Kiss and make-up: lip stains

Do you remember a time before lip stains? When our mouth choices were simply stick, pencil or gloss, and there was no room for subtlety? No room for lying? This is what I want in a lip stain: for it to make me look more alive. It should colour my lips as though I've bitten them, or at least give me the appearance of being a little less verging-on-flu than I always am. Topshop has just launched a terribly good raspberry-scented Lip Marker (£7.50, topshop.co.uk ), which doodles on like a felt-tip and can be worn subtly or layered for drama, and warmth. Alternatively... Ruby & Millie Face gloss, £12.50, boots.com Benefit Posietint, £23.50, benefitcosmetics.co.uk DuWop Tinted Prime Venom, £14.50, asos.com Ellis Faas Creamy Lips, £21, liberty.co.uk