This may sound like hyperbole, but I believe I was destined to write this guide. I’ve been low-key considering various lip products since I was 8, and I’ve been high-key churning through pots, sticks, and tubes since high school: I spent hours sampling oils, glosses, and balms at CVS and Sephora, determined to find ones that were worthy of my prized gift cards.All of which is to say: not new to this, true to this. So for this guide, I was primed to do a deep dive into the research. I interviewed a dermatologist, two makeup artists, and a cosmetic chemist to get their recommendations for ingredients and formulations. And then my colleagues and I started swiping: Over two months, we evaluated 50 contenders, and we sent 14 promising options to a diverse panel of eight testers in their 20s through 70s.After two more weeks of testing, we landed on five shiny standouts: a highly reflective gloss in a range of flattering shades, a budget-friendly favorite, a nourishing lip oil, a hydrating (clear) glossy balm, and a delectable, tinted glossy balm.