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No one asked for my makeup philosophy but I'm going to tell you anyway: Any look without lipstick simply isn't complete. The color doesn't matter so as much as the longevity and wear of the formula (usually semi-matte, at the very least) — because your girl is not the neatest eater and is, based on many previous experiences, very self-conscious about stray lipstick marks.
Tower 28 managed to convince me to not only give lip glosses a chance, but the sensitive-skin-friendly beauty brand totally sold me on its particularly pigmented, nonsticky formula. A lip gloss powered by moisturizing ingredients (including five oils, which we'll get into later) you might find in your favorite lip balm or skin-care treatment, the ShineOn Lip Jelly feels like an ultra-nourishing lip oil without the heaviness or stickiness that's usually associated with them. The pigmentation is also much more intense than most lip glosses I've tried, which means I still get a lipstick-like dopamine hit as I swipe on the color.
On days I'm feeling more low-key, one coat gives me the tint I desire to get through a day of Zoom meetings in my pajama pants (don't tell anyone). But slather on a second coat, and all of a sudden, I'm feeling confident with my high-shine lip color and ready for a night out on the town — even if, in reality, I only hit up one bar before I call it quits and rejoin my bed.
To my lip-color-loving delight, there are 12 total shades across two finishes to choose from. First up are seven semi-sheer shades in a variety of pink, red, berry, orange, and clear tones, as follows: Wild (raspberry), XOXO (pink), Fire (orange), Fear Less (berry), Chill (clear), Spicy (red), and Magic (clear with gold shimmer).
The remaining five shades are odes to our favorite milk alternatives. Meet ShineOn Milky Lip Jelly, which consists of Pistachio (nude pink), Coconut (rosy pink), Cashew (rosy brown), Oat (peachy pink), and Almond (milky chocolate).
As for the intense moisture boost that really makes ShineOn Lip Jelly stand out from other glosses on the market, we can credit a nourishing blend of five oils: apricot kernel, avocado, castor, raspberry seed, and rosehip. Together, these vitamin- and fatty-acid-rich oils draw moisture to the skin, soothe inflammation, and guard against free radicals. Somehow, this potent elixir feels a lot more lightweight and airy than your typical, colorless lip oil. I don't know how Tower 28 did that, but I applaud Amy Liu & her team for it. As a bonus, ShineOn Jelly lip glosses (and the rest of Tower 28's lineup) are both cruelty-free and vegan.
While oils do not technically hydrate skin (as in, add water or water-binding ingredients), as cosmetic Ron Robinson previously confirmed to Allure, they are very capable of strengthening the skin barrier, and thereby reducing water loss. The caveat, in this case, is that you should be keeping your lips hydrated and prepped with a balm or mask on the regular — so the oils can do their job and, quite literally, seal the deal.
Spicy is the sheer-ish red shade I initially become smitten with back in the summer of 2020 (what a time), and what I said then still reflects how I feel now. "It delivers a lovely wash of red with just one swipe, so I don't have to give up the color I so dearly love [in lipsticks]," I previously said before of the deeply-moisturizing formula. "But when I do feel like venturing into a lip stain or lipstick [while working from home], I love popping this gloss on top for a dose of moisture and nonsticky shine." Reds have always been my lip color of choice, and this one is just right in terms of coolness.
Don't just take it from me. As another editor who's never considered herself to be "a gloss person," associate beauty director Sarah Kinonen previously shared that she's come across too many sticky, messy formulas throughout her career — but ShineOn Milky Lip Jellies are on an entirely different level. "These super-hydrating glosses glide onto lips mess-free, leaving behind a shiny finish with a hint of color," Kinonen noted, calling our her favorite rosy-pink Coconut shade (which she is wearing above). For further testimony, a former Allure assistant editor said that ShineOn's finish is akin to "the perfect Popsicle-stained lip color" without the typical stickiness you'd expect.
Wild, a gorgeous raspberry shade, was originally released as a limited-edition offering in partnership with The Cameron Boyce Foundation back in May 2021. It's now back in full force as a permanent hue that'll add enough color to brighten your day — emotionally and physically. I'm not usually one for subtle tones like Pistachio but I now know the true meaning of keeping a "my lips but better" color in my collection. It's so natural and opaque, yet there's an unmistakable touch of shimmer that elevates a bare (or made-up) face.
Whenever you're in the mood for shimmery, glossy lips that feel incredibly comfortable to wear, Tower 28's ShineOn Lip Jelly will deliver — trust. Get one for yourself at credobeauty.com, sephora.com, or tower28beauty.com for $15 each.
P.S: If you're also a fan of the Tower 28 ShineOn Lip Jelly, now's your chance to show your favorite gloss some love. Right now, you can vote for your favorite beauty products via the Allure Readers' Choice Awards survey — keep voting until May, when winners will be announced and crowned (with an official Allure seal)!
P.PS. You can also snag a full-size ShineOn Lip Jelly (Fire shade) in our limited-edition hydration Allure Beauty Box — valued at $207, but costs only $40 for Allure Beauty Box subscribers.
More editor-approved lippies? Right this way:
- The 19 Best Lip Products of 2021
- The 13 Best Lip Plumping Glosses and Balms
- The 25 Best Lip Balms and Treatments for Dry, Chapped Lips
Now, watch makeup artist Pony Park's 10-minute routine for a soft look:
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