(We did concealer hunting a while back)

Happy Sunday, folks!! Here’s the background that you need: FB is a MUFE lift concealer shade #3, which I believe is about a MAC NC40, according to a board search! She’s looking for a low-pigment gloss with a little glitter, because we all need our girly moments!

First, let’s go over the sheer lipsticks – these are great because some people find them easier to work with and wear than gloss. Especially if you’re getting older (which I’m not saying you are, hon!) or you’re going to a more serious buisness environment, they can make your lips nice and soft-looking without trying too hard.

• Clinique makes Butter Shine lipstick, a glossy and scent free lipstick that feels (honestly!) like butter. These ones don’t have shimmer but there are a ton of YLBB (your lips, but better) shades. For FB I’d recommend something like “Berry Blush”, something that’ll be similar to her lip colour but shiny! The great thing about Clinique is it’s so easy to find, and you can pop into any Sephora or department store to try on shades before buying. $14/0.14oz (all prices will be USD in this post – it’s easier!)
• Laura Mercier is carried in US Sephoras, but not Canadian ones. So for all you Americans: I hear their Stickgloss is great! Karlasugar has some great swatches here, and I’d recommend Purple Haze, Black Orchid, Rosewater, and maybe Courtisane to FB. It’s hard to tell in the picture, but I’ve heard some are actually quite shimmery in real life! $20/0.12oz
• If you want SPF, Laura also makes Lip Kisses, which have SPF15. As you can tell from the swatches, they all have a bit of shimmer. $20/0.08oz
• My love for MAC lustre lipstick isn’t a big secret, so I have to suggest them! Sheer, vanilla-scented, easy to find and try on, and moisturizing, she could wear any of these shades. The easiest for her would be Syrup, Lovelorn, and Marquise D’ (though this is limited edition with the Blonde Brunette Redhead collection) because they’re all rose/berry lipsticks that won’t “fight” with her natural colour or look too made-up. $14/0.1oz
• But because I know FB, I’d think she might go with their Viva Glam V or VI, lustre lippies for a great cause.

Wow, I really need to stop going overboard x.x

No I don’t. Nevermind; pretend I didn’t say anything! Here are the lipglosses. Non-sticky, low-pigment, and shimmery in a non-disco-ball kind of way! It’s harder to find a great lip gloss, because they do have a tendency to be sticky. It’s like a trade-off: you can have a smooth gloss or you can have good staying power, it’s your choice.

First, the low-pigment ones that you could basically pick any colour of.

• Philosophy glosses are always fun – with scents like “Melon Daquiri”, “Cafe au Lait” and “Begin Again Tangerine”, how could you go wrong? They’re very low-pigment and won’t deliver anything but shine, shimmer, and scent. $12/0.05oz
• Kat Von D has a great Lightning Lip Gloss set. These glosses are very shimmery with very little pigment, and are regularly $18, but this set contains five mini glosses. Because they’re so low-pigment, anyone can wear any shade in moderation, which is (well, it can be) great! $26/5×0.11oz or $5.20/0.11oz

Finally, the more pigmented but still pretty sheer ones that might need a mirror, but you don’t need lipliner or anything crazy like that for.

• TheBalm has two great (or so I read) lip gloss formulas – a plumping one and one with SPF17. For a Plump Your Pucker gloss, I’d recommend Pink My Lemonade or Strawberry My Shortcake for FB, sheer shimmery pinks. $14/0.25oz
• The other formula is their BalmShelter SPF17. These wear off a little quicker than some glosses, but are non-sticky to make up for that. I think Daddy’s Girl, Dream Girl, or Girl Next Door would suit FB. $18/0.19oz
• Bare Escentuals Buxom Lips will plump a bit and add some colour. Candi looks like a great berry, and Dolly is a nice colour that’s a little more brown/nude. $18/0.15oz
• ck Calvin Klein is a new up-and-coming line that’s actually lived up to a lot of the hype. Their Delicioius Light Glistening glosses may not be packaged as nicely as their Delicious Pout ones, but the formula’s better! Rapture and Mirage would be my picks for an everyday colour. $16/0.22oz
  

Whew, that was fun! It took forever, but I had to do it eventually anyways – I created a gloss list for myself… and then lost it x.x Now you (and I) have somewhere to start the hunt. I know it seems like too many to narrow down, but once you decide if you want a stick gloss, low-pigment gloss, or high-pigment gloss, there are really only three or four to check out.

Now. Let me study. And for you? Go be useful!