So many great lipsticks, so little time (and so much mask-wearing). We never bought into the idea that lipstick was going out of fashion due to mask-wearing. Lip colour is a celebratory, face-brightening bit of make-up that can uplift us (and, more practically, the right formula can protect and moisturise our lips). We’re moving away from drying, moisture-sucking mattes and enjoying silky, comforting bursts of colour in flattering shades.

Talking of flattering shades (or not), we’re seeing a lot of brown lipsticks around right now. These can look fabulous if you have a darker skin tone, but they certainly don’t suit everyone. They have a certain retro appeal – ‘90s supermodel/Duran Duran video here we come – but those of us who wore them the first time around will be in no rush to revisit the look. Shades of caramel and latte might sound delicious on paper, but in reality, other shades tend to be more flattering.

Here’s our pick of recent lip colour launches for the new season that we reckon are worth investing in:

Main featured image: Erdem AW21 beauty look featuring Nars Cosmetics: the lipstick colour is Nars Matte lipstick in Ravishing Red and Inappropriate Red. 

1 FOR LUXURY

Rouge Hermès lipsticks are simply exquisite. The striped bullets, which are refillable, somehow look modern and classic at the same time – they demand to be displayed on a shelf like small weighty beauty sculptures. The formula is predictably excellent, too. Limited-edition shades for autumn include Orange Brûlé. But is bright orange really wearable? MAC’s Director of Make-up Artistry Terry Barber recommends trying a vivid orange lipstick “as an alternative to a classic red lip or smoky eye,” and advises keeping the rest of your make-up low-key and “decluttered … to ensure it’s chic, not garish.” More easily zipped on, though, are the others, Rose Tamisé and Rose Magenta. My favourite remains Rose Casaque, though, a peerless statement red that has an incredibly refreshing effect on your face. Don’t save them for best, though – as Oliver Burkeman’s new book, Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, points out, we have limited days on earth, and we intend to spend them wearing this burst of uplifting colour. €62 each, www.hermes.com.

2 FOR GLOWING

Dr Hauschka’s new toothpastes are incredibly strange – they’re fluoride-free, and an odd, unappealing yellow/green colour (€6.45 each). If you’re going to give up your regular trusted toothpaste – most of us stay loyal to one brand – as well as pay a premium for it, it needs to be really good. I was intrigued by the Saltwater flavour, but it’s oddly spicy, and not pleasant – I’d rather have a mouthful of Seapoint seawater, and that’s saying something. They look good in your bathroom, but otherwise I’m not convinced. Anyway, by contrast the brand’s new lip colours are better than the simple packaging might suggest. There is something 1990s about them – they have a bit of a sheen. They are very moisturising and pleasant to wear, though at €24.45 they are more expensive than you’d expect and I don’t like the plastic packaging. Dr H is justly famed for its divine skincare – do try the new Day Lotions, they are beautifully light and fragrant – and it remains what this brand does best. At pharmacies nationwide and www.drh.ie.

3 FOR NUDE

Charlotte Tilbury is famed for her nude lipsticks, which “mimic the natural colouring of the lips”. Her latest collection is Super Nudes, with lipsticks through to eye palette. Lipsticks now cost €32, so pretty premium, while the (tackily named) Nudegasm face palette, a revisit of the 2019 version, is €75. The lip colours are very wearable, ranging from apricot to peach and richer rosewood shades that tend towards a browner shade of pale. Available from August 19 online and in Brown Thomas and Arnotts from September 2.

4 FOR VEGAN

A new vegan range at Boots Ireland, Bite Beauty first launched in 2011 and is now owned by Kendo, the beauty brand of LVMH (also behind Fenty Beauty, Marc Jacobs beauty and more). My pick of the range would be the Power Move Soft Matte lipsticks – they’re bold colours, non-drying and mean you can go vegan with no compromise. The “clean beauty” label is one to be wary of though – like “clean food”, it’s not specific or particularly meaningful. When you look at the ingredients it’s really the silicones (not harmful, but not “superfoods” either) in there that make the texture feel silky; yes there are seed oils too, but much lower down the ingredients list and so in much smaller quantities. It isn’t cheap to go vegan, with lipsticks at €31 (4g), mascara €33 and Whipped Blush at €39 for 10ml. However, Hot Tomato is a rocking bright shade – and it’s good to have more options for those wanting to buy vegan. At Boots Ireland nationwide and www.Boots.ie.

NB If you’re after a great vegan lipstick, also consider Hourglass Confession lipstick Red 0 – it’s a true brilliant red in a slim elegant applicator. Expensive at €45 (for 0.9g product) but refillable, it’s a breakthrough formula that’s free from carmine but every bit as good as any red lipstick you’ve ever tried. At Harvey Nichols Dundrum.

5 FOR SMOOTHING

bareMinerals Mineralist Hydra-Smoothing Lipsticks (€24) are well worth trying out, particularly if you tend to find lipstick drying. bareMinerals might not usually be your first port of call for a great lip colour, but the Mineralist lipsticks and glosses are among their best make-up products. Made with “minimal ingredients”, the lipstick formula is vegan, and really very good – some shades have already sold out. I like bright orange-red Energy – an excellent alternative to full-on orange (see above), with lots of zing, and with moisturising seed and fruit oils and shea butter. I love the lip balm-glosses, too (€24.50, see more here). Both the tube and cap are made with PCP (post-consumer recycled plastic) and the carton is recyclable. At counters nationwide including BT2 Blanchardstown, Arnotts and www.Boots.ie.

6 FOR LONG-LASTING

Estée Lauder Pure Colour Envy lipsticks are reliably creamy and colour-saturated, and this new Whipped Matte Liquid Lip version provides long-wearing colour – with a truckload of pigment – plus comfort, for a soft-focus finish. Perfect for under the mask as they last well. Available in 12 shades. €30 at Boots Ireland from August 25.

7 FOR VALUE

For excellent and affordable lipsticks, see Zara beauty (online only, www.zara.com) – whether you want matte, satin, demi-matte or tinted balm, there’s a great choice of cleverly designed refillable lip colours from under €9, with refills from €5.95 (which all click in and out easily with no fuss or mess). I love the texture of the mattes, which snap closed magnetically, and the bright shade 609 Original is a real standout if you like bold statement colour. Swerve the brushes though, they’re too floppy to be any use – a false economy. Read more about Zara beauty here.

Left off the list …

There are lots of other new launches, too. I’ve left off Urban Decay’s latest lipsticks, as I don’t like the way the lid will only go on from one angle – it’s fiddly and irritating; the original Vice lipstick round bullet packaging is much better (currently available via lookfantastic.ie at €12.45). And I’m not keen on Sculpted by Aimee’s velvet and gloss double-ended lip colour – personally I find the pinks are too sickly, and only work if your teeth are veneer-white.