If you’ve been seeing icy blue lip balms and glosses everywhere lately, you’re not imagining it. Sheer blue is quickly becoming the cool-girl lip trend of the moment — and it’s surprisingly quite wearable. While these shades look bold in the tube, they apply sheer, glossy, and ultra-flattering. Most of them are designed to subtly brighten the smile, neutralize yellow tones, and enhance your natural lip color rather than turn your lips actually blue. Here’s a roundup of the prettiest sheer blue lip balms and glosses to try right now.
The Products
Dior Addict Lip Maximizer Plumping Gloss “Icy Blue” | Buy at Sephora or Dior.
Dior’s 065 Icy Blue is easily one of the chicest takes on this trend. The baby blue gloss looks striking in the tube, but on the lips it transforms into a crystal-clear shine with a slight cooling effect. Infused with cherry oil and hyaluronic acid, its formula is composed of 90% natural-origin ingredients. It feels plush and cushiony (never sticky), and delivers a maximum volume effect. If you also love luxe packaging, this one is a standout – this gloss case features the silver DIOR letters in relief, entangled in a logomania typography for a “jewel” signature.
Estée Lauder Futurist HydraPlump Tinted Lip Balm “Sheer Oasis” | Buy at Amazon, Nordstrom or EsteeLauder.
Sheer Oasis is a soft aqua balm housed in the prettiest pink-and-gold packaging. The formula feels lightweight and hydrating, giving lips a smooth, healthy finish with a whisper of cool-toned glow. This one leans more balm than gloss, making it perfect for everyday wear if you want just a hint of the trend without a high-shine finish.
Glossier Lip Glaze “Icy” | Buy at Glossier or Sephora.
Glossier’s Icy keeps things fun and effortless. The pastel blue tint looks dreamy but blends out into a barely-there sheer-glaze of color with a fresh, clean finish. It’s easy to swipe on throughout the day and gives lips that “your lips but cooler” effect. Toss it in your bag and reapply whenever you want a subtle refresh.
Stila Heaven’s Dew Gel Lip Oil “Ice Queen” | Buy at Amazon, Ulta or Stila.
The name says it all. Ice Queen delivers a frosty, icy-blue shimmer that catches the light beautifully. Suspended glitter particles float in the clear base formula and glisten on your lips to leave a uniquely divine, shimmering effect. So if you prefer just a hint of sparkle, this one adds a touch of Y2K-inspired frost without going overboard.
Too Faced Pillow Balm Hydrating Lip Treatment “Ice Crystal” | Buy at Ulta.
Too Faced’s Ice Crystal is equal parts treatment and gloss. The formula feels plush and smoothing, with a subtle iridescent blue sheen that enhances the natural lip color. It gives lips that pillowy, slightly plumped look while keeping everything soft and hydrated. The finish is glossy but comfortable — perfect if you like a little glow with your lip care.
Why Sheer Blue Works
Even though blue sounds intimidating, sheer formulas are incredibly flattering. Blue tones can help:
• Make teeth appear whiter
• Brighten the overall look of your smile
• Add dimension when layered over nude or pink lipstick
• Give clear gloss a cooler, more modern feel
If you’re hesitant, start with a balm formula, like the Estée Lauder Sheer Oasis Tinted Lip Balm. If you’re feeling bold, go for a high-shine gloss like Dior’s Icy Blue Lip Maximizer. Either way, sheer blue is less about color and more about effect — and the effect is fresh, cool, and unexpectedly wearable💙
