You’ve probably heard of ‘The Lipstick Index’. The thinking is: when times are tough, lipstick sales soar – because lipsticks are an easy win, when it comes to mood-lifting: very cheering, and not bank-breaking.

And if you’re feeling in the mood for one of those quick fixes, we point you in the direction of CHANEL Rouge Allure Velvet, newly reformulated with an even higher concentrating of pigments and a light-reflecting, lip-conditioning, all-day-hydrating finish. (Nourishing castor oil and shea butter now feature.)

Nobody’s pretending that at £35, these are pocket-money-priced lipsticks. But you’ve got that amazing, almost James Bond-y Rouge Allure packaging, and a choice of 20 satiny shades of fabulousness, spanning soft neutrals to deep ‘rouge-noir’ burgundy, via show-stopping reds. CHANEL describe the finish as ‘equal parts matte and luminous’ – and we’re quoting them directly, because frankly? Couldn’t put it better ourselves.

Gabrielle Chanel herself nailed it, actually, when she said: ‘If you’re sad or heartbroken, make yourself up, dress up, add more lipstick and attack.’

Now THAT’s wisdom…

£35 – buy here

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