Smashbox O-Gloss pH Plumping Lip Gloss is the relaunched cult pH-reactive gloss that goes on clear and shifts to a personalised shade of pink. Smashbox brought it back on 27 September 2026 for $26 (US), and it is sold through Smashbox, Ulta Beauty and Macy's. The original was discontinued years ago, and NewBeauty reports that old tubes have circulated on eBay for hundreds of dollars.
Updated 11 October 2026: in stock at Smashbox US and Ulta Beauty; listed at Macy's. UK and other international availability is not yet confirmed.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Brand | Smashbox |
| Product | O-Gloss pH Plumping Lip Gloss |
| Release date | 27 September 2026 (US) |
| Price | $26 (US) |
| Availability | Smashbox US, Ulta Beauty, Macy's; UK not yet confirmed |
| Shade | pH Pink (clear to pink) |
| Finish | Non-sticky glass finish |
| Size | 0.34 fl oz / 10 mL |
| Key ingredients | Vitamins C + E, sodium hyaluronate, palmitoyl tripeptide-1 |
Release Date
According to NewBeauty, O-Gloss returned on 27 September 2026 as one of five Smashbox lip launches that month. Ulta Beauty currently lists it under New.
Price
The O-Gloss pH Plumping Lip Gloss costs $26 (US) at Smashbox and Ulta Beauty. No UK, Canadian or European price has been confirmed.
Shades
There is one shade, pH Pink. Smashbox says the gloss uses pH-activated pigments that react to the wearer's skin chemistry, turning from clear to "your unique shade of pink". Smashbox's images show a before-and-after comparison of the gloss going on clear and turning pink, plus a grid of the shade on lips across several skin tones.
Where to Buy
- US: Smashbox ($26), Ulta Beauty ($26), Macy's
- UK: Not yet confirmed
- Canada: Not yet confirmed
- Europe: Not yet confirmed
- Other markets: availability varies by region; more international stockists may be added.
Checked 11 October 2026: in stock at Smashbox US and Ulta Beauty; listed at Macy's; no listing found on smashbox.co.uk, Lookfantastic or smashbox.ca.
What Makes the O-Gloss pH Plumping Lip Gloss Different?
- It changes colour on the lips: it goes on clear and turns into a wearer-specific pink through pH-activated pigments, according to Smashbox.
- It's a revival of a discontinued original: Michelle Shigemasa, global general manager of Smashbox, told NewBeauty the brand is "bringing back an actual icon ... we're introducing an icon to a new generation."
- It has new formula claims: the relaunch adds 6-hour high shine, visible plumping, long-lasting hydration and vitamins C + E, according to Smashbox.
Original O-Gloss vs New O-Gloss
| Detail | Original O-Gloss | New O-Gloss (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Launch | Mid-2000s (later discontinued) | 27 September 2026 |
| Price | Not stated in sources | $26 (US) |
| Colour effect | Clear to personalised pink | Clear to personalised pink (pH Pink) |
| Added claims | Not stated in sources | 6-hour shine, plumping, hydration, vitamins C + E |
Both versions share the clear-to-pink pH effect. The relaunch adds the plumping, hydration and shine claims. Lori Taylor Davis, Smashbox global pro lead artist, told NewBeauty she remembers the original's "Wait…what is happening?" moment when a clear gloss turned pink on the lips.
Formula and Packaging
- Formula: Smashbox lists vitamin C (ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate) and vitamin E (tocopheryl acetate). The ingredient list also includes sodium hyaluronate, palmitoyl tripeptide-1, avocado oil, castor seed oil and menthol. The brand says the gloss visibly plumps lips. It notes that the plumping effect has no specific wear time, and the 6-hour figure refers to shine.
- Packaging: the tube has a pink-to-clear ombré body and a pink cap.
How to Use
Smashbox says to apply O-Gloss to bare lips or over lip liner, then wait a few seconds for the colour to develop. The brand suggests pairing it with its Studio Extreme Longwear Lip Liner.
The Rest of Smashbox's September Lip Lineup
According to NewBeauty, four other Smashbox lip products are part of the same launch wave. The O-Noir pH Cheek + Lip Tint ($25) goes on black and shifts to a personalised berry, and it is a tint rather than a clear-to-pink gloss. The pH Gel Lip Liner ($22) launched alongside it. Earlier in September, Smashbox released the Full Fill-ter Smoothing Lip Glass Balm ($25) and the Studio Extreme Longwear Lip Liner ($25), each in six nude shades.
The pH lip trend has also included the jane iredale Just Kissed pH Lip Oil, a recent pH-reactive lip oil. For more glosses, see our lip gloss coverage, or browse all makeup releases.
Sources
- Smashbox: O-Gloss pH Plumping Lip Gloss product page
- Ulta Beauty: O-Gloss pH Lip Gloss listing
- NewBeauty: Smashbox Just Revived the pH-Changing Gloss
