Well, we had Pterodactyls on this earth, is it really such a stretch to think that maybe they could breathe fire? I choose to believe that flying fire breathing lizards once existed, so the lip gloss thing doesn’t seem so far fetched now does it? Yes, I believe the perfect lip gloss exists.

First we have to define what a gloss would need to be perfect.

1. Not Sticky. Who hasn’t had their hair blown into the sticky stuff on your lips? Gag. Now your lips look weird and your hair is sticky. Bad.

2. Long Lasting. What’s the point of spending the money and taking the time to apply if it’s totally gone by the time you get to where you were going? The perfect lip gloss has to survive the commute and the first drink/kiss/cigarette.

3. Look Pretty. This is why you use it. The perfect gloss has to come in beautiful flattering shades that everyone can use.

4. Good for Your Lips. You know what sucks? Putting on a lip gloss that dries out your lips or tears them up with glitter. The perfect gloss would leave your lips feeling amazing.

So is it a myth? Do you have a better chance of finding a Unicorn in your backyard? Well ladies, I am proud to present to you, the PERFECT lip gloss:

Tarte Vitamin Infused Lip Gloss powered by Borba ($21 tartecosmetics.com)

First, this magical gloss goes on so smoothly that you couldn’t get your hair stuck in it if you tried. Believe me -  I did try just to prove this point. It would. not. stick.

Second, it stays on forever. I usually end up actually having to take the gloss off by lunch time so I don’t get pink kisses all over my burrito (even though I do love burritos enough to want to kiss them). The staying power of this gloss is unmatched even compared to super sticky competitors.

Third, this gloss makes everyone look glamorous. It comes in six shades from sheer nudes and peaches to cherry reds and plums. There’s a color for every skin tone and the shine is glorious.

Fourth, it’s chock full of good stuff. It’s Borba infused so that means it has vitamins and fruit extracts to work from the inside out. Your lips feel amazing and it works better than my lip balm at making my lips feel fabulous.

PLUS it’s Sulfate free, paraben free, mineral oil free, gluten free and preservative free. AND it’s packaging is recyclable and printed in soy ink. Really what more could you ask for? Now go hop on your Pegasus, fly to Sephora and pick it up!

Now for an Honorable Mention: The Almost Perfect Gloss

The Balm – Plump My Pucker ($16 sephora.com)

Not Sticky: Goes on smooth, feels more like a balm (hence the name) then a gloss.

Staying Power: Will stay on throughout your commute and the first cig. You will probably have to reapply after a drink or two.

Pretty Shades: Super shiny and nine classic shades. Coco My Coconut is my personal fave (nude with a pink undertone). Plus each shade has a fun scents Like Cherry my Cola and Pink My Lemonade.

Lip Healthy: It’s called The Balm for a reason. These glosses were designed to be a lip balm disguised as a gloss. It has tons of moisturizing ingredients, plus vitamins, plus Maxi-Lip which boosts collagen over time.

So it’s not quite as magical as Tarte but still a fabulous gloss all around. They DO have more shades and it’s a few bucks cheaper!

Kabuki Face Brush: Kabuki brushes are huge and perfect for all over face coverage, whether you are applying foundation or bronzer. This kabuki brush is from Too Faced and is made with “teddy bear hair bristles” so it’s soft on sensitive faces. Yes, it’s a little pricey but the texture and longevity make it worth the splurge. If your’re looking for something a little cheaper but still quality you can check out The Balm’s mini version of the kabuki brush.

Concealer Brush: When applying concealer to cover up your blemishes or under eye marks, it can be tempting to skip the brush. But by getting a concealer brush like this one from Bare Escentuals you are keeping your skin clean and getting a fully blended look.

Angled Blush Brush: Using round brushes for blush can create a Bozo-like look, but angled brushes make the cheek color look more natural. A soft angled blush brush like this one from Benefit works best when applied on the apples of the cheeks in an upward sweeping motion.

Fine-tipped Eyeliner Brush: Thin eyeliner brushes like this Bare Escentuals brush allow you to get super close to the lash line without the irritation that comes with eye pencils. This brush can also be used wet or dry, so different looks can be easily achieved.

Angled Shadow Brush: Just like with blush, angled brushes create a more blended natural look. Angled brushes like this one from The Balm are especially useful when creating smokey-eye looks.

Lash and Eyebrow Comb: Okay, so I guess it’s not technically a brush, but I’m throwing it in anyway. The lash side of this Professional Platninum comb is great for separating clumped lashes and the brow side allows you to set brows in place, or brush them upwards when you are trimming.

If you’re looking for some great kits, check out: Sephora Brand’s Anti-bacterial brush set. Yeah, okay, I’m a germophobe, but these are awesome; each brush is treated with a hypoallergenic compound designed to repel and destroy bacteria. Also check out Sephora Brand’s Mineral Makeup kit that is designed specifically for mineral makeup, and it comes in an adorable gold clutch case.

Oh, and that germophobe in me is also reminding you to clean your brushes to keep em going! Just a little bit of warm water and shampoo will work, or check out this brush cleaning formula!

I had pretty much resigned myself to a life without lip color–I’ll play up my eyes, I thought–and figured I’d just never be as glamorous as those gals with a deep slick of ruby red on their lips.

But then, like a blessing from heaven, beauty companies everywhere introduced me to my saving grace: the lip stain. Neither lipstick or lip gloss, the stain does as promised–it actually stains your lips, so you get a really deep color that says “oh yes, I just wake up looking like this.“

The color sinks into your lips and doesn’t rub off, plus it rarely needs re-applying. Sound too good to be true? It gets even better–most lip stains can double as cheek color as well, for a really natural flush that stays put.

Here are some of my favorite stains (they can be pretty pricey, but since they do double duty and one application lasts all day, it’s totally worth the extra cash):

The Balm: Stainiac

Benefit: Benetint

Vincent Longo: Lip & Cheek Stain