Lifestyle

Dorian Wagner
Senior Editor

You're about to be stranded on a deserted island and can take only three things with you. What do you choose?

Given this scenario, many women would definitely include lip gloss on their list of must-haves, ranking it somewhere between water and food.

For ladies of all ages, lip gloss has become an absolute necessity. It feels good, it looks good -- some even taste good. I, for one, would never leave home without it and find myself in the throes of reapplication about 100 times a day.

But with all the different lip glosses out there, which one should you choose? We set our testers out on the ultimate "lipsmackerlicous" mission: Apply their way through the pots, tubes, sticks and wands of gloss and report back with the best lip gloss out there. So here they are -- our cream of the crop:

BEST ALL-AROUND: CoverGirl Wetslicks
Price: $4.49-$5.79
Our tester raved about this smooth and shiny gloss. Packaged in a bottle with an easy, sponge-tip wand, CoverGirl Wetslicks comes in lots of subtly scented shades, ranging from Clear Radiance to Fire Fly red.

This gloss has the staying power of a lipstick but the sheer look and feel of a gloss -- you'll hardly even know you're wearing it! For extra shimmer, try CoverGirl Wetslicks Crystals with shimmer added in.

SUPER STAY-ON POWER: Lancome Juicy Tubes
Price: $18
If you like a thicker lip gloss, our tester recommends Lancome Juicy Tubes. These colorful, purse-friendly tubes are perfect for those who need long-lasting shine but can't continuously reapply -- a single squeeze-on coat stayed put for nearly three hours.

SMOOTH, LONG-LASTING LUSTER: Dior Addict Ultra Gloss
Price: $24.50
"Silky" and "sexy" are the two words our tester used to describe Dior's Addict Ultra Gloss. This is the most expensive one of our list, but according to the lucky tester, this luscious tube of luster is worth every penny.

The color stays put, and unlike other glosses she's tried, so does the wet-look shine. So if you feel like splurging a little, give your lips a treat and grab one of Dior's tantalizing tints.

TWIST AND POUT: Revlon LipGlide
Price: $3.95-$14.95
If you're looking for a little exercise with your lip color, why not give Revlon's LipGlide a try? This twist-up, sponge-tip applicator seems like a good idea, until you try to apply it for the first time -- our tester joked about getting carpal tunnel syndrome from having to twist the tube many times!

The gloss itself, though, got no complaints. Good coverage without the exaggeratedly glassy look of some other products out there. For the best selection, visit your local drugstore. This gloss also had the greatest selection of hues.

PLUMP IT UP: DuWop Lip Venom
Price: $16
There's no doubt that fuller lips are in. Luckily, you don't have to do anything drastic like having surgery to get them. There are great pout-plumping products out there -- like DuWop's Lip Venom -- that can give similar results cheaper, easier and less painfully.

Plumpers work by aggravating the sensitive skin of your lips, essentially making them swell in reaction. The more "tingle," the fatter your lips will be. According to our tester, Lip Venom -- which tastes similar to Red Hots cinnamon candy -- not only tingles, but it also heats up to give lips even more pout.

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Dorian Wagner is a journalism graduate from the University of Florida who has written about everything from dating and style advice to Bigfoot and UFOs. When she's not perched in front of her computer, she's typically sprawled out by the ocean near her home in Deerfield Beach, Fla. -- with lip gloss on.

Labels: beauty, beauty-tips, lipgloss, lips, lipstick, make-up, makeup, makeup-tips, product-reviews