The lip oils are where the e.l.f. range gets more playful. The Glow Reviver Lip Oil Glimmer is an ultra-glossy oil with a pop of crystal pearl sparkle and shine. Citrine Gleam, Crystal Baller and Super-neutral are the three I would compare, and the names alone tell you how much sparkle to expect. Wear the neutral one alone, and dab a glimmer shade in the center of the lips when you want light to catch.

The Glow Reviver Plumping Lip Oil comes in 8 shades with a cooling tingle, a fresh minty scent and nourishing ingredients. Burst Bubble, Dreamsicle and Major Mauve are the ones on my list. I like these for evenings, when I want the plump look with a bit of color, and I keep the glimmer oils for the weekend.

Then there is the Sun Boss Gloss SPF 25, a tinted lip gloss with vitamin E and hyaluronic acid that gives broad spectrum SPF 25 sun protection, buildable color and a high-shine finish. It's Your Mauve and Peachy Kween are the two shades here. This is the one I would keep in a bag for the days I am outside, and apply again when the shine fades.

Pairing tip: a plumping oil over a dab of Lip Lacquer in Wild Rose gives you a fuller, glassier mouth than either does alone.

What I would skip: layering a plumping oil and a Pout Clout Pen together. You will get a strong tingle, and it is easier to pick one.

To see what else is out there, I lined up glosses from other brands next to the e.l.f. ones. The Glossed Smoothing Lip Gloss in 13 Invincible is a golden coral shimmer in a gel texture, and its petal applicator is designed to coat the inside of the lips and then follow the edges. Glossier Glassy High-Shine Lip Gloss in Clear is transparent and cushiony, with jojoba oil and vitamin E acetate. REFY Lip Gloss with Hyaluronic Acid in Clear is a nonstick clear gloss that is long-wearing. Mane High Shine Moisturizing Lip Gloss in Sugar Shore is clear and nonsticky.

For the oil-gloss hybrids, Tower 28 ShineOn Lip Jelly in Chill is clear and made for sensitive skin, with apricot kernel, raspberry seed and rosehip oils. Saie Glossybounce in Bubble is a nude mauve with hyaluronic acid, jojoba oil and shea butter. Jillian Dempsey Lip Gloss in Golden Pearl is a plant-powered gloss with a plush paddle applicator, no stickiness and no sting, per the brand. Victoria Beckham Beauty Posh Gloss in Ice comes in a glass bottle with a horn-patterned cap and has black currant oil in the formula.

A practical way to choose: swipe a clear one on the back of your hand and touch two fingers together. Stickiness shows up right away.

What I would skip: a thick, tacky gloss on windy days. Hair sticks to it. Go for a lightweight oil-gloss instead.

Start with what you want your lips to do. For plain shine, a clear Lip Lacquer or one of the clear glosses from the last grid. For plump and tingle, the Pout Clout Pen or Plumping Lip Oil. For sparkle, a Glimmer oil. For a lip that goes outside with you, Sun Boss Gloss SPF 25. Test any tingling formula on your wrist first, and keep a soft lip balm at night so the gloss has a smooth surface to sit on. Once you know which of those you reach for most, everything else is just color.