Bourjois Embellisseur de Sourire Gloss in Beige (£8.99)

The lip gloss gives a soft hint of shade and shimmer. At the other end a gel claiming to whiten teeth made no discernible difference, but did have a nice minty taste.

Estee Lauder Pure Color Gloss in Pink Innocence (£20)

A soft pink with plenty of shimmer, the sponge applicator makes this easy to apply evenly and it lasts well. But it is the priciest of the bunch.

Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss in Facade (£13)

The plastic applicator is a bit clumsy and the product thick, so this is not an easy one to apply smoothly. The result is a muddy brown colour.

The Body Shop Hi-Shine Lip Treatment in Pink Sparkle (£4)

Sticky and fruity in flavour, this is lip gloss for teens. It has plenty of shine with only a hint of colour and is cheap and cheerful.

Mac lipglass in Orange Tempera (£12.50)

This product is a bit gloopy, leading to uneven coverage, while the glossy apricot shade will not suit some skin tones. Lasts well.