Oh, oh, oh. Givenchy has pretty much hit the sexy-nail right on the head with their Le Rouge lipsticks. The outer case is metal and black leather – I’ll just repeat that: metal and black leather. It just feels so luxurious when you hold it in your hand! Mine has my name engraved into it (I know) which makes it extra, extra-special, but you could always chisel in your own with a compass and small hammer. (Don’t you remember doing “engraving” at school on your pencil tins? Was that just me?)

Slide out the lipstick itself and you’ve got a velvety, intense lip colour with a matte finish. Not matte matte, but there’s definitely no sheen to this little number. No dryness either, which is a bit of a boon – a red lipstick that doesn’t slide about or dry your lips! Perfect. The shade I have here, Carmin Escarpin (whatever that means) is a proper Hollywood starlet kind of red. Bright, eyecatching and just the right amount of warmth. It won’t make your teeth look yellow but it also doesn’t look pinkish (I hate pinky reds on myself) so it’s pretty much spot on for my tastes.

If you’re passing a Givenchy counter then you must cop a feel of one of these Le Rouge lipsticks – I know that you’ll get odd looks, but. The packaging reminds me of the inside of a lovely new car – black, soft leather with metal trimmings. It’s so completely up my street it’s as though I dreamt it up. If you’re looking for a velvety, non-drying red that gives perfect coverage in one easy hit, you’ll love Carmin Escarpin for more than just the packaging!

Givenchy’s Le Rouge lipsticks cost £24 from House of Fraser and counters nationwide.