We Tried 20 Popular Shade-Shifting Lipsticks — and Found 1 Favorite

Color-changing lipsticks are truly the mood rings of the beauty world. Though they may look wildly different — coming in shades that range from navy blue and grass green to sunflower yellow and flamingo pink — these balms are actually all working with variations on the same technology. Here's how I, not a scientist, would explain it: there are ingredients within the formulas that react to the pH level of the wearer's lips. So according to how acidic, neutral, or alkaline your lips are, the product will transform into the shade that is the most flattering for you. Pretty neat, huh?

I recently committed to testing out a large number of the most popular color-changing lip products available, and I came to two conclusions:

1. These products are cool, but they're not going to give you an insane amount of color. If you're looking for highly pigmented lipstick, go get a liquid lipstick.
2. I am never taking another selfie ever again.

If you're looking for a hydrating tint, you've come to the right place. Read on to see how all these formulas adapted to my lip, and note that I'm only one editor with one skin tone. All these are going to react differently according to the lips on which they're applied.