Make-up essentials for the party season

This is not a paid post. Products are press samples.

Trends may come and go but style is always in fashion. When you know what colours suit you stick with them. Look contemporary by playing with textures.

We all have staples that we like to keep in our make-up collection. Here are some suggestions for the party season.

Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch, £26.50

Concealer, after a few hours, can settle into fine lines. Caked make-up is not a good look. Illuminating concealers, especially on mature skins, can draw attention to the area. My favourite product is Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch. Magically, this colourless potion seems to make fine lines almost disappear. As it is a primer you can put foundation over it but I tend to wear it on its own as I do not have to worry about it flaking half way through the night.

Bobbi Brown Eye Shadow in Saddle, £19.50
This dark grey brown is ideal for creating smoky eyes or adding definition in the corners. It is a lovely silky texture and can be built up if you want a stronger colour. It wears well.

Bobbi Brown Eye Shadow in Bone, £19.50
A great highlighter with a slightly yellow undertone which helps combat any redness in the skin. A good trick, if you have deep-set eyes, is to sweep it over the lids so it emphasises them giving you a polished yet natural look.

Clarins Gold Mascara Top Coat, £22

For a subtle shimmer wear this over your usual black mascara. This is pretty when it catches the light. The brush is great for separating and defining the lashes so no clogs.

Mac Creme De La Femme, £17.50
Pink laced with gold is how Mac describe this pretty shade. More a purple-pink, this is a good balance of warm and cool tones so should suit those who find it difficult to get the right shade of pink. Do not be put off because it is a frost. It actually gives a flattering sheen to the lips. If you tend to have dry lips, I suggest wearing lip balm underneath.

Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil in Red Berry Glam, £19
An easy way to wear red. This gloss not only nourishes the lips but as it is laced with gold shimmer the lips appear fuller.

Clarins Joli Rouge Brillant in Nude Brick, £22
A moisturising lipstick which gives just a hint of colour to add a soft, warm glow to your complexion. Just what you need on a cold day. If you prefer your nudes on the browner side, this is the one to go for. It also comes in a matte finish which is perfect for the evening.

L'Occitane Natural Shea Ultra Rich Lip Balm, £8
An all-time favourite. Keep this in your bag for when your lips need a hydration boost. Can also be worn under lipstick. Contains shea butter.

Spotlight on butter LONDON Patent Shine 10X Nail Lacquers, £15, (offer £10.05) lookfantastic.com

This is not a paid post. Products are press samples.

While I am a great fan of nude polishes, at this time of year it is nice to wear some colour. butter London have a great range of colours. What I like about the range is that the colour does not fade, it is hard to chip and lasts for up to ten days. The lacquer contains bamboo extract to help protect the nails and strengthening ingredients. The curved brush makes it easy to apply.

Toff

Another advantage of this lacquer is that it does not contain nasties such as formaldehyde or DBP (dibutyl phthalate).

Broody

Two that I have particularly liked are Toff, a gorgeous plum, and Broody, a delicious raspberry colour.

By Daralyn Danns

Good nude lipsticks for highly-pigmented lips

This is not a paid post. Products are press samples.

Finding a good nude lipstick that is near to your own lip colour is difficult enough for most people. If you have highly-pigmented lips the task is even more tricky.

I was delighted to find two fantastic ones in Clinique’s new Dramatically Different Lipstick Shaping Lip Colour range. Not normally a fan of lipstick because it is too drying, I was converted to this recently-launched one because it is so hydrating. That is saying something from somebody who has incredibly parched lips. All the lipsticks in the line are free from paraben and phthalates. Another plus is that they are not fragranced so there is no taste, just silky-smooth lips. The colour lasts for ages as well. The 3D pearl centre seems to make your pout look fuller and plumper. 

These two give a lovely flush to the skin and add that extra polished look.

Clinique Dramatically Different Lipstick Shaping Lip Colour in Sugared Maple, £20.50

A pretty bronze nude with rosy undertones, this is the lipstick that is my lips only better. It has to be the best one that I have found to date. There is just the right amount of shimmer to give a lovely sheen to the lips. 

Clinique Dramatically Different Lipstick Shaping Lip Colour in Think Bronze, £20.50

More on the peachy side, this is another great neutral shade. The metallic finish gives the lips a subtle shine. 

When my lips are feeling particularly in need of a drink, I put Clinique Pep-Start Pout Restoring Night Mask (£16) underneath which also creates a glossy finish.

I am so impressed with this range that I am going to check out the other shades. I just could get converted to wearing a more dramatic lip in the evening.

By Daralyn Danns