Lipstick is back. Chanel and Tom Ford sealed its fate earlier this year when Chanel dubbed 2010 the 'year of the lipstick' and Tom Ford announced he was adding lippie to his beauty repertoire that also includes to-die-for fragrances (they go on sale at Selfridges this Saturday, if you’re already a lipstick convert, fyi).

But what do you do when lipgloss has been taking pride of place in your make-up bag for years? Ease yourself in gently, that’s what.

Beauty brands have picked up on the undying allegiance to lipgloss, but also a girl’s need to keep up with the in-crowd. This month, Maybelline has launched its Color Sensational Pearl Lipsticks, £6.99 which comes in varying shades of pearl tones and have a flattering shimmer. Nice and sheer and not too scary, but housed in a lipstick case. Clever. The Rose Pearl shade is my top pick – it will suit everyone.

Next up, Make-up Artist Jemma Kidd has cottoned onto the lipgloss-type-lippie-in-a-lipstick-case trend too. Her Hi-Shine Hydrating Glossticks, spf 15, £13 have more pigment than Maybelline’s new offerings but are also nice and glossy. They come in a selection of fruity, summer shades and smell divine (like sweets). My favourite shade is Hibiscus; a pretty coral, that’s really wearable.

Finally, Revlon are launching a new line of lipsticks at the end of May. The pigments are really strong, so this is not for the fainthearted. They glide on perfectly and also have a nice sheen that takes the edge off the strong colour (matte finishes can be very unforgiving). In a quilted lipstick case that belies its £7.99 price tag, these lipsticks are a perfect choice if you’re ready to embrace the world of lipstick, but don’t want to pay designer prices. The Fuchsia shade is my winner from the range, perfect for pairing with summer dresses on holiday.

And just remember, make-up can be washed off at the end of the day, so be brave and start experimenting. After all, this is the year to do it.

Click here to buy Maybelline's Color Sensational Pear lipsticks...

Click here to buy Jemma Kidd's products...