The best of Chanel lipsticks

I haven't been wearing lipstick for very long, often sticking to tinted lipbalms or lipgloss to avoid the matronly look or the feeling of dressing older than I am.

Lipsticks, to me, are fickle friends or, as Carrie Bradshaw might say, Frenemies. Pick the right shade, tone and finish and you will look incredible. Pick the wrong lipstick, however, and you risk losing more than your money's worth.

Being in my twenties, with often shiny skin and very small but full lips, I often prefer to bring the attention to my eyes through make-up, as I believe to truly successfully wear a perfect lipstick you bring more attention to the clarity and quality of your skin.

I recently tried the Chanel Rouge Allure in their new matte finish (called Velvet) and was- quite frankly- blown away. The finish brings a youthful edge to wearing lipstick, and the lasting power means that you truly don't have to reapply for at least 4 hours. In a busy twenty-something girl's lifestyle, that means a lot.

I have, since, tried other lines of Chanel's lipstick offering, including Rouge Coco ("Magnolia - 117" is my favourite shade). Nothing else comes close to the mastery of the Allure Velvet. They glide on with a creamy feel, then dry to a velvet finish that won't budge. Perfection.

The best shades are, to me (and my red-hued skin tone) as follows:

For Day
Rouge Allure Velvet "La Distinguee - 33"

Slightly more subtle, yet obvious you are wearing a lip colour. Perfect for day as it is more of a neutral tone but with a hint of a dusty rose that will compliment pretty much any other colours you are wearing. The best lipliner to go with this shade is the Le Crayon Levres "Natural - 34".

For Evening
Rouge Allure Velvet "L'Exuberante - 37"

A brighter pink for the evening, or to brighten up your day, this has a blueish undertone to counteract the redness of my skin and lift the blonde in my hair. Every time I have worn this shade, I will get a compliment on my make up. The lipliner you need with this shade is Le Crayon Levres "Pretty Pink - 26".

Best Red
Rouge Allure Velvet "La Fascinante - 38"

Again, a blue undertone saves the day, but this darker wine-red is a classic in it's own right and would make even Marilyn Monroe weak at the knees. If you are looking for a matte finish red, this is one to try. The matching liner is Le Crayon Levres "Rouge Profond - 57".

Photo credit: Goody Two-Choos