Lipgloss

Lipglosses are great, either on their own, or layered over a lipstick.  Layering can provide some much needed hydration to a drying lipstick, or it can change the finish and colour completely.

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Lipgloss Types and Finishes

Lipglosses range from clear, to sheer colour, to completely opaque.  There are a few different finishes to lipglosses too.
*Note:  I haven't put recommendations for the different finishes, as many lipgloss lines contain more than one finish.  Instead, I've just listed overall recommendations.

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Cream

These are more opaque than sheer glosses, usually ranging from medium to full opacity.  These never have shimmer or glitter in them, They sometimes have quite high shine, giving a full, glossy look to the lips.

Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss in Petulant

Clinique Superbalm Moisturising Gloss in Grapefruit

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Frost/Metallic

Frosty, metallic lip glosses contain shimmer which gives them a more complex colour.  They usually range from medium to full opacity.  If you find your lips are too dry to wear a frost lipstick, it's worth checking out a frost lipgloss.

Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss in Hermetic

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Glitter

As you might think, these have glitter in them.  The glitter can range from fine to chunky, and the opacity from sheer to opaque, dependent on the base used.  The sheerer glittery shades are great for layering over lipsticks for special occasions.

MAC Lipglass in Hot Frost

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Recommendations

Dior Dior Addict Ultra Gloss -Most of these glosses are about medium opacity, and have some shimmer in them.  The shade selection is great, and these work well both for wearing alone, and layering.  They're nicely hydrating and not sticky either.

Burberry Lip Glow - These are one of my all time favourite gloss formulas.  Opacity ranges from sheer to medium-full.  They have subtle shimmer, and give lips a full, glossy look.

Collection 2000 Lock n Hold Lipgloss - These are a cream finish gloss.  They range from sheer to medium opacity, and they're great for layering.  I love the sweet smell of them, but it might be a little much for some.  These are probably the stickiest lipglosses out of all of my recommendations.

Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss -When Illamasqua say intense, they mean it.  These shades are fully opaque.  The shade range isn't huge, but it's defenitly interesting, with colours like silver and blue.  They also include both shimmery and cream finishes in their range.

Bobbi BrownHigh Shimmer Lipgloss - If you want super sparkly lips, you won't find better than these glosses.  The sheerer shades are great layered over lipstick too.

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Plumping glosses

Plumping lipglosses are a love/hate sort of product.  For people with thinner lips, they can give them that boost that makes all the difference.  For others they can be down right uncomfortable.  Many plumping glosses work by irritating the lips to increase blood flow, thus causing a plumping effect.  Some of the nicer glosses just tingle.  Others can really sting.  I try to stay away from these, as often the irritation isn't worth the result.

Recommendations

Soap and Glory Sexy Mother Pucker - There's a tingle with these, but it's not uncomfortable.  The physical plumping effect isn't massive, but the high gloss shine helps give the impression of plumper lips.

Dior Dior Addict Lip Maximiser -This is a nude gloss that you can use either on it's own, or on top of lipstick.  There's a slight tingling effect that plumps lips instantly.  Unlike other plumping glosses, this uses a collagen enriched formula to help plumpen the lips over time too.

Balm glosses

These are a lipgloss which specifically focuses on moisturising the lips.  Most of these are sheer, allowing much of the natural colour of you lips (or your lipstick, should you be wearing it) show through.  These are great for a subtle hint of colour, or to provide moisture and shine over a lipstick without changing it's colour. These can come with, or without shimmer.

Recommendations

Clinique Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss - I usually have one of these in my handbag, as they're so moisturising.  They're pretty sheer, but they provide a much needed moisture boost.  When applied, they feel cushion-y on the lips.  There's no shimmer in these.

Clarins Colour Quench Lip Balm Long-Lasting Moisture & Shine -These long lasting balm glosses have a nice shimmer to them.  They provide a healthy boost of hydration the whole time whilst on the lips.