Beauty Call: getting lippy for Valentine’s Day

It’s the day when red envelopes slide through letterboxes, schoolgirls giggle as they compare anonymous cards and half the country seems to be squashed into the same restaurant for dinner as you.

But it doesn’t matter if you’ve a date or not this Valentine’s Day, because lipstick will never let you down and never fail to cheer you up.

Strong reds pack a powerful punch, signalling confidence, freedom and joie de vivre, and lipstick technology (stop sniggering – it’s a science) has evolved to the point where expectations can be fulfilled with exactly the right shade and texture. We expect nothing less from our lipsticks than hydration, great staying power and intense colour.

Lipstick is a relatively cheap splurge: budget brands have upped their game so much that Revlon Colorburst crayons can comfortably compete with Clinique Chubby Sticks. If you’re bored with matte reds, there are plenty of options available: high-shine, pigment-rich glosses and chunky twist-up crayons that deliver gorgeous softness and colour.

If you don’t fancy transforming yourself into a screen siren, then a nod to red lips might be just the ticket. A soft, smudgy lip colour with no hard lines is really on-trend and very easy to achieve. Just dab lipstick very lightly on your lips and smudge with your fingertips to get a really wearable daytime look. Or get even more laid-back and try Vaseline Rosy Lips (€2.19) to soothe and protect against the weather while adding a subtle tint of red.

Butter London Lippy Tinted Balm in Strawberry Fields (

€20)

Strawberry Fields hydrates like a balm but provides lush soft colour. It is perfect for daytime or for anyone who isn’t mad about a bold lip.

Sisley Phyto Lip Twist in Cherry (

€34)

Clinique Chubby Sticks spawned a million copies, and this a great one from a luxe brand: shiny, concentrated lip colour in a chunky crayon twist-up, which glosses and provides intense red.

Mac RiRi Woo (

€20.50)

The sell-out Mac red classic, Ruby Woo, is back for it’s third and (or so they say) final Rihanna makeover. Matte, long-lasting and with superb pigmentation this really is a standout bold red.