The new L’Oreal Color Riche La Vie en Rose lipstick collection was all over Boots & Superdrug when we were having a browse at the weekend, so I don’t think it’s my fault at all that I ended up purchasing – damn those sneaky marketing people (i.e. me – I should know better).

There are 5 new pink shades, each fronted by a L’Oreal ambassador and designed to work with their colouring – the idea being that you pick whoever you look like most and you’ll suit what they suit! (this may be simplifying it slightly…). The shades are all really different pinks, from Blake Lively’s bright coral pink through to Helen Mirren’s barely there super pale option.

From the pinks, I went for ‘Naomi’s Delicate Rose’. Other than sounding slightly like the sort of euphemism you might hear from someone you would later describe as simpering, this is actually a really nice cool-toned pinky nude. I loved the shade when I swiped it in the shop, but I’m not sure I like it quite so much on me (maybe I should have taken the hint and realised I don’t have too much in common with Naomi Watts). The shade just looks wrong & reminds me of the 1980s. It also settles into my lips and looks patchy. I think maybe for a cool blonde with less dry lips this could be lovely, so I’m going to donate it to a friend and maybe try ‘Blake’s Delicate Rose’ (I’m still not blonde, but I do like coral!).

While I was looking at the pinks, I also strayed over to the red section and picked up ‘Eva’s Pure Red’ which was a far more successful choice. Rather than being a “look, I’m wearing red lipstick’ red, this is more of a  ‘but of course I’m wearing red lipstick’ red, with a bit of a vintage screen siren feel. It goes on smoothly and settles into a fabulously lived-in matt which is really wearable for everyday. It stays on for about half a day before I need to reapply (depending on what you eat – it stayed through a croissant but not so well through spaghetti bolognese). This is definitely going to be staying near to the top of my lipstick bag (and I can kid myself that wearing it is making me resemble Eva Longoria).

Both shades are £6.99 (currently on 3 for 2) at Boots here.

Ingredients – Lanolin oil, sesame seed oil, oleyl erucate, microcrystalline wax, PPG-5 lanolin wax, acetylated lanolin, beeswax, disteardimonium hectorite, fragrance, tocopheryl acetate, rosa canina fruit oil, calcium aluminum borosilicate, silica, argan oil, BHT, BHA, geraniol, hexyl cinnamal, hydroxycitronellal, calcium sodium borosilicate, synthetic fluorphlogopite, methyl-2 octynoate, polyethylene terephthalate, polymethyl methacrylate. May Contain: Mica, titanium dioxide, iron oxides, red 7, red 28 lake, yellow 6 lake, red 22 lake, bismuth oxychloride, yellow 5 lake, carmine, blue 1 lake