The Autumn Lip Edit: 10 Lipsticks, Glosses and Oils for Darker Evenings

Matte lasts longest but can dry lips out, so exfoliate and balm first. Satin is the most forgiving middle ground. Gloss makes thin lips look fuller and suits a low-effort face. Lip oils are the new balm: sheer colour, real shine and genuinely comfortable. If you only buy one thing, buy a satin lipstick in a shade a little deeper than your natural lip.

MAC Retro Matte Lipstick in Ruby Woo. The blue-red that makes teeth look whiter. Very matte, very classic. Shop at John Lewis.

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in Pillow Talk. The nude-pink that suits nearly everyone. Office-safe, dinner-safe. Shop at Selfridges.

Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb. Not sticky, smells of peach and vanilla, and Fenty Glow flatters almost any skin tone. Shop at Boots.

Dior Addict Lip Glow Oil. A tinted oil that feels like a treatment. The cherry shade is the autumn pick. Shop at Harvey Nichols.

Clarins Lip Comfort Oil. The original lip oil, still one of the best. Lives in every handbag for a reason. Shop at Boots.

Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink. Survives a three-course dinner. Pick a berry or brick shade for autumn. Shop at Superdrug.

Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick. Proof that a good lipstick doesn't need to cost much. Creamy, pigmented, wide shade range. Shop at Boots.

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask. Not a colour, but the reason your colour goes on smoothly. Apply at night once the heating comes on. Shop at Lookfantastic.

NYX Butter Gloss. A soft, cushiony gloss for very little money. Layer it over a liner for a nineties brown lip. Shop at Superdrug.

A designer bullet for the dressing table. Hermès, Guerlain and Chanel all make refillable cases that look good on the dresser and feel like a treat. Browse at Liberty.

Brick red, rosewood, mulberry and a toasted brown nude are the shades to look for. A brown lip liner with clear gloss on top is having a big moment and costs almost nothing. Cool skin tones suit berry and wine. Warm skin tones look great in brick, cinnamon and burnt orange. A true red works on everyone, as long as you find the right undertone.

Balm first, then blot so the lipstick has something to grip. Line the whole lip, not just the edge, for staying power. Apply, blot on a tissue, apply again. Dark shades need a clean edge, so tidy around the mouth with a cotton bud and a little concealer. And check your teeth before you leave the house.

Matte formulas and dry, cracked lips do not mix. If your lips are peeling, choose a gloss or oil until the balm has done its work. Pair your lip with a matching cheek using our blush edit.