Welcome to the gloss•a•ry, a monthly roundup of all that glitters from our own wand-toting shimmer expert, Michelle Carney. Tune in each month for the latest and greatest in pout perfecting products utterly devoted to your sparkly, sexy and oh-so-shiny lips.

 

Summer Sunglosses

We splurged on the bikini, but we bought sunscreen with SPF 45. We gave in to our guilty pleasure for “chick lit,” but we vow not to spike the watermelon. All signs point to keeping our summer festivities in check. Except there will be no compromising on our “sunglosses.” It’s high gloss at all costs – this season’s wave of whimsical shimmers and tropical shines top our list of summer essentials.

 

Tarte Sunglosses, $30.
Proving she’s much more than a pretty face, Tarte creator Maureen “Mo” Kelly blows us away with her creativity and practicality with this trio of glosses that come stashed in their own waterproof sunglass case. Each double-ended gloss is cheekily named after a favorite beach-bum couple: Gidget & Moondoggie (pale pink/shimmering sand), Frankie & Annette (coral pink/watermelon) and Zack & Kelly (peachy pink/cotton candy). Sunglasses can also be stored in the case. Available at www.tartecosmetics.com.
Click here to locate a retailer near you.

 

Goldie Alice in Wonderland Lip Gloss, $10.
Goldie creators Dineh Mohajer and Jeanne Chavez, known for their cosmetics that reflect the hottest in pop culture, have taken their beauty adventure through the looking glass.
Created exclusively for Bath and Body Works, their limited edition Alice in Wonderland collection that includes lip plumpers, tinted lip balms and lip conditioners is a trippy mix of madhatter and queen of tarts. It’s no wonder the pint-sized glosses in Tea Cake (vanilla crème shimmer), Duchess (soft pink shimmer) and Alice (watermelon) have us grinning like the Cheshire Cat. Dreamy shades, wet shine and never tacky – a magical classic indeed. Available at Bath & Body Works stores and at www.bathandbodyworks.com. To find a store near you, click here.

Borghese B Gloss, $17.50.
In authentic Italian style, Borghese introduces several beautiful new colors to its B Gloss collection that are destined to become classics. Apricotta (rosy mocha), Bronzo (cherry brown), Charme Naturale (deep berry) and Cristallino (clear shimmer) are as much vintage Tuscany as they are street chic. In both crème and shimmer shades, B’s high-gloss formula bathes lips in luxury. Vitamins A and E, avocado oil, jojoba oil and aloe vera smooth and sooth while luminous pigments accentuate long-lasting shine. Available at www.borghese.com. Click here to find a retailer near you.

 

Philosophy Old-fashioned Lemonade & Sweet Coconut Milk Lip Shine, $10.
When life gives you lemons, do a lemon drop shot. Or lacquer your lips with Philosophy’s spot-on connection between science and summer fun. Old-fashioned Lemonade Lip Shine sweetens lips with a cheery hint of fresh squeezed lemonade as it moisturizes and conditions. In true seaside style, Sweet Coconut Milk Lip Shine tastes as good as it smells as it imparts tropical-like hydration. Red Delicious Apple and Empowermint are two more additions to this lip-enhancing line of high-density glosses. Available at www.philosophy.com. To find a retailer near you, click here.

 

Stila Summer Lip Glaze, $20.
Fit for a bronze goddess, Stila’s Summer 2007 limited edition lip glazes are positively sultrifying. Part of an entire collection of sun-kissed cosmetics created with celebrity stylist Arianne Phillips, these tropical cocktail-inspired pens mark the tastes of the season: Pina Colada (yellow gold with silver shimmer), Spiced Rum (warm bronze with silver and gold shimmer) and Daiquiri (golden pink with gold and silver shimmer).
And just like every vacation cocktail should be, these click-and-glaze pens are twice the size of Stila’s original lip glaze. Available at www.stilacosmetics.com, Sephora and other select retailers. To find a location near you, click here.

 

gloss·a·ry: n: an alphabetical list of technical terms in the specialized field of lip gloss; i.e. PrettyCity.com's guide to lip gloss from A to Z

 

A = Application, a wand is better than a pot, keeps the fingers clean.

 

B = Burt's Bees Balm, always use a balm at bedtime to lips hydrate overnight.

 

C = Clinique, this department store brand is one you can always count on.

 

D = Delux Beauty, this darling brand is from Hollywood makeup artist Jillian Dempsey (Grey's Anatomy hottie Patrick Dempsey's wife).

 

E = Everyone who comments on our perfect pouts.

 

F = Fresh Lip Sheers, our perennial favorite with flawless texture.

 

G = Glitter, a kiss of glittered gloss puts a sparkly touch on a night out.

 

H = Hard Candy, a kitschy brand for flirty girls, and those who dare to go bold with color.

 

I = "I", as in "it's all about me and my gloss."

 

J = Jane Iredale's PureGlossT for Lips. Organic ingredients impart pucker perfection without preservatives and chemicals we can't pronounce.

 

K = Kiehl's, the brand's Lip Therapy is cold-weather catch.

 

L = Lips and all the things we do to make them luscious.

 

M = Maven, the line's Lip Exotics are a healthy alternative.

 

N = Nars, the Barney's of lip gloss, with such a delicious color range, you can't buy just one.

 

O = Orgasm, the must-have shade from Nars based on the line's famed blush, available exclusively at Sephora.

 

P = Pout, it's not how you do it, but what you do with it.

 

Q = the Queen you are.

 

R = Revlon - a rock-solid drug store brand that's got serious celeb power.

 

S = Smashbox, never tacky, always shiny.

 

T = TheBalm, an excellent brand that packs a lot of punch with its plumper.

 

U = Undeniably Addicted.

 

V = Vincent. Vincent Longo. The make-up artist to models and celebs has a gloss that's super silky.

 

W = Wet. Wet shine, wet slicks, anything wet, that's the look.

 

X = XXX Shine Lip Gloss from Urban Decay, ultra-glassy and minty-fresh.

 

Y = the Yummy flavors infused in Jessica Simpson's Dessert Beauty line, like chocolate, caramel and vanilla.

 

Z = Zipper pocket, where gloss should always be stored.