The Hottest Lip Glosses

Lip gloss is all the rage, with a wide variety of types and colors available, from sheer to bright, fun colors, to glosses that give coverage nearly as complete as traditional lipstick. The best lip glosses often include moisturizers and vitamins that are great for your lips, and sometimes even include sunscreens and plumping elements. Take some time to investigate the huge selection available and you're sure to find just the right lip gloss to complement your look.

Lip gloss vs. Lipstick

Lip gloss and lipstick both have their pros and cons, as well as their fans and detractors. Lipstick gives a longer lasting, more intense color and more thorough coverage, while lip gloss offers shine and a glowing, sometimes even sparkly look. Lip gloss also often comes with flavors, making it even more fun to wear. Many younger women prefer lip gloss, associating lipstick with older women and perceiving gloss as more "youthful." Those who prefer lipstick enjoy its longer lasting color and rich, vibrant hues. Whichever you prefer, there's sure to be a product that will suit you.

Why lip gloss beats lipstick

In addition to personal preference, the best lip glosses offer other advantages over lipstick. Gloss offers softer colors that are more flexible for daytime to nighttime use, offering tint and shine without being overwhelming. Lip gloss also offers a more flexible, less "cakey" texture and can be more comfortable to wear, though it requires more frequent refresher applications. Its shiny, sparkling look adds a sexy, kissable touch. Many lip glosses also have a high SPF rating--15 to 20 SPF is not uncommon.

How To: Homemade lip gloss

For an even more individual and personal touch, you can make your own homemade lip gloss. It's relatively easy to concoct a formula that will not only be the perfect color, but custom flavors, as well. Some common bases for homemade lip gloss are beeswax mixed with almond or sunflower oil, cocoa butter, and almond oil mixed with honey. These ingredients are melted together on the stove. You can add essential oils for flavor, or add vitamin E oil for an even more nourishing blend. You can even add powdered cocoa for color and a tasty chocolate flavor.

Best lip glosses

For the best lip glosses, shop around online or in your favorite cosmetics store. Compare ingredients to find lip glosses free of petroleum products, or even lip gloss that has no artificial colors, flavors, or fragrances. Some of the hottest lip glosses in stores include glosses that are a cross between lip gloss and lipstick, providing longer lasting, more opaque color while preserving the shine of lip gloss.

Other trends in lip gloss include organic glosses, often beeswax and almond oil based, with vitamin E to help nourish your lips. These innovative, all-natural ingredients make organic formulations among the hottest lip glosses on the current market. Whether your lip gloss comes from a pricey salon or you make it on your own stove top, it's an indispensable addition to your make up palette.

How to Choose a Lipstick Color

Choosing the right lipstick color is important to getting your look just right. Lipstick that's too dark can look overdone. Lipstick that's not dark enough can make your lips disappear or give you a pale, unhealthy look. Knowing what the various types of lipsticks can do to enhance the color and even the shape of your mouth can also be a big help when you're trying to decide what lipsticks to buy and which are the best lipsticks for you.

Types of lipstick

Different types of lipsticks can give you a different look. Traditional matte lipsticks give a solid color, while lip glosses provide very little color but add a bright shine. Plumping lipstick promises to make your lips look fuller. Some plumping lipstick attracts moisture to the lips, hydrating the tissue to create a fuller look. Others promise to increase collagen production or add fat cells to the lips.

Reviews indicate that results vary, so try some different brands to find what works best for you. Semi-gloss lipsticks offer color and shine together. The color isn't as intense as with a matte lipstick, but the gloss adds depth and highlights, and the shine adds a sexy sheen.

Semi-gloss lipstick often contains moisturizers, as well, to help keep your lips soft and kissable. Long lasting lipstick is formulated not to wear off. Long lasting lipstick is often waterproof, and some are specially formulated to not rub off on your clothes or on someone else. These "kissable" lipsticks are usually a matte finish. Be sure to pick one with an added moisturizer, as long lasting lipstick can sometimes be drying.

How to choose a lipstick color

When picking a lipstick color, it's important to find a shade that complements your skin tones. Be sure to consider the undertones of the lipstick color in addition to the main color. For example, a red lipstick can have purple, blue, and even green undertones that might emphasize shades in your basic skin tone that would prove unflattering. Deep, rich colors work well with darker skin tones. With lighter skin, look for pink or orange undertones to complement your natural complexion. If your skin has an olive cast, avoid green undertones and look for reds with a brown or raisin shade. Lighter shades are more appropriate for daytime, while darker tones are great for nighttime and special occasions. Experimenting is the best way to find just that perfect color. Try your colors in natural light for a better idea of what they'll look like. You can even mix colors for an added touch of individuality.

Lipstick vs. Lip stain

One of the biggest new beauty trends, lip stain provides very long-lasting color by providing a semi-permanent dye to the lips. It can be applied with a regular lip brush. Practice makes perfect with lip stain--if you accidentally apply it where you don't want it, it can be difficult to remove. Many women like the long-lasting, smudge-proof qualities of lip stain over long lasting lipstick. Because it stains the lips rather than sitting on the surface, it can be less drying. For a rich, very long lasting color, give lip stain a try.

Best lipsticks

The best lipsticks provide beautiful, long lasting color and shine while nourishing your lips with moisturizers and other ingredients such as vitamins. Look for lipsticks with all natural ingredients and no petroleum-based products. The best lipsticks with added sunscreen can also be an excellent addition to your make up regimen. Above all, experiment and have fun, and find the best, most flattering look for you.

Hottest Beauty Products of '09

Hottest Beauty Products of 2009

Many beauty-oriented sites and companies have predicted that the hottest beauty products of 2009 will be products that focus on all-natural and organic ingredients, as well as products that help reduce signs of aging, restore skin's natural elasticity, and help bring health to our skin from the inside out. These beauty products not only help us look our best, but are friendly to our skin, our health, and the environment in general.

All natural beauty products trends

One of the biggest trends in beauty products is a move toward organic ingredients. For years, beauty products have depended on petroleum-based ingredients as well as artificial colors and chemicals. Beauty products with these ingredients can actually do more harm than good to the skin, clogging pores and making it difficult for the skin to naturally absorb moisture.

As more attention has been focused on organic ingredients for beauty products, many changes have come about in how beauty products are formulated. Petroleum products have been abandoned for natural moisturizers like shea butter and aloe vera, and substances that occur naturally in the skin, like hyaluronic acid and collagen. These trends have led to beauty products that are healthier, more effective, and more environmentally friendly.

Recommended products for beautiful hair

The best beauty products for your hair are those with high-quality, natural ingredients. Avoid products with sodium lauryl sulfate, petrolatum, or other overly harsh, synthetic ingredients. These can actually damage your hair more. Beauty products that include natural humectants, non-petroleum oils, and natural fragrances and color will leave your hair sleek and shining, help heal damaged hair, and keep your hair at its healthy best.

Top facial care beauty products

As with beauty products for your hair, the best facial care beauty products contain natural ingredients and avoid anything that's petroleum-based. Look for products with high-quality moisturizers like shea butter and aloe vera, natural humectants like hyaluronic acid, as well as protective vitamins like A, C and E. Beauty products with these ingredients can help reduce lines and wrinkles, as well as keeping your skin soft and youthful.

Top skin care products

The best skin care beauty products can help reduce wrinkles, stretch marks, and even smooth out lumpy cellulite. Top skin care beauty products include ingredients that can stimulate the growth of cellulite to repair damage done by stretch marks and to prevent the accumulation of cellulite deposits. Other important ingredients in beauty products for skin care help your body break down and absorb fat cells. These potent ingredients, like glaucine, l-carnitine, and retinyl palmitate, can make your skin as sleek and smooth as it's ever been, eliminating stretch marks and unwanted cellulite deposits.