CATRICE Rouge à lèvres Blur-Real Matte 020 Taupe Tension, 3 g

CATRICE Blur-Real Matte 020 Taupe Tension lipstick, 3 g

Taupe Tension is a beige-leaning taupe, part of the cool-brown family that has quietly displaced the classic nude in a lot of make-up bags. One pass gives a sheer wash of colour and each further layer builds it up, so where you stop is your call. The weightless texture sits on the lip without any drag.

The finish is not a dry matte but a blurred, airbrushed one, and ceramides are folded in to smooth the look of the lip. There is a faint vanilla scent to the bullet.

Key points

• Beige taupe shade 020 Taupe Tension
• Buildable coverage from sheer to solid
• Soft matte, blurred finish
• Smoothing ceramides in the formula
• Vegan, alcohol- and paraben-free

Cool shades like this can harden the face if everything else is heavy. Keep cheeks and eyes in neutral territory and let the mouth do the talking, which is where taupe genuinely earns its place.