It would appear that the rise of the nude lip is here once again.

For the first time in three years, nude and natural coloured lipsticks are outselling red shaded lipsticks.

Debenhams have reported a 62% rise in the sales of natural, softer shades of recent.

But is there a bigger picture to this story than simply a beauty trend?

Studies show that during a recession, shades of red lipstick sell far more than nude, and the opposite applies when there is a more favourable economic climate.

This “lipstick index” (named in 2001) was first realised during the Depression of the 1930s and seems to have been proved a stable point since then!

Many celebrities chose nude shades for this year’s award season such as Julia Roberts, Angelina Jolie, Cate Blanchett and Sandra Bullock.