A quick clue as to how long a lip gloss will last, according to Linda Wells (author of Allure: Confessions of a Beauty Editor): ‘Pick the right gloss by looking for a few code words. Names that sound hard or thick (‘lip lacquer’, ‘glass’, ‘diamond’) will likely have more colour, be nearly opaque and stay put longer; wet words like ‘juicy’ or ‘slick’ are signs of sheer, ephemeral colours.