Everyone has been there before: In an attempt to add extra oomph to your look (whether you're staying in, going out, or headed to work), you've found yourself at the losing end of a staring contest with the cosmetics aisle. It's not that none of the options look good — it's that everything looks good. But fear not: We scoured the best-rated lipsticks, glosses, and balms available on Amazon so you don't have to leave your couch.
Poring over Amazon reviews from real people who actually tested the products, we recorded the most popular plumpers, glosses, and lip liners to eliminate your guesswork.
Whether you're searching for a flirty pink lip that won't abandon ship between bites at dinner, or you're hoping to rock deep crimson lips with an all-black outfit, there's a tried-and-true product for every kind of skin tone, pigment preference, or lip need. By crowdsourcing your lip product picks, we can show you products that users really love. Look out, Kylie: there's a new lipstick queen in town.
Stila Liquid Lipstick
Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick , $23, Amazon
Plumping not your pick and fire-engine red too strong? Not a problem! There's a popular product already vetted for you in this best-selling, long-lasting (six hours!) liquid lipstick. The soft pink captures that classic old-Hollywood look reminiscent of the very best love stories.
Jack Black Lip Balm
Jack Black Lip Balm , $8, Amazon
This antioxidant-rich balm boasts an SPF of 25, keeping your lips free from sun damage and moisturized enough to handle a blustery day. This Jack Black balm scored Allure's Best Lip Balm award in 2012, and users love the line's other tasty scents, like black tea & blackberry and grapefruit & ginger.
Lime Crime Velvetines
Lime Crime Velvetines in Cashmere, $20, Amazon
Lime Crime's "Cashmere" is first on Amazon's best-sellers list because this shade is versatile, appealing to both the makeup junkie and minimalist. The long-lasting formula is vegan and cruelty-free, and whether your lips are light or dark, the strong pigment offers complete coverage and dries quickly. Whether you're a fan of the Kylie lipstick look or not, this pillow-soft pout is definitely the look to cop.
MAC Retro Matte Lipstick
MAC Retro Matte Lipstick in Ruby Woo , $24, Amazon
MAC's famous red lipstick has a cult following for a reason. This shade has stood the test of trendy times, as the color flatters both light and darker skin tones no matter the season. Not only is the formula especially creamy for a matte finish, but the pigment lasts for hours. (One user said the pigment didn't transfer, even after brushing against her hand.)
Sinsun Precision Lip Liners
Sinsun Precision Lip Liners (Set of 12) , $10, Amazon
Keep your favorite lip color from bleeding around your lips with a creamy swipe of one of the most frequently purchased liners. Sinsun's pack of 12 doubles as long-lasting lipstick when you want an ultra-matte look, and its moisturizing formula isn't brittle and prone to breakage like other liners. This set is one of the best values out there, too, because the color offers enough variety to match whatever stain, balm, or stick you're sporting. Plus, you can even use them on your eyes.
Nabi Lipstick Set
Nabi Cosmetics Lipsticks (Set of 8) , $8, Amazon
This eight-piece fragrance-free lip collection gets you the colors you want without that gross lipstick scent and taste. The rich colors last all day — one user even reported a full day at a theme park (complete with water rides and rising temperatures) that required only one reapplication. There's a shade for every mood, so you're bound to find one that works for your outfit. This pigment is high-shine and blends easily with liners, making this a set that stays put between bites.
Maybelline Baby Lips
Maybelline Baby Lips , $3, Amazon
Snap up this high-moisture lip balm with nourishing SPF 20 protection and eight hours' worth of coverage. Users love the buttery-soft, quick application and the delicious fruity scents (like "Peach Kiss" and "Grape Vine"), in addition to the long-term reparative effects. This balm means looking polished without putting too much thought into it.
NYX Cosmetics Matte Lip Cream
NYX Cosmetics Matte Lip Cream , $10, Amazon
For that heavy-pigment, high-luster liquid look, try your hand at NYX's matte lip creams. These creams smell like dessert and last all day long, regardless of how much coffee you're drinking. One user said she reapplied only once in the course of 12 hours, and the finish is so sharp that there's no need for liner at all.
Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm
Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm, $5, Amazon
If you're a fan of the natural look but can't resist a little flush in your lips, test out this hibiscus lip balm. Packed with nourishing shea butter and botanical waxes, the 100-percent natural formula is anything but basic.
Physicians Formula Plump Potion
Physicians Formula Plump Potion , $7, Amazon
This hypoallergenic, fragrance-free liquid uses a tri-peptide blend to increase your lips' natural production of collagen. Users say the shiny finish is slicker than most other plumpers they've tried, and one user says her lips love the hydration so much, she uses the potion as an overnight treatment for chapped lips. Snag the shine you've always wanted with the added benefit of this plumper pout — no injections necessary.
Rosebud Salve Tin
Rosebud Salve Tin in French Bilingual, $6, Amazon
Seen this one before? That's because this applicator-free lip balm actually works. The little tin simplifies your morning routine, doing double duty as an all-purpose skin salve for hands and cheeks. (No more dry cuticles!) One user said she can't get enough of the rose scent, and another said the tin keeps the salve from melting in her purse — a common problem with other balm products.
Aesthetica Lip Contour Kit
Aesthetica Lip Contour Kit , $24, Amazon
With this lip contouring kit, you can plump 'em up, tone them down, and enhance what you like about what you're already working with. Customers applaud the simplicity of the kit — making a bonafide makeup master out of anyone. Maybe she's born with it, maybe she's a pro at crafting the lips she loves.
Lip Venom Plumping Balm
Lip Venom Plumping Balm , $17, Amazon
This lip volumizer is chock-full of organic botanicals that plump your lips with a spicy blend of essential oils, including ginger and cinnamon. A color-free formula means your lips look effortlessly (and naturally) revitalized, while many users said the tingling balm's long-lasting clear pout is perfect on its own or paired with a liner.
Kleancolor Femme Lipsticks
Kleancolor Femme Lipsticks (12 colors) , $9, Amazon
Spice up your life with these 12 neon shades filled to the brim with a soothing, lip-loving mix of Vitamin E and aloe vera. Users say the colors are slick, go on smoothly, and smell like coconut. Eye-catching color and lip hydration? Yes, please!
Bustle may receive a portion of sales from products purchased from this article, which was created independently from Bustle's editorial and sales departments.
Images: Fotolia (1), Amazon (14)
