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If you’re not already familiar with Hourglass’s iconic Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balm, please allow me to introduce you to one of the greatest lip products of, well, ever. The formula combines the best properties of a tinted lip balm, lip gloss, and lipstick to coat lips in a layer of sheer, shiny, and ultra-moisturizing color that’s both comfy and incredibly flattering. “I’m convinced every beauty editor has one in tow at all times,” says beauty editor Beth Gillette. “It’s just the simplest product to throw on and it always looks good—whether your lips are chapped, covered in lines, or lacking in the volume department (me),” she says.
Beauty editors aren’t the only ones who stan this luxe lip product. Two Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balms are sold every minute (wild, I know) and some of our favorite celebrity makeup muses (like Sofia Richie Grainge, Emily Ratajkowski, Lori Harvey, and Laura Harrier) have been spotted wearing Glossy Balm too.
Back in December, the Cosmo beauty team got an exclusive sneak peek at four new Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balm shades—a juicy red and three shimmery neutrals—all of which are dropping today on sephora.com and hourglass.com. Keep reading for Cosmo HQ’s honest thoughts on the newest members of the Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balm family, including notes on how they wear and feel on lips, and how they compare to other popular lip glosses on the market.
Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balm in Red 0
“Meet Red 0. Not only is this crimson tint stunning, but it’s also made without carmine, a pigment created from crushed female beetles. That’s right—while most red lipsticks rely on carmine for their vibrant hue, Hourglass crafted a vegan and cruelty-free alternative that’s equally beautiful *without* the need for any dead bugs. I personally love a sheer red lip with a simple eye, so I was stoked that Hourglass was finally adding a classic red shade to the existing Glossy Balm lineup. That said, this red is very sheer, but I don’t mind since it’s in line with the effortless application vibes of the product. A quick swipe or two gives lips a just-bitten, red effect with the mega-shiny finish this beloved formula is known for,” —Beth Gillette, beauty editor
Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balm in Wander
“My morning makeup routine is very much swipe-and-go these days thanks to a long commute and 11-month-old son, so whatever I end up using has to be applied in seconds and without a mirror. Hourglass’s Glossy Balm in Wander checks both boxes and, most importantly, looks amazing once it’s on. The warm, peachy tint is sheer enough to be forgiving but still pigmented enough to make me feel more done up than if I were just wearing a regular old balm. There’s also this very subtle gold shimmer effect that I was initially skeptical of (I don’t do sparkle, lol), but it’s actually really gorgeous and makes my lips look plump and dare I say...juicy? Ultimately, I can’t imagine anyone not falling in love with this formula—even if it does cost $38.” —Lauren Balsamo, beauty director
Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balm in Secret
“I had high hopes for this mauve shade and, to my delight, Hourglass majorly delivered. My lips felt perfectly hydrated and looked effortlessly glossy post-application. I will say that after an hour or so, I had to reapply for extra hydration, but compared to other sparkle-filled glosses I’ve tried, it did a pretty damn good job at keeping my lips soft and moisturized. As for the hue itself, it complemented and enhanced my natural lip color, which I love as someone who prefers a soft lip look over a bold one. And the subtle touch of glitter added just the right amount of shimmer without veering into overly sparkly territory. ‘Secret’ has earned a well-deserved spot in my purse for the times when I want to amp up my lip combo just a lil bit.”
—Jasmine Hyman, assistant beauty editor
Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balm in Invite
“All I wanna wear rn is a brown lip. Call it the mocha mousse effect. Call it ’90s nostalgia—I’m just obsessed. And this gloss felt like the perfect mix of my two faves: A comfortable, shiny formula with the rich, brown shade I’ve been craving. Of all the shades I’ve ever tested in the Phantom Glossy Lip Balm collection, this one is definitely the most pigmented. Now if I’m being honest, I didn’t super love the gold shimmers suspended in the formula since they just ended up emphasizing the dryness on my lips a little more than the standard glossy versions. But the color is so perfect that I’ll maybe make excuses and get a really damn good lip scrub and lip mask to fix it beforehand!” —BG
Shop all 20 of the Phantom Volumizing Glossy Lip Balm shades here
Why Trust Cosmopolitan?
Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmo where she covers all the newest beauty launches in the form of Cosmo HQ Reviews. For this story, she also tapped beauty director Lauren Balsamo and beauty editor Beth Gillette for their expertise and testing insights on Hourglass’s newest shades.
