The cosmetic product used to give lips a glossy finish is lip gloss. It is usually a fluid or soft, semi-solid product designed primarily to add shine, with some formulas also providing color, shimmer, or glitter.
Lip gloss differs from lipstick because it generally contains less pigment and has a more reflective, fluid finish. It can be worn alone for a sheer look or applied over lipstick to increase shine and add visual depth. Lip balm is a common confusion: balm is primarily associated with moisturizing or protecting the lips, although some modern balms are glossy too.
The product became strongly associated with Hollywood makeup. Max Factor developed an early lip-shine product for film actresses in 1930, and the first commercially available lip gloss, X-Rated, was launched in 1932. Black-and-white filmmaking helped make a shiny lip effect especially useful on screen.
Typical lip-gloss formulas use oils, waxes, pigments, and gloss-producing ingredients such as polybutene. Plumping glosses may create a temporary fuller-looking effect through ingredients that cause mild irritation or swelling, but that effect is not the same as permanent lip augmentation.