Lancôme Juicy Tubes Lip Gloss

Thanks to a recent re-release from Lancôme, I have been reunited with my first makeup love: Juicy Tubes Original Ultra Shiny Hydrating Lip Gloss. When I saw these at Sephora, I knew I had to buy at least one, if only for the trip down memory lane. Originally launched in 2000, let’s see if they’re every bit as wonderful as I remember or if time has glossed over any imperfections.

Price: $20

Find it HERE

Tested June 2020

Juicy Tubes were a staple of the 2000’s and undoubtedly brought Lancôme into the new millennium. All of a sudden it wasn’t just a sophisticated, French “mom brand” but something relevant to a younger generation. In fact, Juicy Tubes became a bit of a status symbol, something to collect (then 8 shades in total). All the middle school girls, myself included, would line up at Macy’s with their mother as she purchased a value set secretly praying the free gift would be a Juicy Tube. We couldn’t wait to show up to school Monday with our hair stuck to our freshly shellacked lips.

To be honest, I didn’t realize Juicy Tubes had ever been discontinued (they were, in 2018). I suppose ultra glossy lips were not so much in vogue, so the clear tubes of brightly colored luster had faded from my mind.

Lancôme relaunched Juicy Tubes on May 1, 2020 in twenty shades and three finishes (the original shimmer as well as new jelly and creamy). Sephora carries ten shades, and I purchased one, 07 Magic Spell, which is described as “sheer magenta with silver sparkle”. These glosses supposedly impart a hydrating, ultra high shine for up to four hours, and for the most part I’d agree. I tend to have dry lips and this gloss seemed to seal in what moisture I do have without emphasizing texture the way lipstick sometimes can. Although I have to say pretty much all glosses do that. The formula is thick (just like I remembered) and does last several hours. The problem is, as always was, your hair sticks to it. Willow Smith was just being born in 2000, and that’s probably for the best because if she’d have whipped her hair wearing this gloss, it would have stayed back and never come forth.

The scent of Magic Spell is artificial strawberry, and while not overpowering or unpleasant it doesn’t really add to the experience. Fortunately the shimmer is fine so it doesn’t feel gritty on the lips. While the shade is bright in the tube, I’d describe the color wash as sheer at best. It’s basically just enough that if I had nothing on underneath this gloss my lips wouldn’t look pale (as some frosted glosses do).

All in all I think using this was a fun experiment for nostalgia’s sake. If I needed a glossy look to last for an event I might reach for this. Unfortunately, at $20 these tubes aren’t cheap and there’s nothing revolutionary about the formula. If I had a daughter, I’m sure she’d love them, but at 32 I just don’t really see a place for this in my grown up makeup bag. Also, Fenty does a MUCH better job with their Gloss Bomb and it’s $1 less than a Juicy Tube (don’t forget to read our reviews of the Fenty gloss here).