V-Day Lips, B*tch

Whether you're spending Valentine's Day with bae, or just looking for a bae for the day (or night 😉), you need to make sure your lips are looking sexy, plump, and as juicy as Biggie's 1994 banger...

To help you out, I've picked out the sexiest shades to wear this Vday. However, before you even think about colour, you need to ensure your lips are as healthy as possible. After all, winter is out here keeping our lips sore, cracked, dry, and flaking, so it's important they stay nourished and protected at all times. The Antipodes Kiwi Seed Oil Lip Conditioner is the best lip balm I've ever used - I recommend you get acquainted.

You will also need to give your lips a good (gentle) scrubbing session regularly, to ensure they're uber soft and flake-free. You can't go wrong with the BYBI Buffer Lip Scrub - an 100% natural, dual action scrub that buffs the bad sh*t away, revealing softer and healthier lips that hold on to lipstick for longer. It also smells divine, thanks to its strawberry and cinnamon scent. BYBI use brown sugar granules to exfoliate, agave and cherry oil to hydrate, and strawberry extract and cinnamon oil to improve circulation for a plumper pout! What's not to love?!

Now onto the shades...

The Origins Blooming Bold Lipstick in Hibiscus Haze (£18.50 origins.co.uk) is a flower-infused lipstick that provides a bold and rich full-coverage color with a satin finish. Its formula features flower butters, crushed petals and essential oils from a blend of 12 flowers, to keep lips hydrated and smooth during wear. The shade is a classic pink that'll suit just about any skin tone. Its satin finish looks gorgeous on the lips and the rich pigment is very long lasting - kiss proof, but maybe not the French kind.

For fans of warm red shades with a touch of orange, I recommend The Body Shop Matte Lipstick in New Orleans Scarlet. The rich colour is to die for and it's only £8 (The Body Shop)!! This matte lipstick is highly pigmented and - importantly - enriched with community trade Brazil nut oil and beeswax to provide nourishment - no matte dragging or cracking here!

Now if there is one brand guaranteed to have a good Valentine's Day lipstick option, it's Lipstick Queen. The Aussie brand have an aptly named Dating Game collection featuring four shades that would be perfect for the 14th. However, one shade in particular is seriously 👌. It is Mr. Right (£22 Space NK), a gorgeous, bright rosy pink with hints of coral. The lipstick's formula is enriched with a nourishing blend of shea butter and vitamin E to keep your lips kissable af.

One of my favourite lipsticks in recent years is Lancome's L'Absolu Rouge Drama Matte in Tapis Rouge (£25.50 feelunique.com) and it couldn't be more perfect for Valentine's Day. It is an incredibly sexy, classic red that looks good on all skintones. Its colour is very rich and lasts for hours after application, even after kisses of the French kind! The lipstick has a smooth creamy consistency that glides onto the lips effortlessly and feels comfortable from application to removal.