Not every MAC shimmer lip has to be a full frost. Frost Lipstick in CB 96 and New York Apple stay in the classic frosted family, so they share the same high-pearl, semi-lustrous finish as the shades above. If you want the shine turned down, the Lustreglass Sheer-Shine Hydrating Longwear Lipstick is the friendlier neighbor. MAC calls it a sheer lipstick that comforts like a balm, made with raspberry seed, jojoba and coconut oils, and reflective pearls give it a soft, glossy finish. Alone Time is a greyish mauve, Thanks, It's MAC is a taupey pink nude with silver pearl, and Hug Me is a blushed nude.

For more color, the M·A·Cximal Sleek Satin lipstick is a full-coverage satin that MAC says hydrates for eight hours. Fleshpot is a warm light beige, flesh tone nude, and Stone is a muted greyish taupe brown. The Lipglass gloss in Spite, a muted plum-taupe brown, goes over any lipstick you own, and MAC suggests pressing it into the center of the lips for a fuller look.

How to pair: wear a satin lipstick like Stone through the outer part of the lips, then tap a little Lipglass in the center. You get depth and shine without a frost's full sparkle.

What I would skip: layering a Lipglass over a high-pearl Frost. Both already reflect light, and the result can look busy. Pick one shiny layer and let it lead.

If you like the metallic side of frost, other brands have taken it in some fun directions. ISAMAYA Lips Metal is a sheer metallic balm with a dramatic, sparkly finish. Pantomime is a metallic pink with gold reflects, and Shaded Rose is a metallic rose with iridescent, multi-dimensional reflects. The brand says it is made to be applied to bare lips, so I would keep it simple and skip the liner.

KJH.brand by Katie Jane Hughes makes the Prism Lite Metallic Lipstick & Lip Liner Crayon, a pointed crayon that can outline and fill. Enigma is a shimmery nude peach and Illusion is a prismatic terracotta, and the brand says it can be worn sheer or built up. Valentino's Spike Disco Lip Balm in Rose In The Woods is a cool rosewood with a pH-activated flush and light-reflecting pearls, in a rose-gold Rockstud case. NYX Party Animals Butter Gloss Bling Metallic in Blood Moon is a metallic gloss for a quick, playful finish.

Two more shimmer glosses come from the Glossed Icy Shine range: 02 Granita is clear with cool-toned pink shimmers, and 03 Sorbet is clear with peachy coral shimmers. They are the most wearable choice here if a full frost feels like too much.

What I would skip: layering the ISAMAYA balms over a matte lipstick. The brand says to apply them to bare lips, so give them a clean canvas.

Start with how much shimmer you can live with. A full MAC Frost, like Angel or Fresh Moroccan, is the true throwback. If you want a softer shine, Lustreglass in Hug Me or Alone Time gives you the pearl in a sheer wash. If you want an evening version, the ISAMAYA and KJH shades add metallic color that does most of the work alone. Keep lips smooth before any of them, because pearl highlights every dry patch. And wear one shiny layer at a time, then check the mirror by a window before you leave the house. If it looks like too much, blot once and keep going. The best frost is the one you forget you have on.