The Danessa Myricks 4D Ultra Shine Plumping Lip Gloss Feels Like a 2-in-1 Makeup and Skincare Hybrid
Our take
The beauty landscape is increasingly blurring the lines between makeup and skincare, and Danessa Myricks Beauty’s 4D Ultra Shine Plumping Lip Gloss exemplifies this beautifully. It's a welcome evolution, particularly given the growing consumer demand for products that offer both immediate aesthetic enhancement and long-term skin health benefits. We've long championed brands that prioritize ingredient integrity alongside performance, and Danessa Myricks has consistently delivered on that front, even before being recognized as one of the most innovative companies in the United States. The devotion of beauty enthusiasts to her highlighters, eye, lip, and cheek colors speaks to the brand’s ability to create universally flattering and exceptionally well-formulated products. This lip gloss builds upon that foundation, showcasing a sophisticated understanding of what the modern consumer truly desires: a product that feels as good as it looks. It’s a testament to the idea that beauty doesn't have to be a compromise – it can be a holistic experience. The shift reflects a broader trend away from solely focusing on surface-level results, aligning with a more mindful approach to self-care.
The appeal of this gloss extends beyond its immediate shine and plumping effect; it’s the “lip-loving ingredients” that truly elevate it. Consumers are increasingly discerning, actively scrutinizing ingredient lists and seeking out products that nourish and protect their skin. This contrasts sharply with the era of solely prioritizing pigment and texture, a shift we’ve observed in other areas of beauty, such as the rising popularity of foundations that actively improve skin condition, like the I Tried the Westman Atelier Supréme Bio-Complex Liquid Foundation and It's Basically an IRL Pore-Blurring Filter. The gloss’s hybrid nature—makeup *and* skincare—is not merely a marketing buzzword; it’s a genuine response to a changing consumer mindset. It’s a recognition that healthy, hydrated lips are the foundation for any beautiful lip look, and that a gloss can be more than just a superficial layer of shimmer. This move also resonates with the current preference for a more natural, understated aesthetic, as evidenced by the recent shift away from bronzer and towards more subtle, sun-kissed alternatives, as discussed in I'm Done With Bronzer—I'm Switching to This for a Natural-Looking, Sun-Kissed Glow Instead.
What's particularly noteworthy is Danessa Myricks’ ability to maintain a sense of understated luxury. There's no shouting about the product’s benefits or aggressively pushing a particular look. Instead, the focus remains on the experience—the feeling of hydrated, plumped lips, the subtle shimmer that enhances natural beauty. This aligns perfectly with the ethos of quiet luxury, a movement that prioritizes quality, craftsmanship, and timeless elegance over ostentatious displays of wealth. It’s a refreshing contrast to the often-overwhelming and hyper-saturated beauty marketing landscape. The brand’s success demonstrates that authenticity and a genuine commitment to quality can be powerful differentiators, resonating with consumers who are seeking meaningful connections with the brands they choose. Even the recent trend of embracing bare toes, as highlighted in According to Tastemakers, the Chicest Colour to Wear on Your Toes Is Nothing At All, exemplifies this desire for understated elegance and a celebration of natural beauty.
Looking ahead, it’s likely we’ll see even more brands blurring the lines between makeup and skincare, prioritizing ingredients and holistic benefits alongside aesthetic results. The 4D Ultra Shine Plumping Lip Gloss isn’t just a successful product launch; it’s a glimpse into the future of beauty – a future where self-care and self-expression are inextricably linked, and where luxury is defined not by price point, but by quality, integrity, and a deep understanding of the consumer’s needs. The question now becomes: how will brands continue to innovate in this space, and what new hybrid products will emerge to meet the evolving demands of a more discerning and conscious consumer?
Let’s get one thing straight: I am a Danessa Myricks Beauty obsessive. I’m talking before the brand was named one of the most innovative companies in the United States; I had a full collection of highlighters, eye, lip, and cheek colors, and even cream bronzers. At this point, I’m an expert on the brand. So trust me when I say that this new launch is going to be worth all the hype.
Launching on Sephora.com and danessamyricksbeauty.com on August 21st, and in Sephora stores on September 2nd, the Glosswork 4D Ultra Shine Plumping Lip Gloss is the latest addition to the brand’s lineup and, according to the founder, Danessa Myricks, something the industry was missing.
“When I looked at the lip category, I felt there was a gap between ‘treatment’ and makeup performance,” Myricks exclusively tells Marie Claire. "You could find products that looked beautiful but didn’t really care for your lips, or products that treated your lips but didn’t deliver the kind of shine, impact, and wear I wanted as an artist. Glosswork was created to bridge those worlds.” The point, she says, is a formula that delivers instant gratification—a plush, ultra-glossy finish and fuller-looking lips— but also conditions the lips over time. “It reflects how I think about makeup as a whole,” Myricks says. “It should be expressive, high-performing, and good for you all at once.”
I’ve been playing around with the new glosses fo a while now, and I have to say: Danessa Myricks Beauty has another hit on its hands. Whether you’re a lip product obsessive like I am or are simply on the prowl for a new product to add to your makeup routine, keep reading to see why the new Glosswork 4D Ultra Shine Plumping Lip Glosses have me so enamored.
What Do the Danessa Myricks Glosswork 4D Ultra Shine Plumping Lip Gloss Feel Like?
As Myricks hinted at earlier, the glosses are a cross between a treatment and a traditional lip gloss. I find them to have some tack, but they aren’t necessarily sticky, just thicker than the average gloss on the market today. That being said, these lip glosses are also extremely pigmented, so I personally don’t go in with a ton of product, just enough to get some color on my lips and properly blend it into my lip liner.
I have found that if I add three or more layers to the lips (which, objectively, is a ton of product, but I had to do it for science), then the formula is more on the sticky side of the spectrum. I personally like to use these products in place of lipstick regularly, so I’ll do a liner, the Glosswork lip gloss, and then I’ll add a layer of clear gloss on top for that extra shine. If I use it on top of an already pigmented lip combination (lip liner, two or more lipsticks, etc), I dab just a bit in the middle of my lips to top everything off.
I find the wear to be extremely comfortable in both instances, and they stay on for hours. After I eat or drink I do typically need to reapply, but I will say that the product only comes off toward the inner parts of my lips. The outer layers stayed fully intact, which was a welcome surprise.
What Ingredients Are In the Danessa Myricks Glosswork 4D Ultra Shine Plumping Lip Gloss Formulas?
Danessa Myricks Beauty is one of the brands that really takes pride in ingredient innovation. So while you’ll find your standard emollients and moisturizers in this formula, you can also expect a few more unusual ingredients as well. “At the heart of the formula is our 4D Cushion Wrap Technology, which creates this beautiful cushion-like layer of hydration while helping lips look visibly smoother, fuller, and more supple,” Myricks says. “We also included a peptide complex to support the appearance of plumper lips over time, along with hydrating ingredients like wakame algae extract that help lock in hydration over time.”
According to the brand, independent clinical results show that the lip gloss maintains hydration for up to 12 hours. So in tandem, expect all of these skin-loving ingredients to help your pout actually look and feel better over time. “For me, the biggest innovation isn’t one ingredient; it’s the way they all work together,” Myricks says. “I can feel the difference as soon as I put it on. From the way the formula literally hugs the lips to that cushiony feel that stays even after it’s worn off.”
Is the Danessa Myricks Glosswork 4D Ultra Shine Plumping Lip Gloss Line Worth It?
Yes. A million times, yes. At less than $30, the Glosswork 4D Ultra Shine Plumping Lip Gloss is more than worth the investment, especially if you want a do-it-all product that you can just throw into your purse on the go. There are 14 shades in the line (two are exclusive to Danessamyricksbeauty.com: Strawberry Whip and Hot Girl Peach), including a traditional clear shade, which is perfect for someone who prefers a more minimal beauty aesthetic or just wants the benefits of the formula without having to choose a color. You can’t go wrong with at least one of these colors, and as someone who has a ridiculous amount of lip glosses, I can almost guarantee that it’ll immediately be in the running for one of your favorite lip formulas of all time.
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