What They Say: "The most voluptuous lips ever!

• Plump up your lips... up to 30% more.
• Feel a tingling effect as active amplifiers instantly plump lips for a visibly fuller pout in 10 seductive plumping shades..."

Jamie's Thoughts: The pink color I was sent to review (shade number 105) was a lovely neutral - very versatile and could definitely be layered over other base colors, such as lip stains or lipsticks. I love this gloss on its own because it's not only (a) true to color, but (b) not at all tacky. This would be the perfect drugstore substitute for Mac Lipglass.

As for the plumping effect, I can tell you this: I felt the tingle for sure, but didn't really notice any noticeable plumping effect. Maybe a TEENY bit, but definitely not enough to justify the weirdo numbness and tingling that lasted for at least 10 minutes.

If you're really looking for a strong plumping product, this is not the holy grail. If you are, however, looking for something to give you a little extra "oomph" on an important day, this gloss gives great shine, and a little bit of amplification.

Retail Price: $8.49 (at most major retailers)

Delush Rating:

What They Say: "Part of Artistry's Spring 2008 Rare Beauty Trend Collection, this product shines lips in barely there colour and soothing moisture this season.

Discover your own rare beauty with three gorgeous glosses. With just a hint of colour, Artistry Lip Shine gives lips a simple shine that complements this season's most dramatic looks.

Create extraordinary lips with just a hint of gorgeous colour and shimmer. Formulated with aloe and antioxidants, Lip Shine nourishes, moisturizes, and protects for the softest spring kisses. Wear it alone or on top of your favorite lip colour and add a brilliant shine to your already fabulous smile!

• Subtle colour and glossy finish for lips.
  
• Lips stay soft and smooth without feeling sticky.
  
• Formulated with soothing aloe and antioxidants.

What Lisa Says: I received all three of these lip glosses that make up part of Artistry's Spring 2008 Colour Collection: Rare Beauty. "Gifted", which is pale pink gloss w/pink shimmer, "Signature" a gold shimmer, and "Adore" which is a deep red gloss w/ red glitter.

Once out of their box, I thought this an interesting collection of glosses for Spring/Summer. The Gifted and Signature looked lovely but I questioned Adore for this time of year, as it looked quite dark. All three come in their own box and have no taste or fragrance, which is something I like I lip products of any kind.

This was kind of a tough review for me though. I rarely wear gloss alone and when I do, it's to add high shine, add dimension to a lip color or both. I found the formula of this gloss to be very thin and, while it did impart a moisturized look, it wasn't much of a shine and not enough shimmer to show up by it's self OR over my lipstick.

I tried each of them alone, over lipstick and over lip pencil. I know they advertise "barely there" color but once on, I really saw NO color - maybe a tiny bit of shimmer and, in the case of Adore, almost a stained look that was very sheer but deep and glittery. Not a look I'd particularly want for summer though it did look nice over some of last fall's red lip colors. None of these glosses offer a high gloss shine, but instead, impart a simple moisturized look unless you add a couple of layers of product. And while it IS hydrating, my normally all-day-wear lipstick was gone in just an hour or so.

These glosses do not feel gooey or slippery and, in fact, within 30 minutes you're down to "Carmex" like feeling instead of a glossy feeling. I think I'll fall back on my usual glosses that I know & love for the time being. For those that like next to nothing in color, feel but want a little moisture, you might give these a whirl.

Retail Price: 0.14 oz./$13.50 (shop online here)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Formulated with strobe pearl, this luxurious lip conditioner combines sheer soft-light-quenched colour with broad spectrum UVA/UVB SPF 15 protection and moisture."

Melissa Says: I am once again In Love.

These tubes of sheer, pretty color make lips look lush and moist, with a gorgeous kiss of pigment. Even when the shine goes away a bit, the lightly luminescent pigment still tints the lips. These are my VERY favorite new non-lipstick day go-to shades.

Pretty, lustrous, sheer and comfortable...what's not to love? Get them now while the collection is being sold.

Retail Price: $14.50 (at maccosmetics.com to purchase and/or to view the 5 gorgeous shades, or go here to find a retail location near you)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Intense frost and shine for lips. Cool array of hottest colours in a convenient, easy-to-use case. Gel texture imparts a shimmery, ultra-glossy look. Three perfect new shades-Waterlily, a frosty pink; Moonlight, a pearled white; and Galactic, a white glitter-add to your Spring lip colour wardrobe."

Jen's Experience: It's been awhile since I've applied any Glossimer, and I had forgotten how different than it is from the other lip glosses in my supply. It's really thick, but not terribly sticky. And as a result, it delivers amazing shine and lasts for hours. I tried Waterlily and Galactic out of the Spring Collection, and was pleased with both, especially when paired with the eyeshadows and blush. The sparkles in the formula are barely noticeable, which makes them work appropriate, and the clear Galactic shade is useful anytime (I've even worn it running and found that it coats better than many of my lip balms). Overall, these are some great shades, especially when paired with the more dramatic colors that are offered this season.

Retail Price: $25.00 (Chanel.com or your local department store counter)

Rating:

What They Say: "Illuminate your lips with holographic liquid crystals and discover a new dimension of diva! Rock high voltage lips that will leave your fans seeing double with NAO never accept ordinary Illuminating Lip Gloss. Holographic liquid crystals create a multidimensional, crystal finish with every sweep. Are you ready for the spotlight?"

Jamie's Thoughts: This gloss is unique, and I couldn't stop staring at it in the pen-style applicator - it's iridescent and every time you move it, the color changes. Weird, but true. The consistency is smooth, not too tacky, and can be precisely applied with the brush tip. My gloss lasted about 2-3 hours before I needed to reapply.

I tried this gloss alone, as well as on top of lipstick. Both times it took on a strange, orange glow (must be the holographic liquid crystals) and was wholly unattractive. My sample color, "juiced," is a warm peach - which sounds great on paper, but in reality, looked both bright orange and at times, neon green.

In conclusion: I didn't get a crystal finish, I didn't like the color, and I didn't feel like my lips were illuminated. Maybe I'm just not enough of a rockstar to "get" or even like this product.

Retail Price: $21.95 (Quixtar.com)

Rating:

"Seductive and ripe for scandal. A colour collection daringly stripped-down, voluptuously finished, with everything you could possibly need to play up the nakedness of your look. Think of it as naked - with coverage."

About the Lip Glass: "A unique lip gloss available in a wide variety of colours that can create a high gloss, glass-like finish or a subtle sheen. Designed to be worn on its own, over Lip Pencil or Lipstick, Tinted Lipglass is the perfect product for creating shine that lasts. It's pigmented, very shiny and can impart subtle or dramatic colour. It contains Jojoba Oil to help soften and condition the lips. Tinted Lipglass is packaged in a convenient bottle with a sponge tip applicator that provides a quick, smooth, even application."

About the Paint Pots: "A highly pigmented eye colour that goes on creamy but dries to an intense, vibrant finish. The next generation of a popular M·A·C formula, Paint Pots maintains all the intense traits of its inspiration. Long-wearing, colourfast. Creates seamless coverage without weight or caking. Blends smoothly over the lids. Cream-based, can be mixed with M·A·C shadows and liners. Available in matte and pearl formulas. "

Jen's Experience: We've reviewed both of these products before, so it should be no surprise that we love them. What is new are the fabulous N Collection's perfect range of nude shades. For the paint pots, I tested the Soft Ochre and Quite Natural shades, which are subtle and great for work. Not only do they last all day and into the evening, but they also are blendable and buildable to give just the right level of color to even out the skin tone on my lids. I tested all four Lip Glass shades from 1N to 4N and I find myself reaching for them now reflexively in the morning. They just work with every look. If I am going for a very nude look and I want to minimize the lips completely, I wear 1N or 2N over the N Collection Lipstick in 1N. On the other hand, 3N and 4N both look pretty even worn alone and have just enough pink to work with my fair skin. I am mightily impressed with this collection, and I feel like these are colors every woman should have in their make-up drawer.

Retail Prices:
Lip Glass: $14.00
Paint Pots: $16.50 (Both available at MACCosmetics.com or your local department store)

Ratings:
Lip Glass:
Paint Pots:

What They Say: "Bobbi's sophisticated take on glitter. NEW, limtied-editon Pink Raspberry Glitter Lip Gloss features delicate flecks of glitter that reflects light to give lips a luscious look. Works well over your favorite Lip Color or a new Lip Sheer in the Pink Raspberry Face Palette. "

What Lisa Says: I'm not usually a fan of lip gloss, especially for daytime wear. I love the look but find that my lipstick doesn't stay on as long and that gloss usually tends to migrate and get gooey. That said, this little pink tube has won me over to daytime glossiness. I love this product!

I thought the tube small for the price but soon realized one little dip into this beautiful raspberry sherbet colored gloss was all it took to do both upper and lower lip. It's the perfect size for small handbags. Plus, I'm a big fan of brushes with lip gloss, as they can deliver more precise application and this little brush did not disappoint.

The gloss is tasteless and fragrance free. This pink is a lush warm pink and the glitter is more of an opalescent color including flecks of blue. Gorgeous! Used alone, the color is sheer enough to give a lovely pink tint and luster to natural lip. Over lip color, it can make the ordinary color pop, especially with pinks, nudes, plums and even coral lip color. It's just a great gloss with staying power galore - whether alone or over lipstick it stays on quite a bit longer than the average gloss. Just a note about the glitter: you can slightly feel the glitter on your lips so those who might be bothered by this be forewarned. Other than that, I highly recommend.

Retail Price: 4.2ml/$19.00 (available at bobbibrown.com, Nordstrom, and Neiman Marcus)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "A hybrid of gloss and lipstick, chic colour and intense shine combine for creamy full coverage that feels soft and lightweight on lips."

Jen's Experience: There's a new offering in the Chanel lip color offerings, and I have to say, this might just be the best yet. When I first ripped open the package and applied it, I thought, "wow, this is like lip color and gloss all in one", and as it turns out, that's exactly what they were aiming for! The coverage is like a lipstick, super-saturated color that really pops. But unlike your average Chanel lipstick, they have a lot more shine. Both of the colors I tried, Plum Souffle and Madeleine, were on the pink side, and were great with my fair skin.

I was really impressed with the wear; it lasts for hours without drying out my lips, making it great for work or a night out. While this may be a little more expensive than your average lipstick, or gloss, it's less expensive than buying one of each from Chanel. Easier to apply, too. This is one of the best new lip products I've tried in ages.

Retail Price: $32.00 (CHANEL.com or your local department store)

Rating:

What They Say: " Our exclusive way to get deliciously full, supermodel-sexy lips, without a plastic surgeon. Innovative Marine Collagen Microspheres take lip plumping to the next level, instantly plumping and smoothing, while self-adjusting pigment creates a personalized rosy tint. Visibly reduces lines and wrinkles giving lips enhanced natural contour and tone."

Melissa Says: Unlike lots of lip plumping glosses that tend to smell (and feel) sort of like red-hot cinnamon on your lips, this one smells yummy and sweet, like a wisp of cotton candy. It doesn't necessarily have a flavor, but then again lip products with flavor tend to make you lick your lips more anyway, creating increased chance of chapped lips. I was trying Baby Pink, a pale pink shimmery shade that almost looked clear.

The formula takes a while to get initially started out of the clicking brush pen, so do a few clicks at a time, waiting in between, so that when it does come up the brush it won't be too much product on the brush. Once it's started, it's pretty much no-mess; just remember to hold the brush downward when you click it to make it a bit easier to see the product come to the brush before it has a chance to glop.

It takes about a minute, but there is a slight tingle that begins the plumping process. It makes lips only slightly fuller, but there is an actual increase (you will feel it!). Lips are also a bit more pink as part of the process. The plumping effect really only maintains the same impact for a little over an hour or so, but the pretty, conditioning shine lasts longer. Besides, it's easy to add a tiny swipe of this sheer gloss to renew the effect.

This isn't Victoria's Secret's most extreme plumping gloss (for that, see here), but it is a bearable, not-so-intense version that gives a little extra oomph. I wouldn't recommend wearing this over other lipstick because when I tried to do that I felt like it reduced my color's staying power quite a bit.

Retail Price: $18.00 (at Victoria's Secret online or in a store located near you)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Every Antiquitease adores her finery, including this petite purse of woven cream fabric with metallic thread and an ivory crown motif on the handle. Each contains three lipcolours of one colour scheme. Fabulously authentic in look and feel." 

Jen's Experience: Here's another fabulous collection from M•A•C this holiday season. Each gift set contains two lipsticks and a lip gloss in an antique-inspired clutch. The sets come in four color families: pink, coral, tan and plum. I tested the plum and coral shades, and I am absolutely thrilled with the shades; I wear them pretty much every day. The lipsticks look great on their own, as do the lip glosses, but I really adore wearing the two together. I think the clutches don't really do the products justice -- they'd be nicer if the handle was metal like some of the other Antiquitiease items -- but this would make a great gift for friends (although I'd be more inclined to keep this one for myself!).

Retail Price: $32.00 (MACCosmetics.com or your local M•A•C counter)

What They Say: "Stately in look, fabulously collectible: our gilded antique-inspired compacts for lips and eyes. With their magnificent assortment of shades and distinctly royal colour waves, who wouldn't regard these as an asset?"

Jen's Experience: The packaging for the Royal Assets collection is absolutely gorgeous. These are not palettes to leave hidden away in your bathroom drawers -- they need to be out on display. And as far as gifts go, these palettes are sure to be appreciated by any of the cosmetic lovers in your life.

The eyeshadow palettes each contain 6 fabulous colors. I tried the warm and cool palettes, but they're also available in smoky and metallics. My favorite of the one I tested is the cool palette. The six colors can be mixed and matched for various effects, and whatever the combination, I never fail to get compliments when I'm wearing these shades. Besides the previously mentioned luxe packaging, I am also impressed that they contain a real (although miniature) eyeshadow brush inside, rather than a cheap, throwaway applicator.

The lip palettes are also available in several combinations: Tan, Coral, Red and Pink, as well as one in the Viva Glam collection. I tried three of the palettes, which each contain three shades in the color range. Like the eyeshadow palettes, they contain a miniaturized version of the real brush, rather than requiring you to apply with your finger. I had a difficult time getting deep colors out of these palettes, but they have great staying power and a nice shine.

Eyeshadow palettes: $36.00
Lip Palettes: $22.50
Available at MACCosmetics.com or your local department store

What They Say: "During the holidays we want to look our best! And that means beginning our healthy beauty routine with a clean slate™. This skinvigorating™ 4-piece discovery set includes all the tools for looking better, naturally. Whether you keep it for yourself or give it as a gift, it's the perfect start to a new year!" 

mini clean slate face primer
• Silicone-based formula contains natural ingredients to help keep skin fresh and healthy
• Avocado oil and safflower seed oil to moisturize
• Echinacea, rosemary & hibiscus extracts to soothe
• Mineral oil free an phthalate free
• Dermatologist tested

mini lock & roll creaseless eyeshadow duo (shade: slate)
• Vitamin E enriched cream shadow glides on eyelids smoothly and evenly
• Finely milled crushed mica in the powder shadow adds luminosity and creates depth and dimension to eyes
• Mineral oil free and phthalate free
• Dermatologist tested

mini lights, camera, lashes! 4-in-1 mascara
• Lengthening: Rice bran, carnauba & candelilla wax extend the length of lashes
• Curling: Synthetic film formers hold in curl
• Volumizing: ProVitamin B5 treats and thickens lashes
• Conditioning: Organic compounds derived from natural olive esters coat and treat lashes to protect against breakage
• Mineral oil free and phthalate free
• Dermatologist tested

mini Inside out vitamin-infused lipgloss powered by BORBA (new shade: serenity) • Acai extract helps strengthen capillary walls, reduce epidermal irritation and enhance skin's clarity and radiance
• Grape seed extract & Vitamin C help accelerate production of natural elastin, protecting skin against free-radical damage & restore skin's clarity
• Vitamins A & E act as antioxidants to give you that healthy glow
• Chamomile extract soothes skin and helps to counteract redness
• Mineral oil free and phthalate free
• Dermatologist tested

Jen's Experience: This gift set from Tarte contains four great Tarte products in a tiny, purse friendly cosmetics bag. The Inside Out lip gloss has long been one of my absolute favorite glosses, and the new color in this set is one of the prettiest yet. The mascara, while it doesn't have the staying power of some of my others, applies without clumping and really creates so nice volume and curling action.

The creaseless eyeshadow was a definite surprise in the pack. The duo contains two colors: one in a slate color, the other in more of a bronze. The slate color is a cream eyeshadow that applies so smoothly and with such rich color, you'd think it would have to crease. (It doesn't.) The bronze has a rollerball applicator, and while the color isn't as rich as the other, it's very pretty and like the slate, it doesn't crease. Both shades were really long-lasting and didn't smudge throughout the day.

I am not as sure about how well the face primer works. I have used it several times underneath my foundation, and while I think the foundation applies more evenly, I don't really find that it's particularly moisturizing or soothing.

Retail Price: $30.00 (TarteCosmetics.com)

"In the majestic fashion of our holiday Antiquitease collection yet with a style and realm of its own. Handsome in their bearing, these mini colour sets come in a textured cream paper cylinder with gold or silver crown motifs. Inside, all your M·A·C favourites."

 

 

 

Jen's Thoughts:

5 LipGlass and LusterGlass

Five gorgeous glosses presented beautifully? A great gift for any of the girls on your list! Choose warm or cool shades depending on the coloriing of the recipient. I found that even the warm shades looked great with my skin tone. The LusterGlass shades contain a bit more sparkle than the LipGlass shades, which makes them oh-so-perfect for the holiday season.

 

5 Pigments and Glitter
I'm a huge fan of the pigments, so it's lovely to see a collection of 5 pretty holiday shades presented here as a gift. Like the glosses, these are available in both warm and cool shades. I tried the warm shades, which are probably a little too much for my skin tone, so keep that in mind when you're making your purchase. I'm less of a fan of the glitter (it's very messy), but I do see some potential wears in all the holiday parties on my calendar.

 

5 Softsparkle Eye Pencils
This collection may have less gift-giving potential, but it sure is fun to wear! The collection contains 5 pencils in black and 4 colors with just a touch of sparkle. The sparkly black is dramatic for evening but isn't so much that it can't be worn to work. The colors require a little more bravery, but I found that they really brighten the eyes. One thing to note: the pencils pull a little right out of the packaging, but softened nicely with a few sharpenings.

What They Say: "Full-Lip™ - 3D plumping effect: Maxi-lips ingredient helps to stimulate collagen, which makes your lips look fuller. Unique blend of light reflecting, wet shine pearls intensify the plumping effect. Brilliant Bright Smile gives your lips extreme wet-shine finish with sheer colour and it is enriched with lip moisturizing emollients. Anti-aging lipshine contains protective, anti-oxidant vitamins A, C and E. SPF 8.

Technology:
Full-Lip™ - 3D plumping effect: light-reflecting wet shine pearls together with Maxi-Lips ingredient make your lips look fuller."

Melissa Says: Though the actual physical plumping effect is minimal (no stinging but very slight tingling at first), the sparkling shimmer in this formula does add quite a bit of depth to the lips. While it's a pretty gloss,, some of the shimmer remains after the lip color wears off or after you remove it if you're not very thorough. It can also tend to travel after a few hours to just beyond your lip line, ever-so-slightly. Aside from that, this sheer, pretty gloss is a decent drugstore option.

Retail Price: $8.99 (in CVS stores or online)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: " Neutrogena® MoistureShine® Soothing LipSheers instantly soothe dry lips with sheer, cooling color. Moisture-infused formula contains SPF 20 to protect lips.

This sheer, elegant lip color feels as good as it looks. The advanced formula contains moisturizing emollients and vitamin E to instantly soften and hydrate, while SPF 20 guards against sun damage. A unique cooling sensation soothes on contact. "

Jen's Experience: I've been spoiled recently by all the great glosses from M.A.C. that I've been testing. But despite that, I've had a pretty good experience testing these new lip balms from Neutrogena. I think the colors, which, although sheer, produce enough color to stand on their own. I disagree, though, with the whole moisturizing element to the product. I have had an ongoing bout with chapped lips these last few weeks, and not only have these balms not helped, they seem to make the problem a little worse. The colors are pretty and very wearable, though, so unless your lips are parched like mine, these aren't a bad choice.

Retail Price: $8.99 (Drugstore.com)

Rating:

What They Say: "A long wearing lipstick and lip gloss all in one. The secret is a blend of patent-pending polymers that provide long-lasting wear with rich pigment that glides on like your favorite lip gloss. The tip of the pen is contoured to provide easy, precise application - hugging every curve of you lip. ...boasts extended wear time while keeping lips feeling soft and smooth - never dry!"

Melissa Says: A whole new way to make my lips prettier opened up with this product. This stuff smells sweet when you apply it, goes on super-easy and smooth (thanks to the perfect rounded tip that gives a great edge every time), and it feels so very light and comfortable. As if that weren't enough to make me love it, it can be applied sheer or layered for a deeper effect, and the color STAYS PUT, for hours.

Unlike typical "long-wear" lip products, this doesn't look or feel dry, and the "gloss" part of the product doesn't actually make it shiny or wet-looking, but keeps your pout moist and comfortable. I have never tried anything like this before, and as a lip product ADDICT, this is one that I'm more than happy to give my thumbs-up to. Honestly, I love it.

Retail Price: $18.00 (at sephora.com until the Stila Cosmetics site is finished being updated)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "A lipcolour that fuses a high gloss wet-look finish with balm-style emolliency and conditioning. Delivers 3D-style dimension to the lips through an innovative combo-blend of extreme pearl and multi-reflective shine. Non-sticky, smooth to apply. Instantly moisturizing and comfortable to wear. The unique high-fashion look and finish lasts for hours. "

Jen's Experience: I am a long time fan of M.A.C. Lip Glass products, but let me tell you right off the bat, these limited edition lip glasses may be my favorites of the whole product line. The colors are universally flattering, and I found that even the brighter shades looked good -- on me as well as my friends. These 3D Lip Glasses are even more moisturizing than the original product, and I have found that they do more to moisturize my lips than most of my lip balms. And the wear is longer than pretty much any of the other lip glosses that are currently floating around in my purse. If you have an ongoing love for lip glass, or are just looking for a great, super-shiny gloss, visit your M.A.C. counter while they're still available!

Retail Price: $14.00 (MACCosmetics.com or your local department store M.A.C. Counter)

Rating:

What They Say: Intense frost and shine for lips. Cool array of hottest colours in a convenient, easy-to-use case. Gel texture imparts a shimmery, ultra-glossy look. New shades add extra sparkle and shine.

Jamie's Thoughts: First off, allow me to admit that I am one of THOSE women - I carry at least 4-5 lip products on my person at all times. Lip gloss, in particular, holds a special place in my heart because I'm not brave enough to risk a full-out lipstick. Oftentimes, they simply look too drastic against my pale skin. So I tote about at least one balm, and a stable of lip glosses.

That being said, this new shade of Chanel's wildly popular Glossimer line has more than earned a place in my handbag. It has enough staying power without turning tacky, the shimmer element isn't gritty in feel, and it can be layered on lipstick or worn alone. Because of its very neutral peachy-pink tone, this is a product I would recommend to anyone, regardless of their complexion. Seriously.

This product makes my lips look natural and alive in less than 5 seconds. Fabulous!

Retail Price: $25.00 (in select department stores and online at chanel.com)

Delush Rating:

Smoke Signals: "Erotic, yes. Feminie, surely. Sexy, no doubt... This is the beauty, craft and subtle unfiltered sizzle of the modern bombshell. ...The match that ignites this new look: three NEW sensually shine-filled shades of lipglass. There is no smoke without fire. She's cool, and dangerous."

Melissa tried out the lip shades in this collection.

"In a way that made me very happy, the lip shades included in the Smoke Signals collection seem to be ready to make any woman feel prettier, with a touch of sultry. One wonderful thing is the subtleness of most of the shades, with the boldest colors being a match of deep yet wearable pouty burgundies. Like all of M•A•C's lip products, you can easily layer Lipglass on top of the lipstick shades for even more drama, or use either alone, depending on your coverage and texture preference. Below, you can see what each shade looks like on real lips! Enjoy Smoke Signals 2007."

Click to enlarge.

What They Say: "Embellish lips with this iridescent, sparkling gloss. Lavishes lips with a sultry veil of color. Leaves a shimmering, elegant finish. Paint your lips with the precise brush applicator."

• Sophisticated, shimmering translucent gloss
• Unique high precision brush applicator

Application techniques: Add Lip Shimmer over lipstick to give more depth, intensity and shine to the shade."

What Lisa Says: What a gorgeous product not only for what's left of summer but for fall as well. The picture doesn't do this gloss justice. It's literally an orange with gold shimmer upon opening the box.

For those looking for a gloss to wear alone or simply with a nude lip pencil, this isn't for you. But, if you're looking for something to add not only gloss but a little sophistication almost any lip color you have, this is truly beautiful. Alone, it leaves no color. It's glossy with tiny gold flecks that are difficult to see unless you're up close. It doesn't last much longer than an hour or so on bare lips. Brushed over lip color, that's when this gloss' color comes out! The subtle tangerine makes whatever you're wearing just POP, and the gold shimmer is lovely. Yes, it lasts longer over lipstick. I've tried this over everything from MAC's "Overdone", Smashbox's "Prop" to Laura Mercier's "Baby Lips" and "Russet" lip pencils. It was gorgeous on each one of them and added just enough color to change up the original and enough shimmer to make it attention getting. It just goes with about everything.

Rather than the usual sponge, the brush applicator makes application easy and precise.

The ONLY thing I can find wrong with this product is that it must be reapplied every couple of hours and that cost it one "lippie". Other than that, I think it's just about perfect.

Retail Price: $26.00 (at giorgioarmani.com or go here to find a select retailer near you)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "A beautiful gloss with tiny shimmer particles and added moisturizers for luscious summer lips--a grown up way to wear shine.

• Innovative packaging for easy application which also prevents nozzle from clogging.
• Silky, non-sticky formula that light and long lasting.
• Handbag friendly.
• Super fine glitter particles for subtle shimmer.
• Can be used over lipstick or on its own with lip liner."

Melissa Says: I truly fell in love with the look of this gloss. It gives a really pretty, full look to the lips because of its superfine shimmer. It's sort of a subtle frost look that gives shine and added depth to lips when worn alone and added dimension when worn over other lip color.

I must note, however, that this formula didn't stay on as long as it really ideally should have. I felt like it dried out quickly, leaving some subtle shimmer behind on the lips, but the moisture was just gone. That was quite a disappointment, and it really bummed me out because otherwise this gloss, with its gorgeous sheen and handy, slim squeeze tube, would have had me wrapped around its finger.

Retail Price: $22.00 (at neimanmarcus.com or go here to find a retail location near you)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Low-colour impact with sheen-style finish. Glazes the lips, makes them shine! "

Melissa Says: This was my first time trying the Glaze finish among M•A•C's lipstick lineup, and I was testing it out in one of the colors from the C-Shock Collection, Overrich, a "Soft metallic coral with silver pearl (Frost)". I thought that the pigment held on really well, even though the formula wasn't all that moisturizing and I felt as though the lipstick might have faded after a couple of hours. The shine when applied was really pretty, but did need a little freshening up with a quick swipe of the tube after it began to feel faded to keep the same effect. A pretty lipstick formula, but I would have liked to be a little longer-wearing.

Retail Price: $14.00 (at maccosmetics.com or go here to find a retail location near you)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Sheer, vibrant cheek gels with complementary lip glosses bring immediate radiance and luminosity to the skin. Cheeks and lips glow bright with sheer color in a selection of beautifying shades that are fun to wear and compliment all skin tones. Specifically formulated cheek gel provides long lasting color while nutrients and essential oils keep lips hydrated and healthy all day long."

What Melissa Says: I tested this product in Lyra - a set of nude