How a LIPPY changes your face

Annabel’s used the same lipstick for 30 years. She tried the new generation of colours and found...

MY BEAUTY routine is simple: foundation, mascara, blush and a sweep of lipstick in a reliable shade of browny-pink.

But trouble started when I went to buy a new lipstick and found an overwhelming array of options — marble, metallics, two and three tones, topcoats — so I enlisted celebrity make-up artist Oonagh Connor to help me work out which live up to the hype, and whether any of these tones and textures suit a 45-year-old mature woman like me.

I found that each shade made a big difference not only to my pout, but to the shape of my face and even the colour of my eyes. So was I convinced to change my trusty shade? 1: Annabel’s natural look

OONAGH SAYS: As you age, lips start to thin and lose colour. If you don’t normally use lipstick, it’s time to start.

ANNABEL SAYS: The one essential item in my make-up bag is lipstick. My lips are quite pale and I feel naked if they are bare. GIMMICK OR GLAM? Just grim! I hate to go out bare-lipped. 1/10 2: Rimmel Oh My Gloss! in Snog, €6.99

OONAGH: This is a safe option. It does suit her skin tone, but it doesn’t ‘wow’. Annabel would benefit from wearing lip-liner.

ANNABEL: I have been wearing this shade since I was 16 years old. It gives a plumping effect and doesn’t drain my complexion. GIMMICK OR GLAM? Always glam. But perhaps it’s time for a change. 7/10 3: Too Faced Melted Latex Liquified Lipstick in Rated R, €23

OONAGH: It’s gooey, like a coat of paint, and you need a steady hand: the shade is so intense any mistakes will draw the eye.

ANNABEL: Neon pink is way outside my comfort zone. But once it was on, I was pleasantly surprised as it lifted my complexion. GIMMICK OR GLAM? Glam. 7/10 4: Bobbi Brown Crushed Lip Colour in Cali Rose, €27

OONAGH: This is soft, nourishing and highly wearable with a light sheen that lifts the skin tone.

ANNABEL: This pale pink lipstick had the conditioning quality of some of my favourite balms, yet the colour was obvious and fresh. GIMMICK OR GLAM? Glamorous — my new favourite. 9/10 5: Givenchy Rouge Interdit Vinyl in Noir Revelateur, €33 OONAGH: This black balm reacts to the pH of your lips to create your very own unique shade. ANNABEL: I loved the light berry colour and soft texture. We tested it on others

and it did change shade, but it wasn’t that impressive. GIMMICK OR GLAM? Gimmick. It’s a tinted lip balm. 6/10 6: Benefit Double the Lip in Pink Thrills, €22

OONAGH: A lippy and liner in one. The thin, tapered lipstick is striped with two shades, a darker ‘liner’ at the tip and a brighter colour below.

ANNABEL: Draw it along your lip line and you get a thin stripe of liner at the top and a thicker stripe of lipstick to fill in the rest. But you need to turn the stick around on the lower lip, which is a bit awkward. GIMMICK OR GLAM? Gimmick. This is too fiddly. 4/10 7: Smashbox Be Legendary Triple Tone in Red Ombre, €23 OONAGH: Ombre, a graduated blend of colours, is another season trend. But this style is a complete faff. In the end I just used a brush. ANNABEL: Very awkward. Hot lips? No, just silly. GIMMICK OR GLAM? Gimmick. Don’t try it at home. 2/10 8: Estee Lauder Pure Colour Love in Space Tripper, €24 OONAGH: A lot of women favour nudes,

but it’s important to boost your blusher if you wear them.

ANNABEL: Space Tripper is too brown for me — it makes my hair look dull and my skin sallow, while the shimmer just draws attention to the problems. GIMMICK OR GLAM? Gimmick. 5/10 9: Revlon Ultra HD Matte in Intensity, €11.99

OONAGH: A ‘velvet’ lipstick, which is just a more moisturising matte. It goes on beautifully in a single coat and gleams. Keep other makeup soft with a shade this bold.

ANNABEL: I would never have considered the purple colour, but it brought out my eyes. GIMMICK OR GLAM? Glam. 7/10 10: Bourgeois Rouge Velvet in Rubi’s Cute, €8.99 OONAGH: I liked the tear-drop shape, which helped draw a neat outline. This shows you don’t have to avoid red as you get older. ANNABEL: It went on with no fuss, but the shade is a tad harsh. GIMMICK OR GLAM? Glam. 8/10 11: Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss in Caviar, €30 OONAGH: Chanel’s high-shine black topcoat has been a huge hit with fashionistas. But it seems like an awful lot of money for little effect.

ANNABEL: I liked it, the glittery gloss gave instant depth, but it’s not worth the price.

GIMMICK OR GLAM? Gimmick. 5/10 12: Illamasqua Lava Lips Marbled Lipstick in Tectonic Plum, €24.99 OONAGH: Lovely texture, but despite the marbling it comes out as just one shade. ANNABEL: The package is stunning, but that doesn’t come across on your lips. GIMMICK OR GLAM? I’m sad to say that it’s a gimmick. 2/10 13: Too Faced Melted Matte in Miso Pretty, €23 OONAGH: This was hard to apply and washes Annabel out. ANNABEL: I looked like I had been at the Tipp-Ex. GIMMICK OR GLAM? Gimmick. 2/10 14: Pur Velvet Matte Liquid Lipstick in Ever After, €22 OONAGH: This glides on smoothly then dries matte, which should mean less colour bleeding. The shade is deeply pigmented, so be careful when applying.

ANNABEL: This give an intense colour but it didn’t stay on my lips for long. GIMMICK OR GLAM? Glam. 5/10 15: Max Factor Honey Lacquer in Regal Burgundy, €12.99 OONAGH: This highly pigmented gloss looks like a lipstick and isn’t at all gloopy. ANNABEL: The hue is much stronger than any gloss I’ve ever had. GIMMICK OR GLAM? Glam. 9/10