This really is the only lip gloss a girl needs--whether a makeup artist, a model, a professional, or just a girl out on the town. It stays put better than any other beauty editor's pick, but rivals any for shine and sheer intensity. Another plus is the sponge-tip applicator wand that makes it a snap to apply--there's no fuss or messy fingers as with pots of lipglosses like Nars, and no need to carry around a separate lip brush. Perfect to stash in your kit or your purse, I always have one or two in my bag.

The color range is fantastic, and since they run about £9/$13 each, you will want to choose wisely.

The perfect starter is probably C-thru, a sheer vanilla shade that is perfect over your favorite lip liner, or with a bit of concealer blended over your lips for a very retro look.

For a warmer but very versatile shade, try Explicit, which is a champagne/stone colour and layers very nicely over tan/brown/warm lipsticks and pencils.

Oyster Girl is a fresh and bright light pink with a slight shimmer and looks great dabbed in the middle of a pink pout or all by itself. It flatters all skintones and looks equally good on my blonde caucasian and dark-haired asian friends.

My all-time favourite, though, is the rich hue of Spite--it isn't quite as sheer, and has enough pigment to deliver a lot of impact on it's own--a very flattering plummy-taupe.

This gloss may be a bit heavier than some, but that is why it lasts for hours and doesn't feather out or slide off your lips like many others (most notably, the famed Cargo glosses). Experiment with the colour range in a Mac shop, and don't be afraid to try on a shade that is shocking in the tube, as even those look fantastic over your favourite lipstick. The shocking lime-coloured Squirt, for example, looks great on top of sheer apricot lipstick and is perfect for summer days.