Best Sheer Lipsticks of 2025

Charlotte Powell Avatar
Charlotte Powell
Last Updated: 29 Jan 2025

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Sheer lipsticks are a popular type of lipstick that provides a light and transparent application, as opposed to opaque coverage. These lipsticks are perfect for achieving a natural, effortless look, while still providing a pop of colour to your lips. They come in a variety of shades and finishes, from glossy to matte, and are available from a range of beauty brands. Sheer lipsticks are a great option for those who prefer a more subtle makeup look or for occasions that call for a more understated appearance.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Lip Balm Berry Cover #TOP 1
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Lip Balm Berry
ftb score rating icon 9.8
OULAC Metallic Shine Lipstick - Hydrating Primer Cover #TOP 2
OULAC Metallic Shine Lipstick - Hydrating Primer
ftb score rating icon 9.7
KIKO Milano Glossy Dream Sheer Lipstick 214 - Radiant Semi-Sheer Finish Cover #TOP 3
KIKO Milano Glossy Dream Sheer Lipstick 214 - Radiant Semi-Sheer Finish
ftb score rating icon 9.5

Top 10 Sheer Lipsticks

#TOP 1

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Lip Balm Berry

COSELI221A
Berry
3.7 g (Pack of 1)
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Lip Balm Berry Cover
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant Stick Sheer Tinted Lip Balm SP15, Berry

The Eight Hour Lip Balm by Elizabeth Arden is an ideal solution for keeping your lips moisturised and soft. It glides on effortlessly, providing a sheer tint that adds a touch of colour while nourishing your lips. You can apply it whenever needed, making it perfect for on-the-go use. Additionally, it effectively relieves chapping and cracking, ensuring your lips stay smooth and healthy. With its all-weather formula, you can trust this lip balm to deliver long-lasting care throughout the day.

What We Like
Moisturises and softens lips
Provides sheer colour
Relieves chapping and cracking
Convenient for on-the-go use
#TOP 2

OULAC Metallic Shine Lipstick - Hydrating Primer

Crystal Veil(27)
50 g (Pack of 1)
OULAC Metallic Shine Lipstick - Hydrating Primer Cover
OULAC Metallic Shine Lipstick - Sheer White Lip Balm, Lightweight Soft Lip Base Ultra Hydrating, Moisturizing Primer for Lips, Vegan & Cruelty-Free, Sheer Coverage Lip Color 4.3 g/0.15, Crystal Veil

The OULAC Metallic Lipstick offers a unique 3D metallic shine, making your lips stand out with its dazzling finish. Its creamy texture ensures a smooth and even application, providing long-lasting comfort as you wear it throughout the day. Infused with castor oil, this lipstick moisturises your lips, giving them a soft and smooth feel. With high-pigment colour, you can achieve a stunning full-bodied lip look in just one application, perfect for any occasion.

What We Like
3D metallic shine
Creamy, lightweight texture
Hydrating with castor oil
High-pigment colour
Vegan-friendly formula
#TOP 3

KIKO Milano Glossy Dream Sheer Lipstick 214 - Radiant Semi-Sheer Finish

KM0020102721444
214 Fuchsia
1 count (Pack of 1)
KIKO Milano Glossy Dream Sheer Lipstick 214 - Radiant Semi-Sheer Finish Cover
KIKO Milano Glossy Dream Sheer Lipstick 214 | Shiny lipstick with semi-sheer colour

KIKO Milano Sheer Lipstick 214 offers a semi-sheer colour that beautifully reflects light, enhancing your lips' natural allure. The unique formula includes orchid extracts and hyaluronic filling spheres, which work together to hydrate and plump your lips, keeping them supple and radiant. Its creamy texture makes application a delight, awakening your senses while ensuring your lips feel fantastic. With this lipstick, you can easily achieve a soft, luminous look that complements any occasion.

What We Like
Semi-sheer, radiant finish
Hydrating ingredients for soft lips
Creamy texture for easy application
Dermatologically tested

e.l.f. Sheer Slick Lipstick in Black Cherry

82158
Black Cherry
1 count (Pack of 1)
e.l.f. Sheer Slick Lipstick in Black Cherry Cover
e.l.f. Sheer Slick Lipstick, Black Cherry

The e.l.f. Sheer Slick Lipstick offers a silky, nourishing formula that gives your lips a subtle hint of colour along with a gorgeous sheen. With its easy-to-wear sheer colour, you can achieve a fresh look suitable for any occasion. The shiny finish adds a touch of glamour while remaining comfortable throughout the day. Plus, the silky cream formula hydrates your lips, ensuring they stay soft and smooth. This lipstick is perfect for those who want beautiful, well-cared-for lips without the fuss.

What We Like
Silky, nourishing formula
Easy-to-wear sheer colour
Gorgeous shiny finish
Hydrates lips effectively
#TOP 5

Oulac Moisture Shine Lipstick for Hydration

(S3) Halo
2.2 g (Pack of 1)
Oulac Moisture Shine Lipstick for Hydration Cover
Oulac Moisture Shine Lipstick - Tinted Lip Balm & Hydrating Lipstick for Dry Lips, Sheer Coverage Lip Colour | Juicy Look, Glossy Finish, Vegan, (S3) Halo | Sheer Milky White with Pinky Sheen

The Oulac Moisture Lipstick offers a luxurious blend of hydration and colour. Infused with meadowfoam seed oil, shea butter, and damask rose oil, it nourishes your lips like a nourishing lip balm, providing long-lasting hydration. With 90% moisture emollients, this glossy tinted lipstick delivers a glass-like finish, ensuring your lips look effortlessly glossy. You can apply it alone for a hint of colour or layer it with other lipsticks for an added shine. Plus, it’s vegan and cruelty-free, allowing you to feel good about your beauty choices.

What We Like
Long-lasting hydration
Glossy, high-shine finish
Vegan and cruelty-free
Easy to apply
Travel-friendly design

Laura Geller Italian Marble Sheer Lipstick - Berry Banana

LAURA
01 Berry Banana
1 count (Pack of 1)
Laura Geller Italian Marble Sheer Lipstick - Berry Banana Cover
LAURA GELLER NEW YORK Italian Marble Sheer Lipstick - Berry Banana - Hydrating & Lightweight - Vitamin E & Caster Seed Oil - Cream Finish

The Laura Geller Lipstick in Berry Banana offers a light neutral shade with berry swirls, creating a sheer peach tone that enhances your natural beauty. Its stay-put formula ensures that the lipstick won't feather or migrate, providing you with a long-lasting tint and all-day hydration. You'll appreciate the marble formula that adds dimension for fuller-looking lips, making your pout appear more voluminous. Infused with Vitamin E and Castor Seed Oil, this lipstick delivers intense hydration, keeping your lips soft and pampered throughout the day.

What We Like
Long-lasting colour
Hydrating formula
Doesn't feather
Fuller-looking lips
Easy application
#TOP 7

Rimmel London Moisture Renew Sheer & Shine Lipstick - 012 Guest List

GL-RIMM036
Light Pink
1 count (Pack of 1)
Rimmel London Moisture Renew Sheer & Shine Lipstick - 012 Guest List Cover
Rimmel London Moisture Renew Sheer & Shine Lipstick - 012 Guest List

The Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick offers a light pink shade that not only adds a fresh, juicy colour to your lips but also keeps them moisturised throughout the day. The vitamin-enriched formula ensures that your lips are nourished, making them feel as good as they look. With its ultra-light and non-sticky texture, you can enjoy comfortable wear all day long without any heaviness. This lipstick is perfect for achieving that effortlessly glamorous London look.

What We Like
Moisturising formula
Ultra-lightweight feel
Non-sticky texture
Vibrant colour
#TOP 8

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Pink Truffle Sheer

309973204706
1 count (Pack of 1)
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Pink Truffle Sheer Cover
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick (Pink Truffle Sheer)

The Revlon Pink Truffle Lipstick offers a truly addictive colour experience with its vibrant hues created using microfine pigments. The formula is enriched with vitamin E and avocado oil, ensuring your lips remain perfectly hydrated while you enjoy the stunning shades. You will appreciate the extra silky and moisturising texture, making application a breeze. Plus, the satin finish gives your lips a beautiful look without any added fragrance, ensuring a pleasant experience every time.

What We Like
Addictive colour
Hydrating formula
Silky texture
Satin finish
Fragrance free
#TOP 9

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick - Sheer Felice

SB98160001
Felice
3 ml (Pack of 1)
Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick - Sheer Felice Cover
Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick - Sheer Shade Extension - Sheer Felice

The Stila Sheer Felice Lipstick offers a creamy, high-impact lip colour that delivers a beautiful sheer finish. This product is perfect for those who desire a vibrant yet understated look. You'll appreciate how easily it glides on, providing a smooth application that enhances your lips without feeling heavy. The sheer formula is versatile, allowing you to build up the colour for a more dramatic effect or keep it light for everyday wear. This lipstick is ideal for any occasion, ensuring your lips look stunning and feel comfortable all day long.

What We Like
Creamy texture
High-impact colour
Sheer finish
Easy application
Versatile for different looks
#TOP 10

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Sheer Miele

SB98060001
Miele
1 count (Pack of 1)
Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Sheer Miele Cover
Stila Stay All Day® Liquid Lipstick Sheer Miele

The Stila Liquid Lipstick Sheer Miele offers a long-wear formula that lasts up to twelve hours, perfect for those who want to maintain their look throughout the day without constant touch-ups. Enriched with vitamin E and avocado oil, it ensures your lips remain soft, comfortable, and hydrated, allowing you to wear it with ease. The product is designed to prevent bleeding or transferring, giving you confidence that your lipstick will stay in place. Additionally, its water-resistant properties mean you can enjoy your day without worrying about smudges.

What We Like
Long-lasting wear up to twelve hours
Hydrating ingredients for comfort
Prevents bleeding and transferring
Water-resistant formula
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is a sheer lipstick?

Sheer lipstick is a cosmetic for the lips that is made with very little tint. In terms of packaging, it may look very similar to other deeply tinted lipsticks, but it delivers a very different visual effect.

2. What is the difference between sheer and cream lipstick?

Cream. A cousin of sheer lipstick, cream lipstick glides on easily and provides a perfect balance of texture with a hint of gloss. While sheer lipstick is higher in oil, cream lipstick is higher in wax, giving it a greater degree of staying power.

3. Which lipstick shade is most attractive?

SkinStore surveyed 2,000 women and found that nude lipstick is what makes them feel "prettier" and "more attractive." While reds, purples, and browns can make for a fun pop of color, it's not actually what most people gravitate to. The top five power shades were nude, light pink, berry red, dark pinks, and bright red.

Editor's Notes

During our sheer lipstick research, we found 121 sheer lipstick products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 112,622 customer reviews through our big data system to write the sheer lipsticks list. We found that most customers choose sheer lipsticks with an average price of £5.95.

The sheer lipsticks are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of sheer lipsticks, including Elizabeth Arden, Oulac, KIKO Milano, e.l.f., Laura Geller Beauty. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 827 consumers with an average rating of 4.5.

Written by
Charlotte Powell Avatar

Charlotte Powell is a dermatologist and a licensed cosmetologist from Westminster, London. However, she was first a cosmetologist from London Beauty Training School. According to Charlotte, she needed better insight into the human skin, hence the dermatology degree. Long before she acquired her degree, she wrote and edited articles, eBooks, and editorials for companies and websites. Charlotte combines her skill and knowledge in providing DIY Beauty tips amongst other fashion related topics.