Work through the levels. Reveal the Spangram only when you’re truly ready.
Today’s clue: “On the lips”
A gentle direction — no specifics.
Closer — the category is coming into focus.
Near-direct — only read if you’re stuck.
Direction only.
Getting closer.
Near-direct.
7 theme words — lengths in random order
Spaces not counted in total
All theme words — shuffled
These words fit the theme on the surface, but aren’t part of today’s solution. Knowing them ahead of time can save you minutes of searching.
A classic lip product, but the puzzle uses the shorter stem STICK instead of the full compound.
Part of the spangram, it may mislead solvers hunting for individual theme words.
An old-fashioned lip and cheek tint that feels thematic but is absent from today’s set.
A brand strongly associated with lip care, but not one of the hidden terms.
a textbook decoy
The puzzle earns a moderate difficulty because the theme is readily apparent from the first find, but the standalone stems (especially STICK) can stall solvers expecting full compound words. Unlocking GLOSS or BALM quickly confirms the cosmetic direction, after which the remaining short answers converge around the spangram. KISSANDMAKEUP works as a rewarding anchor—once spotted, it neatly partitions the grid and reveals the pun that ties the set together. The biggest mental hurdle is accepting words like LINER and STAIN alone, since our brains naturally supply the missing 'lip' prefix. This design choice makes the solving experience more about wordplay than rote vocabulary.
'On the lips' works on two levels: it points to the physical location where these products are applied, and it echoes the idiom for being the subject of conversation. The spangram, KISSANDMAKEUP, brings both meanings together—it's a phrase about reconciling after a fight (involving a kiss) and literally describes applying makeup after a kiss, or even using cosmetics as a peace offering. The clue and spangram together turn a straightforward list of lip products into a clever linguistic wink that rewards solvers who catch the double meaning.
The editor chose to isolate the root words of common lip products rather than the full compound names like 'lipstick' or 'lip gloss,' which forces solvers to think a bit laterally. This set spans both classic items (BALM, GLOSS, STAIN) and a more modern trend (PLUMPER), showing a broad but focused slice of the cosmetics world. By using the bare stems, the puzzle elevates the grid from a simple shopping list to a word-hunting challenge. The spangram's pun bridges the romantic act and the product category, making the whole theme feel tightly interwoven and deliberately playful.
