Lip gloss is one of the most popular cosmetic products on the market. It can be used to add shine and color to your lips, and it can also be used to protect your lips from the sun. But did you know that there are other benefits of using lip gloss? Here are just a few

Enhances the appearance of lips

Lip gloss is often thought of as a cosmetic product that is used solely for the purpose of making the lips look more attractive. While this is certainly one of the benefits of using lip gloss, there are actually a number of other benefits that make this product worth using on a regular basis. For example, lip gloss can help to hydrate and moisturize the lips, keeping them healthy and looking their best. In addition, lip gloss can also provide a bit of protection for the lips, helping to shield them from the sun’s harmful UV rays.

Adds a subtle shine 

One of the biggest benefits of using lip gloss is that it can add a subtle shine to your lips. This can be a great way to add a touch of glamour to your look, without going overboard. If you want to add a bit of drama to your look, you can also layer lip gloss over lipstick. This will give your lips a bit of extra shine and color.

Locks in moisture

It is often used to add a bit of shine and color to the lips, but it can also be used to moisturize and protect them. Many lip glosses contain ingredients that help to lock in moisture, keeping the lips hydrated and soft. This is especially important in cold weather or when exposed to air conditioning or other drying conditions.

Creates a smooth, glossy look

Another benefit of using lip gloss is that it can create a smooth, glossy look. This can be a great look for special occasions or for everyday wear, depending on the type of lip gloss you use. Some lip glosses are very sheer and natural looking, while others are more opaque and can be used to create a more dramatic look. Lip gloss can also be used to add a bit of shine to your lips, which can make them look fuller and more plump.

Can be worn alone or with lipstick

Lip gloss is one of those beauty products that can be worn alone or with lipstick. It can provide a sheer wash of color or be built up for a more dramatic look. It can also be used to add shine and dimension to the lips.

Comes in a variety of shades and finishes

It comes in a variety of shades and finishes. You can find a lip gloss to suit any occasion, mood, or outfit. Whether you want a natural look or something more glamorous, there's lip gloss for you. And if you can't find the perfect shade, you can always mix and match to create your own unique color.

Easy to apply

35% of women say they feel more confident when wearing lip gloss, and it's easy to see why. A little bit of shine can make your lips look fuller and plumper, and it can also help to disguise any fine lines or wrinkles. It is also incredibly easy to apply, and can be worn on its own or over your favorite lipstick.

Can be used to manipulate the shape of lips 

Another benefits of using lip gloss is, it can be used to create various looks, from a natural 'my lips but better' look to a more dramatic, vamped up style. One of the main benefits of using lip gloss is that it can help to manipulate the shape of your lips.

For example, if you want to make your lips look fuller, you can apply lip gloss in a way that accentuates their natural shape. Conversely, if you want to make your lips look smaller, you can use lip gloss to create a more matte finish.

Lip gloss is a great way to add a little bit of shine and moisture to your lips. It can also be used to create a plumping effect. Lip gloss is available in a variety of colors and can be used to create different looks. If you are looking for a product that is affordable and easy to use, lip gloss is a great option. Moreover, benefits of using lip gloss are huge and uncountable.

Read More to know about Lipstick drawing.

When it comes to your lips, there are loads of products to choose from — lip liners, liquid sticks, plumpers, and more. But are these products actually good for your lips, and do they provide any benefits beyond appearance? Or, are you better off with your faithful black and white tube of ChapStick? We get to the bottom of these questions by battling out two of the most popular products in the lip world: lip balm and lip gloss.

What is lip gloss?

Lip gloss is primarily a cosmetic product designed to give your lips a glossy finish. Note: According to the FDA, cosmetic products are used to alter a person’s appearance, but they don’t impact the human body‘s structure or functions.¹

Lip glosses are typically liquid or semi-fluid and may come packaged in a squeezable tube for applying directly to the lips. Some lip gloss tubes come with a doe foot applicator (a sponge-tipped wand) instead.

Lip gloss can add a high-shine top coat to give your favorite lipstick a glass-like finish. Or it can be applied on its own to add a shine to your natural lip color. You can also buy tinted lip gloss, which comes in just about every shade imaginable. From metallic shimmers to subtle pinks, these liquids add a pop of color and glossiness to make your lips stand out.

Okay, but what’s the difference between lip balm and lip gloss when it comes to ingredients?

Every lip gloss has its own combination of ingredients, but these are some common ones:

• Emollients moisturize and soften the skin. Synthetic and refined emollients include squalane and mineral oils. Lanolin and jojoba are natural, moisturizing emollients.

• Thickeners help keep the gloss on your lips. They include waxes, like ozokerite, and clays, like kaolin.

• Coloring agents, like dyes, pigments, mica, and iron oxide, create different hues and add sparkle.

• Polybutene and polyisobutene² act as binding agents to create a sticky texture.

Finally, the million-dollar question: are there benefits to lip gloss from a medical perspective? This can depend on the product formula.

Some lip glosses have benefits due to additional ingredients, like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide (for sun protection), and moisturizing ingredients, like glycerin or jojoba oil. Other lip glosses, however, may have pore-clogging ingredients that can lead to acne around your mouth.

We recommend carefully reading each product label to know what ingredients you’re applying to your lips. If you’re ever uncertain about an ingredient, Curology’s licensed dermatology providers are here to help.

What is lip balm?

Lip balm is generally meant to moisturize your lips and treat and help prevent chapped and cracked lips. Most lip balms are wax-like substances packaged in sticks, jars, or roll-on containers.

Things get a bit technical when it comes to lip balm product classification. Your standard lip balm is a cosmetic product. But a lip balm with active ingredients that treat a medical condition is both a cosmetic and a drug.³ An example is a lip balm that treats cold sores.

And, unlike lip gloss, lip balm is not typically a makeup product. It’s generally considered a personal care product and skin protectant.

Here are some common ingredients that may be found in lip balm:

(Keep in mind that this is by no means an all-inclusive list. Different lip balm brands will have their own product ingredients.)

• Beeswax and carnauba wax

• Cocoa butter, shea butter, and palm butter

• Petrolatum and petroleum jelly

• Lanolin

• Honey

• Plant oils like jojoba, almond, and avocado oil

• Vitamin E

• Hemp seed oil and castor seed oil

• Dimethicone

• Coloring and flavoring agents

Most lip balms are made to give your lips the care they need. But are there any disadvantages of lip balm?

Lip balms made with certain ingredients may harm your lips by drying them out instead of moisturizing them.⁴ And, like lip gloss, some ingredients in lip balms may be comedogenic, potentially clogging the pores around your mouth.

Check out our helpful list of common pore-clogging ingredients to avoid.

Lip balm vs lip gloss: which is better for my lips?

Because the purposes of lip gloss and lip balm can differ, your final choice will depend on your goals. Although some lip glosses have hydrating and protecting benefits, they’re more often beauty products. For healthy, hydrated skin, lip balm is probably your best bet.

The good news? You don’t have to choose one or the other. Applying lip balm regularly will keep your lips healthy and create a smooth canvas on which you can apply beauty products like lip gloss.

Wondering which lip balm is best for daily use? Dermatologists recommend applying a non-irritating lip balm throughout the day and before you go to bed.⁵ When outdoors, apply a lip balm with SPF 30 or higher every two hours. Add some gentle exfoliation to the mix, and your lip care routine will be good to go.

Take care of your lips with Curology

Getting your lips to pouty perfection shouldn’t be a game of trial and error. If you’d like expert advice on how to use lip balm, Curology is here to help.

Our dermatologists have developed an acne-friendly, non-greasy lip balm to soften and soothe your lips. It’s packed with all the good stuff, like natural butters, plant-based oils, and even SPF 30!

Get your personalized skincare routine with Curology

Get your personalized skincare routine with Curology

Sign up for a Curology trial* and get your Curology lip balm along with other customized products picked for your skin goals. Take a quick quiz, send us some selfies, and kiss dry lips goodbye.

FAQs

Is lip balm better than lip gloss?

This depends on what you’re trying to achieve with your lip product. If you want to relieve dry or chapped lips, a lip balm can provide your lips with the hydration they need. But if your motive is more aesthetic, lip gloss can make your lips shimmer.

Is lip balm healthy for your lips?

Lip balms with the right ingredients moisturize dry lips and help protect them from the sun. But some lip balms may contain ingredients that can harm your lips and cause irritation. Keep in mind that everyone’s lips are different.

Lip balm vs ChapStick vs lip gloss: Are they the same thing?

Nope, and let’s make this distinction clear. ChapStick is one of many lip balm brands, like Curology and Burt’s Bees. Lip gloss is a makeup product that adds shine and color to the lips.

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P.S. We did the homework so you don’t have to:

Melissa Hunter is a board certified family nurse practitioner at Curology. She received her MSN from George Washington University in Washington, DC.

*Cancel at any time. Subject to consultation. Results may vary.

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Our medical review process:  

We’re here to tell you what we know. That’s why our information is evidence-based and fact-checked by medical experts. Still, everyone’s skin is unique—the best way to get advice is to talk to your healthcare provider.

Our policy on product links:  

Empowering you with knowledge is our top priority. Our reviews of other brands’ products in this post are not paid endorsements—but they do meet our medically fact-checked standards for ingredients (at the time of publication).

Curology Team

Melissa Hunter, NP-C