I often have to provide grovelling apologias to my well-worn purse strings, and recently these have become risible palimpsests. So enough is enough! I am going to embrace high-street beauty with open arms (in the hope that my purse will soon greet me in a similar fashion).

Maybelline kindly sent me some of their new releases to try out in time for Valentine’s Day – and I loved it! (Pun intended)

Clockwise from top left:

Maybelline Baby Lips Balm and Blush in ‘Flirty Pink’ £4.99

These are so sweet! Little pots of pure colour: I love a cream blush and this gave a natural rosy glow to my cheeks.

Maybelline Color Show Blushed Nudes in ‘Make Me Blush’ £3.99
A pale pink / nude nail will always win for me. Especially when topped with…

Maybelline Color Show Blushed Nudes in  ‘Crushed Petal’ £3.99
For digits that look like you spent half a day painstakingly copying nails you saw on Pinterest when you actually stole 5 minutes from your busy working day to apply one coat of this wonderstuff (lovely worn as a topcoat but also great on its own). You genius!

Maybelline Color Sensational Blushed Nudes Lip Stick in ‘Tip Top Tuille’ £6.99
IMO a pink lip is a date night essential. And this is a great one: confident, long-lasting and comforting. Brill!

Maybelline Baby Lips Balm and Blush in ‘Booming Ruby’ £4.99

For those reluctant to part with a red lip for Valentine’s Day – then this Baby Lips is the one. And they smell so sweet! Perfect for travelling too, should your Valentine sweep you off your feet to warmer climes.

Maybelline Falsies Push Up Drama Mascara in ‘Very Black’ £7.99
Make sure your eyes Bring It for dramatic eye fluttering over candlelight.

Pink and red
warrants an almost wow
a tell tale techno bite
the line of your lips
& the curl at end ends.
a thorn in your cheeks
not in your side

Sidle up to the
top hats and top cats
whose tails are of this world
in this world
and whirl
around the
spritely apricotty roses.