maximum lip-enhancing effect.
@beyonce / Instagram
Bey isn’t alone in switching her allegiance from matte lipsticks to a high-shine finish. The spring/summer 2020 catwalks were awash with gloss – from the matching glossy lips and eyelids at Giambattista Valli’s show to the pink-tinged shine at Chanel and transparent gloss at Gucci. After years of velvety lips and semi-sheer stains, a gleaming pout feels fresh and modern, and adds instant polish to party-season make-up.
Fortunately, modern lip gloss formulas have improved vastly since the sticky days of the Nineties. Glossier Lip Gloss offers a truly glassy shine, with vitamin E and jojoba oil to moisturise at the same time. It comes in three shades: clear, red and a holographic shimmer that’s probably the closest to Queen Bey’s look. (In fact, she’s worn Glossier before, so this could be the one). Dior’s Lip Maximizer is another great shout, offering a gloss finish as well as a volumising effect. And if you want to combine shine with high-impact colour, Pat McGrath Labs’s Lip Lust comes in an array of shades boasting a mirror-like finish.
Looks like it’s time to shine.