We have never been fans of matte lipsticks. Until now they've always felt like the lip equivalent of a pair of jeans that are two sizes too small:  tight, uncomfy - and not really flattering, either, because matte lipsticks can also look flat as well as matte.  In fact, the only way we could bear to wear matte was by slathering on a rich balm beforehand, which sort of defeated the whole point because it basically made it back into a normal lipstick.

Enter St. Bobbi of New York, the patron saint of wearably easy make-up, who's taken the whole matte thing and made it not just accessible, but desirable.  Suddenly, a matte lip's what it's all about, for us.

Her secret?  Plenty of intense pigments, for sure, but combined with emollients and soft waxes to lock in moisture.  In other words, you can use this without feeling like you just dismounted a camel after a 36-day trek across the Sahara.

Yet despite the lip-conditioning elements, Creamy Matte Lip Colour has all the plus-points of matte lipstick, promising to stay feather-free, transfer-resistant and smudge-proof for up to eight hours.  (We're loving Razzberry, a deep pink, and the classic neutral Tawny Pink - just the type of signature shade Bobbi's known for.)

The clue's in the name:  Creamy.  Matte.

And we could kiss Bobbi for it.

Without leaving a lip-print...

UK readers find Bobbi Brown Creamy Matte Lip Colour at www.johnlewis.com/£18 - buy here US readers find it at www.bergdorfgoodman.com/$28 - buy here

http://www.johnlewis.com/367685/Product.aspx?SearchTerm=bobbi+brown+creamy+matte+lip+colour