By Molly Hill

Lip colour is no longer a one trick pony. New and unique lip products are springing up everyday that do away with the traditional high-maintenance formula of most lipsticks. Hybrid products take the best features of lipsticks, glosses, stains, tints and balms to create the ultimate potion for your pout. Here are some of the best double, triple, and even quadrouple-duty products that have scored my kiss of approval.

Clinique Chubby Stick

These Chubbys have a cult following for a reason.

They may look like novelty sized crayons, but they are actually tinted lip balms that provide a surprising amount of colour and sheen and are ridiculously easy to apply.  They are extremely moisturising and comfortable to wear and come in 6 universally flattering shades.  It is beautifully packaged and features a wind-up mechanism at the bottom if you run out of product.

Available from Clinique counters for $35.

My colour pick: Whopin’ Watermelon.

Australis Show Stopper Gloss Slick

Like the Clinique Chubby Sticks, these Gloss Sticks from Australis look like pencils, but are enriched with vitamin E and leave lips feeling moisturised but never sticky. These sticks offer great colour payoff and have just the right combination of pigment and gloss for a look that is comfortable as well as long wearing. The Show Stopper Gloss Sticks do need to be sharpened to keep them in good condition.

Available in Priceline, Big W, K-Mart and Target for $12.95.

My colour pick: Fireworks.

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil

Many makeup artists will encourage you to fill in your lips with a lip liner pencil before using lipstick to enhance the colour and make it last longer, but NARS have cut out the middle man and created a jumbo lip pencil that performs as a lipstick. Application is smooth and even, just make sure that your lips are in good condition as the nature of matte lip products means that chapped lips are highlighted.

Available at NARS counters and Mecca Cosmetica for $45.

My colour pick: Damned.

NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil

The Velvet Gloss Lip Pencils are similar to the Matte Lip Pencils in that you get great colour intensity, but with an incredibly glossy finish that is nearly wet-look. These can be used over the matte lip pencils or on their own.

Available from NARS counters and Mecca Cosmetica for $45.

My favourite colour: New Lover.

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge pur Couture Glossy Stain

With the genius combination of a lip stain and a lip gloss, YSL Glossy Stain gives you an intense, glossy colour that graciously fades to a lip stain throughout the day, so touch ups are optional. Because the base is a lip stain, it will not budge, even when eating, drinking and talking. It is also buildable, so you can control the colour intensity. The wand is super easy to use because unlike other applicators, it is soft, flat and flexible.

Available from YSL counters for $50.

My colour pick: Coril Fauve (12)

Napoleon Perdis Double Agent Rouge

This is a brand new lip palette that contains a waxy lip colour and a lip powder designed to use over the top. Applying a powder on your lips seems unusual, but it is a great way to create a matte texture and is also fantastic for setting your lip colour to ensure that it lasts. The powder greatly intensifies the lip colour, giving you some control over the shade you want and it doesn’t feel powdery or dry.

Available from Napoleon Perdis counters for $33.

Revlon Just Bitten Lip stain

It feels a bit like drawing on your lips with a texta, but this handy lip stain is really easy to apply, and has the added bonus of a clear balm on the other end so that your lips don’t dry out, which is a common problem with lip stains.

Available from Priceline, Big W, K-Mart and Target  for $17.95.

My colour pick: Passion.

Bodyography Electric Lip Slide

This Electric Lip Slide from Bodyography is a definite winner in my book. It comes in a squeeze tube, but also has an applicator wand and the product itself is a hybrid of lipstick, gloss and stain.  It is infused with natural butters and Vitamin E to create a creamy consistency, which is a pleasure to use.
They somehow manage to tick all the boxes of a lip colour that is vibrant, shiny, mouisurising and long-lasting. And my favourite feature is the amazing fruity scent that makes you look forward to reapplying.

Available online (search stockists here) for $35.

My colour pick: Pulp Friction