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Lipstick has served as a personal armour for women ever since the first crushed pigment was applied to our lips thousands of years ago. Whether it's having a powerful red lipstick on hand for those moments where you need a confidence boost, or knowing that your matte lipstick isn't going to quit on you before the night is out, the lipstick we choose is as much of a reflection of us as the clothes we wear.

If you feel stuck in a perpetual search for your perfect shade, there's a few tricks that can help to speed up the process and save the back of your hands from 50,000 swatches. When it comes to finding the most flattering nude lipstick for you, 'The trick is to work with your undertone and not against,' explains Dominic Skinner, Global Senior Artist at MAC Cosmetics.

'If you have a warmer or richer skin tone, work with shades that have a pink to coral undertone. Whereas, if you have a cooler, more olive undertone, look for shades that have a beige to golden hue within them. Once you’ve worked out the undertone you can use that to go as pale or as deep in the nude spectrum as you wish.'

Aside from your personal preferences and that immediate 'I've found the one' feeling, there are also some practical things you want to ensure your lipstick has down before you invest. We're talking comfort, longevity and finish, just for starters. To help you on your journey of discovery to finding your perfect lipstick (or fifteen), we've rounded up the best lipsticks in every category.

Forget drying, flaky liquid lipsticks of yonder year, a swipe of Gucci's Rouge à Lèvres Liquide Mat Lipstick and you'll never look back. Packing a moisturising formula of Black Rose oil, Vitamin E, Rice powder and Hyaluronic acid, the almost-whipped texture leaves lips feeling pillowy soft. Also, can we talk about the packaging...

Marrying hydration with a range of stunning neutral hues, Chantecaille's Lip Chic is the ideal companion for those who prefer a natural, undone look. It takes the best moisturising properties of a balm (hello hyaluronic acid) and combines it with soft, your-lips-but-enhanced colour. Did we mention it's vegan too?

Ask anyone who wears make-up and the chances are MAC was one of the first lipsticks they invested in. This lipstick's iconic status is buffered by its extensive shade range and the fact it does not budge. We're talking 3am post-night out, feeling wobbly in a kebab shop proof here people.

A red lip is as synonymous with Parisian women as the British are with complaining about the weather, so it's not surprising that French brand Lancôme have created the perfect matte lipstick. Delivering comfortable, long wear and vivid hues in a très chic black and gold rose-embossed case, this lipstick makes as much of an accessory as your favourite baguette bag.

Looking for a lipstick with the finish of a gloss but the feel and staying power of something less sticky? Well, we're here to say the search is over. The 12 semi-sheer shades of Sisley's Phyto Rouge Shine range are infused with their Hydrobooster complex to nourish and replenish hydration in the lips over time, leaving them with an irresistible lustre.

While there's nothing quite like buying a luxurious lipstick for yourself, this high street option gives high end formulas a real run for their money. The super creamy matte lipstick glides onto the lips like a dream before setting down and staying put for a seriously impressive amount of time. What makes this a real stand-out for us is the applicator, a pointed bullet, which simplifies lining and filling the lips into one nifty product. You'll find quite a few of these shades in the bottom of our bag.

First the refills conquered our soap game, now they're reshaping our lipstick stash too. Fenty Beauty's Icon lipstick offers high impact colour in a buttery formula (thanks to the Vitamin E), all contained in a super sleek refillable case.

When it comes to luxury on the inside and out, Guerlain's Rouge G lipsticks fill the brief. Choose your case from a number of fabric finishes, before deciding which of the seductive red shades you want to go for. 'If you have a warmer skin tone then focus on the reds that have a dash of blue as they will really pop,' advises Skinner. 'For those with a cooler skin tone, try looking at red with an orange or yellow hue. These fiery reds will add extra heat to your look.'

The velvety formula combines hyaluronic acid and blurring powders for a soft, powdery finish that steers well clear of any crumbling throughout the day.

Finding your perfect nude shade can be a difficult one to pin down. What looks great on one person can look like a completely different shade on another, so your best option is to try, try and try again until you find the one. Luckily, Anastasia Beverly Hill's Matte lipsticks come in a line-up of warm, neutral and cool-toned nudes, ranging from light to deep.

Super slick in design and formulation, Dior's new and improved Addict lipsticks contain over 90% natural ingredients, including jasmine floral wax and vegetable oils to intensely hydrate your pout. Don't be fooled by the balm-like moisture though, as the extended shade range packs a serious punch when it comes to colour payoff. Glossy, high pigmented lips this way.