Ashley Rebecca / Byrdie
Once a makeup trend goes viral, it's hard to get it out of our heads until we try it ourselves. 2016 has had quite the resurgence across social media, with beauty, fashion, and lifestyle trends from the year bringing an intense burst of nostalgia. Milky baby pink lips were a staple in 2016, and thanks to TikTok creators like Christie Xie (who's done an extensive series on finding the right lip gloss in the hue), the trend is back with a vengeance a decade later.
Initially, Xie set out to find the perfect lip liner, wanting a cool pink shade after she realized all her liners were pulling too warm against her skin. The search launched her into an even deeper quest for a cool, baby-pink lip gloss as she noticed many beauty brands discontinuing the coveted shade. "I think the clean girl aesthetic has really toned down glosses overall, but I’m excited to see color start to come back this year," Xie noted, stating, "I think there’s a real desire to play with fun colors again, and pastel shades are such an easy entry point. You can incorporate them into eyeshadow, blush, or lip looks without it feeling too drastic. It’s a simple way to get back into expressing ourselves."
Ahead, we put 11 milky baby pink lip glosses to the test to see which ones deliver great color payoff and have a high-quality feel and finish. Keep scrolling for our milky baby pink lip gloss roundup and reviews.
PÜR Minerals Glossy Lip Tint Plumping Tinted Lip Oil
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Think of this as a plumping gloss and lip oil in one. The consistency is a dream, and it quickly became one of my favorite formulas I tried. Shade "Strawberry Sorbet" is a natural-looking take on milky baby pink that works across a wide range of skin tones, from deep to fair.
Makeup artist Crystal Gossman notes, "Pink, milky lips are trending because they're a modern take on early 2000s lip trends with a softer color that still feels put-together." Her insights sum up exactly why we love the trend so much.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Universal Luminous Tinted Lip Gloss
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This creamy lip gloss in shade "Guava" is a milky baby pink choice that wears well on the lips and delivers ample color in just one swipe. With a consistency that feels slightly more like a creamy lipstick, it goes on smoothly and looks lovely whether worn alone or paired with a lip liner. On the paler side, this shade works best on medium to fair skin tones.
Nars Afterglow Lip Shine Gloss
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This cult-classic Nars lip gloss in shade "Turkish Delight" has been trending for over a decade due to its sheer pink shade, which is versatile across all skin tones. With just one swipe, you've got a sheer, milky baby pink color that's easy to wear either alone or on top of lipstick to add some shine.
Westman Atelier Squeaky Clean Liquid Lip Balm
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Leaning on the cooler pink side, Westman Atelier's Squeaky Clean Liquid Lip Balm in shade "Chou Chou" is the perfect complement to any makeup look, as the color is buildable and looks great on all skin tones. The iciness of the pink hue is just enough to keep it in the milky baby pink category, yet it softens any lip look and adds a gorgeous shine.
Lawless Forget The Filler Lip Plumper Line Smoothing Gloss
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Lawless's Forget The Filler gloss in shade "Strawberry Milkshake" is a sweet departure from similar glosses, as it's a plumper with a comfortable texture that conditions the lips without feeling too sticky. Complementing medium to fair skin tones the most, it's a keeper to have in your makeup bag at all times, making touch-ups easy and leaving lips feeling wonderfully plump.
Armani Beauty Prisma Glass Hydrating Lip Gloss
Ashley Rebecca / Byrdie
This sheer Armani lip gloss in shade "Sugar Halo" has the lightest pink tint anyone can wear. Its sheer versatility makes it the perfect gloss for anyone wanting something to give a natural shine. Enhancing your natural lip color, it will quickly become a favorite, as it's so easy to apply and wear with anything.
Kulfi Lip Snack Moisturizing Glossing Balm
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We are on a sugar high after wearing Kulfi's glossing lip balm in the Watermelon Sherbet shade, which smells as sweet as it looks. With a more jelly-like consistency, the color is sheer enough for all skin tones yet still noticeable enough to wear on its own for just a touch of pink.
"With the correct lip pencil, milky baby pink lip glosses can be worn by all skin tones," New York-based makeup artist Colby Smith advises on finding the right lip combo. "Use your natural nude pencil and blend it into the pink in the center for that contoured pink, natural-looking lip."
Polite Society Polite Pout Glossy Lip Balm
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Consider this a perkier pink hue. Polite Society's Polite Pout Glossy Lip Balm in shade Jelly Bean instantly had our attention with its easy application and color payoff. Another top pick that anyone can wear, it leaves lips looking the juiciest.
Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer
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If you want a milky baby pink gloss with a decent amount of shimmer, Fenty Beauty's Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer in Sweet Mouth delivers high shine and subtle sparkle immediately upon application. Suitable for all skin tones, it's an inclusive shade that can add shimmer to bare lips and lipstick alike.
NYX Jelly Job Lip Gloss
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While it looks slightly darker in the tube, the NYX Jelly Job Lip Gloss in Jelly Blushin' reads as a stunning cool pink gloss that's versatile for all skin tones, plus it has an incredibly smooth texture. This is a gloss you can reach for over and over again, as it deposits more than enough color to be worn solo. With a doe-foot applicator, you can start application in the center of the lips and move outward towards the edges, slowly controlling how much product is deposited.
Peripera Mood Glowy Lip Tint
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A long-lasting tint that feels and looks like a lip gloss, shade "Tiny Strawberry" is a beautiful, milky baby pink that lasts all day, with stain-like benefits that don't require constant reapplication. This specific color would wear best on olive and fair skin tones, and a second application can build intensity.