This $7 e.l.f. Lip Gloss Keeps My Lips Hydrated and Protected From the Sun

The beauty market is filled with hydrating lip glosses and tinted balms that can replace your standard lip gloss. As someone with dry lips, I'm all for it. Lip gloss is the one beauty product that I can finish quickly, and I go through several tubes of them a month — that's why I enjoy putting these formulas to the test and seeing which ones are worth it. With these do-it-all products, I get the skin-conditioning benefits from a lip balm, the wash of color and high-shine finish of a lip gloss, and now a few brands are also adding sun protection to the mix, including e.l.f.

We're always reminded to constantly reapply sunscreen to our faces and bodies, but our lips — which have extremely delicate skin — are often forgotten. e.l.f.'s Sun Boss Gloss SPF 25 ($7) is a pigmented lip gloss that has hydration benefits and provides broad-spectrum SPF protection — a lip product that is the epitome of multifunctional. But does it live up to its claims? Ahead, I put this lip gloss to the test and report on its texture, color payoff, and more.

The e.l.f. Sun Boss Gloss is one of the best SPF-based lip products on the market, starting with the texture. It's a thick gloss that deeply hydrates and keeps my lips feeling conditioned. It feels soft, smooth, and moisturizing without a grainy texture, which is especially surprising since it's a mineral, zinc oxide-based formula. My lips tend to be dry and chapped, so I'm constantly reapplying throughout the day, but with this lip gloss, I love knowing that I'm getting SPF benefits as well.

My favorite shades are That's My Jam, which is a gorgeous berry shade that effortlessly complements my complexion, and It's Your Mauve, which is a neutral brown-mauve shade that works as a true nude for me. Because of how pigmented these lip glosses are, I don't need to wear anything underneath unless I want to. The e.l.f. Sun Boss Gloss delivers the perfect wash of color with a high-shine finish and a tropical coconut scent that I love. It's one of those lip products that never leaves my purse. At $7, this lip gloss does it all, providing skin-care benefits and pigmented wear, and the affordable price point is the cherry on top.

Like any other lip gloss, apply the e.l.f. Sun Boss Gloss on top of your go-to lip combo, or wear it alone since it has enough pigment to deliver a wash of color. If you want a bolder lip, apply this gloss over lip liner or lipstick. Because of its SPF content, I recommend liberally applying the e.l.f. Sun Boss Gloss to get optimal sun protection for your lips. It's best to reapply throughout the day to top-up your SPF protection, especially after eating or drinking.

With my tan skin, some of the shades did wash me out a bit when I wore them on their own, like Blush Much?, Pink-Me Girl, and Peachy Kween. However, I was able to make them more wearable by using a darker lip liner or lipstick base. If you feel that a shade doesn't quite complement your skin tone, I highly suggest pairing this gloss with an additional lip liner or lipstick that best suits your complexion and merge the two products together for a cohesive look.

The e.l.f. Sun Boss Gloss has a thicker texture, and while I like it for my dry lips, if you prefer something more weightless, this is something to consider. I'd suggest buying a shade you know you'll use to test the texture before you commit to stocking up on all five shades.

The e.l.f. Sun Boss Gloss SPF 25 is available on the brand's site, Ulta, Target, and Amazon.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Anvita Reddy is an assistant editor for PS Shopping. She has a passion for products and is an avid reviewer of everything including furniture, mattresses, home gadgets, cookware, tech, and more. Having dealt with acne as a teenager and into adulthood, her expertise lies in beauty. She has tried and tested plenty of skin care, makeup, hair care, and countless other beauty products.