Learn to choose and wear lip gloss like it was made for you.

Look at the veins on your wrist in daylight: green means warm, blue means cool, a mix means neutral. Warm undertones carry peach and coral glosses, cool undertones suit berry and rose, and neutral wears most shades. Match the finish to the moment — a sheer, balm-like gloss reads soft for daytime, a high-shine finish reads bolder for evening.

Start on bare, dry lips — gloss slides off anything oily, so skip a heavy balm underneath. Draw a thin liner along the lip line as a base, then press a single layer of gloss over it rather than building up coats. Blot once with a tissue and reapply after eating or drinking; a light touch-up holds the shine without the slip.

Work in order: liner first to shape and define the edge, lipstick next for your base colour, then gloss on top for shine. Gloss over liner alone skips the lipstick and gives a lighter, more transparent finish — good for a low-key day. Keep the gloss to the centre of the lip and blend outward so the colour stays put at the edges.