It is a beauty truism that women return to lipsticks in autumn and want to wear deeper colours as the days get colder. And I think it’s generally true, at least for me – but it’s also reinforced by the fact that new lipstick launches tend to take place in September.

Apart from my obsession with brown lips, I haven’t yet worn proper autumn shades (plums and wines) this year, as the weather has been amazingly warm. There are however some nice in-between shades I thought I could show to you, as there has been some lipstick talk in the comments recently. Some of these are new, some are new to me and a couple are older favourites. I planned to wait until the Mac Lipfinity lipsticks and the new Chanel stains are out, but there is no telling when these will reach Brussels.

This is not a best of, just an overview of products I’ve been actually wearing in recent weeks. But I obviously like all of these, so in no particular order:

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution lipsticks in Amazing Grace and Red Carpet Red. I am not a fan of matte lipsticks, as they make my lips look drier and my whole face deader, but these are nice. Amazing Grace is one of those hard-to-define shades that I love. Tilbury calls it a tea rose, Temptalia calls it a medium pink-coral. Whatever it is, it’s a very sophisticated choice for day: a bit more interesting and vibrant than my usual mauve-y, muted pinks. Red Carpet Red is a gorgeous ruby red: very beautiful, but quite a commitment when worn full-strength.

Surratt Lipsliques in Hevyn and Perfectionniste. These lip sticks (literally) are effortless to wear. The formula is lightweight, relatively sheer with a bit of sheen. Hevyn is that colour I referred to above, the perfect MLBB shade: a mauve-leaning rose, possibly? On me, it looks completely natural. Perfectionniste is a rosy coral, a lighter and peachier version of Amazing Grace. Surratt is not easy to get here, for a similar feel you might try Chanel Rouge Coco Shines – another of my favourite formulas.

Rouge Diorr 678 Culte. This one is new, from the relaunched Dior Rouge line. There are some stunning mattes on offer, but I went – unsurprisingly – for the satin finish. Culte is a mix of pink and red (in-between, again) and the formula is pigmented, smooth and high quality. These are great if you like traditional lipsticks and the colour range is good, especially if you prefer pinks and reds. I have my eye on Zinnia (an amazing red) as well.

Chantecaille Nocturne, CT Amazing Grace, YSL 401, CT Red Carpet Red, Surratt Perfectionniste.

Laura Mercier Creamy Colourbalm in Raspberry Ripple. I don’t see these mentioned very often, but if you like colour AND comfort, check these out. Colourbalms are nicely pigmented and balmy with very wearable shades (this is Laura Mercier after all). Not super long lasting, but they wear well. Raspberry Ripple is a beautiful muted raspberry that should work for many colourings.

YSL Vinyl Cream in 401 Rouge Vinyl. Another new one and long awaited. I am a huge fan of YSL glossy stains and this is a similar formula, but supposed to be more opaque and pigmented. I think some of the original stains were quite pigmented as well, but never mind, these are absolutely wonderful. Super glossy and creamy, I find them quite comfortable on the lips and although they transfer, they wear beautifully and turn into a nice stain by the afternoon. 401 is a true red with a brick nuance and I think it’s a very flattering shade, not to mention the incredible lacquered finish. One of these days, I’m going to get 407 Carmin Session as well.

Louboutin Rose du Desert, YSL Mauve Nihiliste, Dior Culte, LM Raspberry Ripple, Surratt Hevyn.

Chantecaille Lip Chic in Nocturne. I’m not sure if this qualifies as lipstick, but for me, it’s more that than a gloss. It’s a flattering formula with lots of sheen, decent pigmentation and a translucent quality that I like. Nocturne is one of the darkest shades, a pretty berry, but still easy to wear. It works well with my light skin and eyes, but there are 29 shades to choose from.

YSL Rouge Pur Couture 58 Mauve Nihiliste. This formula isn’t new, but it is new to me – Mauve Nihiliste is my first shade from the line. Like the Dior Rouge series, this is an update on the old school lipstick. Not super long-lasting, not crazy glossy, but beautifully pigmented and creamy (the YSL is a touch creamier than Dior). I bought it for the colour, though, as YSL tends to do pinky purples and lilacs better than any other mainstream brand. This is a statement shade, to me it looks like a mix of fuchsia and purple with some lilac added. Not for everyone, but if you’re into this sort of thing…

Rouge Louboutin Sheer Voile in Rose du Desert. Well, I guess the good thing about me buying a 80-euro lipstick is that I’m actually wearing that lipstick. I did a full review when I bought it and my verdict is still the same. Although I have discovered, thanks to this post, that it’s almost exactly the same colour as Surratt Hevyn, maybe a tiny bit warmer and browner. It’s also slightly softer and feels super comfortable.

Any other lipsticks that I definitely should try? As you can see, I have nothing to wear.