Chanel's first collections of powders and lipsticks were created in 1924, the year Société des Parfums CHANEL was set up, according to the house's own timeline. So a Chanel lipstick has a longer history than almost anything else in your makeup bag. The two lines you will meet most often came much later. Rouge Allure launched in 2006 with what the house called a clever opening system, a single click that reveals the CHANEL-stamped stick. Rouge Coco was unveiled in March 2010, with Vanessa Paradis in the ad film, as a line of hydrating cream lipsticks.

What strikes me is how many different lipsticks live under one name. Some are creamy and comfortable. Some are satin, some are luminous-matte, some are shiny oils and some are liquids that are meant to stay put through lunch. Choosing between them is mostly a question of finish, not shade.

The first grid is the classic sticks and balms, the Rouge Coco and Rouge Allure families. The second is everything around them: the liquid lip colors, the gloss, the pencil, and the lip care that sits underneath. If you are new to the brand, start with the first grid and add from the second only when you know what you want from your mouth.

Here is a test I like: swipe a cream, a satin and a matte on the inside of your wrist and look at them in daylight. The one that still looks like lipstick, not paint, after a minute is the finish you will actually wear.

Start with Chanel's Rouge Coco family, since it is the one built around comfort. The classic ROUGE COCO is a glide-on cream with a Hydra-Peptide Complex and camellia ceramides, which the brand says help strengthen the lips' moisture barrier. ROUGE COCO FLASH is the playful one, with a transparent cap so you can see the color, and a silky formula that turns into a shiny oil on the lips. It is meant for people who like shine and do not want to think about it.

Then there are the two balms. ROUGE COCO BAUME is a tinted, shiny balm with buildable color, made with an olive-derived oil and shea butter. The Color & Care Lip Balm is the more straightforward version, moisture-rich, with buildable color after a few swipes. Either one is a good answer for people who say they do not wear lipstick.

Rouge Allure is the more assertive side. The main ROUGE ALLURE is a satin with concentrated, ultra-thin pigments and full coverage, and there is a long-wear version of it too. ROUGE ALLURE VELVET goes luminous-matte, with shea butter and a jojoba oil derivative so it does not feel dry. ROUGE ALLURE L'EXTRAIT is the refillable satin, thin in shape for precise application, with ume flower extract and a claim of up to 8 hours of color.

Here is a pairing I like: line the lips with a matching pencil and then use the Velvet, so the edges stay sharp. The Velvet's own instructions suggest exactly that.

What I would skip: the Flash if you want a lipstick that looks like a lipstick. It is a shiny oil, and it will read as gloss.

This grid is the supporting cast, and some of it is the part I would buy first. Start with the liquids. ROUGE ALLURE LAQUE is a liquid lipstick with satin shine, water-resistant, and the brand says it lasts up to 12 hours. It comes with a doe-foot applicator to define the outline before you fill in. ROUGE ALLURE LIQUID VELVET is the matte one, with a blurring effect, hyaluronic acid and ume flower oil. LE ROUGE DUO ULTRA TENUE is a two-step, a liquid color that dries quickly plus a glossy top coat you can reapply as often as you like.

For shine without color commitment there is ROUGE COCO HYDRA GLOSS, a non-sticky gloss with a Hydra-Peptide Complex and camellia ceramides. N°1 DE CHANEL LIP AND CHEEK BALM is the multitasker, a buttery balm with Red Camellia Oil that you can press onto lips and cheeks alike.

The last three are for the lips underneath the color. LE CRAYON LÈVRES is a creamy, semi-matte pencil with a built-in blending brush. HYDRA BEAUTY MICRO SÉRUM LÈVRES is a lightweight serum that absorbs instantly, with hyaluronic acid and white camellia, and it is made to keep lips hydrated for up to 24 hours. LE LIFT is a balmy lip care cream that plumps and smooths the look of smile lines, and it leaves a matte finish that works as a makeup base.

Here is a routine I like: serum at night, Le Lift in the morning, then any of the colors above.

What I would skip: the Duo on a day when you cannot touch up. The base is made to be worn with its top coat, and the top coat is the part that needs reapplying.

I think the way to shop this range is to decide on a finish before you look at a single shade. If you want comfort, go to the Rouge Coco side. If you want color that behaves, go to Rouge Allure. If you want something that lasts through a long day, look at the liquids.

I would also treat the lip care as part of the lipstick. A serum or a balm underneath makes every one of these sit better. Buy one stick, one care product, and wear them for a month before you add another. If you want to keep browsing, I also put together Chanel Rouge Coco Flash and Chanel Makeup.