Whether you’re on the hunt for the perfect lipstick shade, love an on-trend look, interested in injectables or your pout just needs a little TLC, Lucy Slight has the expert tips, tricks and products to put a smile on your dial.

A new lipstick can be an instant mood booster, but finding a flattering shade isn’t always easy, especially if you can’t try before you buy or ask for in-person advice.

Determining whether your skin has a cool or warm undertone is a great way to ensure your chosen hue brightens, rather than dulls your complexion. “Most cool toned skins look better in silver jewellery versus gold, and it’s the opposite for warm skin tones,” says professional makeup artist Grayson Coutts.

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If your skin leans towards cool, Coutts suggests opting for blue-based red as opposed to a fiery orange, and for nudes, try rosy or mauve shades. “If you’re more warm in undertone, then you might reach instead for orangey reds, peachy pinks, terracotta nudes, and golden or even coppery brown shades,” he adds.

If you fall somewhere in the middle of warm and cool, the lipstick world is your oyster, so go for gold. (Quite literally, if you like). In terms of formula, you’ll get the most longevity from a matte liquid lipstick, while a sheer gloss will wear through fastest.

With cooler weather here to stay for a while, now is the time to give your lips a little TLC to keep chapping at bay and ensure you’ve got a smooth surface for your lipstick.

Using an exfoliating scrub followed by a nourishing lip serum will soften the delicate skin instantly and is an easy additional step to your skincare routine.

A lip balm with SPF for day time is a must too, even in winter. Aesop’s SPF 30 balm is nourishing with no white cast so it works for all lip tones.

As we age, our lips can start to lose volume as the tissue shrinks, making wrinkles more prominent. Lip fillers are a safe and effective way of restoring plumpness, adding hydration and also correcting asymmetry.

“Lip filler is an injectable gel made of hyaluronic acid. It comes in a single-use pre packed syringe and we inject it into the lips to add fullness,” explains Olga King, co-founder and managing director of Clinic 1 Aesthetics in Auckland.

The appointment takes around 30 minutes which includes the consultation, before and after photos and numbing cream, with the injections themselves taking just a few minutes. “Swelling after the treatment is normal and can last for a few days.

Everyone is different, but on average lip fillers last six to 12 months.” If you’re not happy with the results, the fillers can be dissolved with an enzyme called hyalase, which breaks down the hyaluronic acid over the course of 48 hours.

As with any cosmetic procedure it’s important to do your research first and visit a reputable clinic, as all treatments do come with risks. “A good clinic will have injectors who are trained to deal with complications,” says King.

If cosmetic treatments aren’t for you, but you’d still like to create the illusion of fuller lips from time to time, a diffused lipstick look is a modern way to achieve this without any harsh outlines. “It’s more youthful and has a less polished, but fresh finish to it,” explains Coutts.

He suggests starting by applying a nude lipstick, gently blotting around the edge of your lip with your fingertip to soften and blur the perimeter slightly. Next, apply a poppier tone of pink or red to the centre of the bottom lip and press lips together, before blending the colour into the nude shade with your finger.

“The result should be a ‘bitten’ or stained lip where there’s colour intensity in the middle of the lip which fades out naturally into a nude. You can finish off with a gloss on top, if desired.”