Going up, down and sticking around - Up, daylight and John & Edward

Going up

Up - (where else could it go?) Disney and Pixar's new family extravanganza, which I'm box-fresh from seeing, is a veritable feast of excitement and joy, with some good old fashioned guilt and conscience-pricking thrown in for flavour. The film focuses on a reclusive widower (the flashback montage of his life, culminating in the loss of his wife and looming eviction from his home, had the audience in tears within the first 10 minutes... including the teenage boy in the row in front) who takes off - literally, in a balloon-lifted house - on a belated adventure to fulfill a lifetime promise to his wife, with the usual strays and stowaways along for the ride. The laughs come easily but the lessons are deep - I had heard someone say that every child should be taken to see this film, and I agree. A movie that respects and celebrates old age? Let the yoof of today put that in their bong and toke it.

Going down

Sunlight - tragic but true, the days are getting shorter and the dark is getting fat. You can turn your clocks back as many times as you want, Daylight Saving (although, on second thoughts please don't - I have enough trouble remembering when you're supposed to do it anyway. Then is it forward, or backward.... what does it mean for the Sky+? etc etc). There's something terribly unhealthy-feeling about waking up when it's still black outside, then dark for another three hours while you try to un-fog your brain. And before you know it it's night again, and 8:30pm feels like midnight. Avoid a dose of the SADs with the comforting, cosy feeling of these seasonal remedies: warm milk with cinnamon and honey in front of FlashForward, Buzzcocks or XFactor; fleecy socks as thick as loaves that you can only just squeeze your feet into (Gap, I'm counting on you again this year); never, ever leaving the house in the evening unless there's the promise of mulled wine, Charlie Brooker or the revival of Pizza Express' much-missed Natale pizza with turkey, sausage-meat and cranberries. Hey, don't knock it till you've tried it.

Doggedly sticking around

John & Edward - the sugar-high, Malfoy-esque, Energizer bunnies of the XFactor, the terrible twins look set to stay as long as the comedy votes keep coming in. I'm warming to them myself (their inspired Britney duologue made for better viewing than Whitney bra-pinging her way around stage) but, in the same way I could never quite accept Darius' guitar-wielding-Jesus-to-clean-shaven-hottie makeover, I have to remember how vile and odious the twins were at their first auditions. Sure, they're all high-kicks and cheeky grins now they've got what they want... I've even heard rumblings that the duo are in fact secret geniuses, orchestrating their image and 'dude, where's my twin?' persona, but I doubt it. One thing's for sure though, there's a very clever Geppetto holding the strings to these marionettes. Dance, monkey boys, dance.

Balmy army

Poppy loves lipbalm today, as the most gorgeous new balm has just arrived through our letterbox and is begging to be written about. It's called Bach Rescue Balm and is produced by the makers of Bach Rescue Remedy (remember glugging droplets of the stuff outside exam rooms in a bid to calm nerves?) Well here at Poppy Loves Lipgloss we simply lurve a product that gives us more for our money, and because the new balm contains many of Bach's famous 38 flower remedies (including cherry plum to help ease anger, rock rose to combat feelings of panic, and crab apple to boost confidence), not only do our lips feel soothed and softened, but our mood does too.

Available from September at Boots and Holland & Barrett, £5.75.

`

Summer loving

Poppy Loves Lipgloss prides itself on being an up-to-date beauty broadcaster, and the top-secret launches we've been privy to are some of the most gorgeous - and more importantly, useable - products we've seen for a while.

Oven-fresh and coming to a counter near you in August 2009, here's our pick of the beauty bunch:

Prescriptives Well-Suited Finishing Powder, £23 (limited edition) - a posey-pink powder that looks like a blush but has a translucent finish designed for use all over the face, in place of your usual powder. Imparting the subtlest amount of colour, this gives skin a fresh, healthy glow that had us hooked from the first try.

MAC Eye Shadow x 4 in In the Gallery, approx £28 (limited edition) - purple eyeshadow often has colour-phobes running for the hills, but it actually complements the tones in most eyes (be they blue, hazel or green), making it a surprisingly flattering choice. This palette, created in collaboration with painter Richard Phillips, contains a perfect mix of colours (mauve, violet, pink and plum) and textures that can be finger-painted on for a subtle matte sweep of shadow or a night-owl smoky look.

Aveda Enbrightenment skincare range, from £19.75 - infused with skin-brightening plant extracts such as mulberry root, grape and rosemary leaf, Aveda's new range increases your skin's cell turnover (so a tired, dull epidermis is swept away to reveal a more even, luminous skintone). The range includes a cleanser, toner, serum and moisturiser, and a gorgeously indulgent Intensive Massage Masque. Good for getting rid of post-pimple dark patches too.

James Brown Scandalous haircare range - a new selection of lock-loving products that coincide with the opening of Brown's first ever hair salon, 'James Brown London' (where appointments with the man himself start from £500 - ouch). Kinder to the wallet with a starting price of £4.99, the range includes Rock Chick Wave Spray (inspired by best friend Kate Moss), Intensely Glossy Rescue Treatment, and (our favourite) Fabulously Flirty Dry Shampoo.

Images: Aveda, Prescriptives, MAC

we're ALL going on a summer holiday

Poppy Loves Lipgloss is going on holiday next week. That starter sentence sums up all sorts of sunny, glamorous imagery involving sand, bikinis and waiters named Diego. Sadly, those wish-you-were-here mental postcards can poof! into thin air, because the reality is far harsher.

Two words: overnight ferry.

And not just me and the wee bairn, either, but a shared cabin with my mother and two sisters, all of whom snore, fart and sleep-shout. When we arrive at our destination (Brittany, France) this motley crew of 5 will continue our boarding-school nightmare by sharing the same room for a week. All in aid of celebrating my grandmother's 80th birthday. In hindsight, maybe the lack of bikinis is a good thing.

In anticipation of my 'holiday' - which is beginning to look more like a sleep-deprivation camp - I am stocking up on prettifying potions that'll work their magic while I chase the elusive zzz's.

The Poppy Loves Lipgloss 'feel-like-merde, look-ok' shopping list:

Estée Lauder Stress Relief Eye Mask, £22 for 10 pairs. Expensive, so I only use these on special occasions/emergencies (this trip counts as both). You gently stick these pre-moistened pads under your eyes and let the aloe vera and cucumber formula soothe stress-lines and de-puff bags a little (they're not miracle workers, but they make enough of a difference to be worth the £'s).

Marks & Spencer Formula Instant Fix Midnight Beauty Cream, £15. I've not tried this overnight cream myself yet, but I gave a bottle to my mother to test and she came back raving about it... which means I plan to steal it back on this holiday. Mwa ha ha. Failing that, I'll pack my beloved Darphin Aromatic Purifying Balm, approx £37, an overnight balm that makes skin look clear, soft and even upon waking (as opposed to pillow-wrinkled and saliva-encrusted, which is my usual morning look).

Liz Earle Brightening Treatment Mask, £11.75. I'll admit to being lazy with the whole cleanse-tone-moisturise routine, but the one product I'll always make time for is a good face mask, and this here is the best mask money can buy. You can leave it on for a little as 30 seconds and it leaves skin looking fresh, bright and glowing. Heart forever.

Images: Estee Lauder

Brownie Points

I recently had some friends over for a barbeque, and while the boys went neanderthal with the fire and flexed their cooking skills (for cooking read burning), the girl talk inevitably strayed into tanning territory - it was the hottest day of the year so far, and our legs were out to seize the moment.

One friend with enviously tanned pins admitted to weekly sunbed sessions (very, very bad, and definitely not condoned here at Poppy Loves Lipgloss, despite their deliciously caramel-y hue. Ooh, you could have have melted them over ice-cream. I hope they turn orange). The rest of us were on the paler side but, in these days where the worship of mindless celebrity is on the wane (and with it the aesthetic of uber-tan, blonde hair and fake bazoomas), looked none the worse for it.

Yes, we all wanted our skin to catch a little sun, but the days of slipping around in factor 4 oil are totally o-vah. We no longer believe that burn turns to brown, or that a maximum exposure tan is really worth the sun-spots and wrinkles. But we do still want a little colour in our lives (Snow White we ain't... have you seen our behaviour after five glasses of Pimm's?).

Whether you're after an overnight blast of bronzing, or a slow'n'subtle hue change, these are our tried-and-tested favourites:

Subtle For your face, Chanel Soleil Identité Perfect Colour Face Self-Tanner SPF8, £25, creates a realistic touch of colour and smells of peaches rather than biscuits - you put it on every day till you reach your desired shade, then every 2 to 3 days to maintain it. Also highly recommended is Sisley Soleil Sans Soleil Self Tanning Gel, £54.50, a fantastically light facial tanner that doesn't clog pores. On your bod, the best we've found is Origins Let It Show Bare Body Skin Enhancer, £15, a sweetly-scented body moisturiser that delivers a super-natural, glowing colour over several days. Apply a few hours before wearing shoes though, as sweaty feet have a habit of making it patchy.

Instant Because sometimes we need a hit of sun, right here right now, sales of instant tanning products are soaring. Also from Origins, The Great Pretender Shimmery Self-Tanner for Body, £15, looks a lot less garish than it sounds. In fact, this sparkly, treacle-brown lotion blends to a gorgeously sheeny-shiny glow that make arms and legs look tanned and slimmer. Also scoring high in the faux glow stakes is MAC Face and Body Foundation, £23, a base you can blend from your nose to your toes, then wash away at the end of the day. Make-up artists suggest choosing one 2 to 3 shades darker than your usual colour for a realistic shot of tan, and because it's water-resistant you needn't worry about splashes by the pool or the odd spilled mojito.

Overnight Heavy-duty overnight tanners are the ones to choose for long-lasting, immediate colour. Fake Bake Original Self Tanning Lotion, £24.95, may not be the most stylish bottle in the bathroom, but it's our testers' favourite for an overnight transformation from milkmaid to beach bunny. Looks like tar going on, but washes off to a deep, sun-snogged bronze. If you don't want the risk of stained sheets and smelling like a granny's biscuit-tin, we also love love love Sun Laboratories Express Liquid Tan, £22, a coffee-like liquid that you sweep onto skin with the mitt provided. It's sort of like colouring-in for grown-ups - you can immediately see if you've missed a spot, making streaks and smears a thing of the past.

The hair necessities

I've decided to return to my roots and have dyed my hair dark brown. Whether Mother Nature intended for my locks to have a faint coppery tinge is up for debate, but that's what the formula did, so that's what I'm stuck with (whether I like it or not). Dyeing one's hair can be such a minefield. I used to work at a magazine where I was sent discount cards for some of the most gorgeous hair salons in London. Now I'm leant over a bathtub, shower head in hand, trying to make sure I haven't dyed my face in the process. Going freelance has not been without its merits, but I sure do miss those freebie styling sessions.

I remember when I was growing up, my little sister (intent on emulating Jennifer Aniston's ubiquitous 'Rachel' cut) reached for the bleach. She followed the instructions carefully, making sure every strand was covered from root to tip, then sat down in front of the TV to let it work its magic. The storyteller in me likes to think that she was actually watching an episode of Friends when she realised that she should have washed the solution out 40 minutes previously. Whichever show had diverted her attention, the damage was done. I found her that evening, face red from crying and with swollen eyes, hiding under her duvet. Her hair was the colour of Lurpak, with not a pinch of pigment left in it. It was kind of hilarious. And to really rub salt into the wound, the hairdresser made her dye it gravy-brown to minimise the damage.

That was way back when, however, and today's formulas are much kinder to your hair. It's hard to say which at-home colourants are the best, because they all harm your locks to some extent. The secret is to optimise your hair's condition afterwards through deep-conditioners, heat-protectors and the like. With the right care, a bleached barnet really can look as healthy as a virgin mane.

I'm looking after my new hue with a combination of L'Oréal Elvive Nutri-Gloss Light Shampoo and Conditioner, £2.25 each (I use the light version on my fine hair but dryer locks can stick with the original), and Kérastase Ciment Thermique, approx £17 (an incredible milky lotion that you apply to wet hair as little as once a month, leave in, and which is re-activated every time you heat-style it, prompting another boost of protection and shine. I love this stuff). For girls with a bottomless wallet, Frédérik Fekkai Advance Care Overnight Hair Repair, £137, leaves hair noticeably softer and smoother when washed out the following morning, but for a budget-friendly buy, John Frieda Frizz-Ease Night CremeSerum, £14.67, gives a brilliant result at a snip of the price.

Images: Frederik Fekkai; John Frieda; Kerastase; media.photobucket.com.

The Art of Concealment

I'm sure I'm not alone in finding the salespeople who work on beauty counters amongst the most irritating in the world. At least in a clothes shop you can hide behind a changing room curtain while they hover outside with their pseudo-gal pal opinions, but at a beauty counter they just firmly plant themselves in front of you, offering advice that you already said you didn't want.

I was helping a friend choose a new concealer yesterday, and had already whittled down the list of suitable contenders in my head, so I knew what I was looking for. My friend is a natural beauty and also a bit of a product-phobe - perfect bait for the sales-hungry vultures - so we braced ourselves before venturing inside the store.

"Can I help?" came the inevitable question.

"No thanks, we're just looking."

"That's really good, that concealer is. It's really good at hiding stuff."

"Yes, we know. Thank you. We're just looking."

"Would you like me to do a makeover on you?"

"Really not necessary, we know what we're looking for."

"If you'd like me to show you to" etc etc.

And so it went on, with me showing my friend how to use different textures for under-eyes and for blemishes, while the commissions pest hovered around us, interrupting constantly and trying to convince my English rose friend to try the darkest shade because "orange covers everything".

(The temptation to point out that I had actually tested that product three months before it even went on counter was building up inside me, but as trump cards go you need to use it straight away, or it just looks like you're lying.)

In the end my friend plumped for the fabulous Laura Mercier Undercover Pot, £28 (stockist: 08001234000) - I use this every day and would be lost without it. It's a trio of face perfecters: a creamy concealer for under-eyes that can be patted on to built up coverage, a thicker solid concealer for covering up spots, blemishes and red patches, and a loose setting powder for keeping the concealer put and mopping up any distracting shine. All in one itty-bitty pot.

I'm afraid I don't have a magic secret for getting rid of sales-pests (apart from go with a shopping list and don't be swayed. You probably don't need their new primer and you certainly don't need the matching lip liner. Be strong.)

I can, however, pass on my fail-safe concealer tips, including this helpful little tit-bit from the wonderful Craig Ryan French, lead product advisor for research and development at Paul & Joe Beauté (before I ate his dust on the go-kart track, but that's another story...): "When choosing concealer for under the eyes, go for shades with peach rather than yellow undertones. The yellow counteracts with the blue in your under-eye bags but leaves skin looking grey, whereas peach camouflages the blue and creates a second-skin finish."

My own facial finger-painting has taught me to always dab concealer on with a finger or small brush, building up the coverage ever so slowly (patting it on also creates a more natural finish than smearing it over spots.) I always finish with a light dusting of powder, and if necessary, you can even dab a second layer of concealer over the top.

As is often the way with beauty, less is more. A good mascara, blush, balm and concealer is all you need to look fresh and pretty (but promise me you'll test the shade before you buy it - the future may be bright, but it's definitely not orange.)

Images: MAC Cosmetics, Laura Mercier.

Technorati Profile

Matte-r of fact

Poppy Loves Lipgloss has been a busy bee this week with work commitments and getting ready for our first ever TV appearance. Autographs: 50p.

The world of television is so new to us that we had to enlist help from our very glamorous presenter friends as to what to wear (block colours, nothing white or with tiny print), what to say (something intelligent, or at least try to), and how to look. Shine is out, we were told, and the camera loves matte, matte, matte (apart from lips, it seems, where copious amounts of gloss were applied by the resident make-up artist. We'll admit we wiped a bit off before going on.)

Luckily, the gorgeous at girls at Revlon had sent us a goody-bag that morning filled with the brand's lastest launches - all of which are matte. Hoorah. So with fingers we dipped into the pans of Matte Eye Shadow, £4.99, and Matte Powder Blush, £7.49, to find the perfect shades. We highly recommend the shadow in Vintage Lace (a pale vanilla) and Aubergine (...erm, aubergine) and the blush in Rose Rapture. (Regular readers will know our penchant for blush with shimmer, but we've been pretty sold on this matte one... for now!)

So having done the basics ourselves we went and sat in the make-up artist's chair for final touch-ups. We especially loved this as we got to have a good nosy round the professional's make-up bag. Lots of MAC, lots of Bobbi Brown, and we spied some Estee Lauder and Rimmel in there too. Our shiny forehead was mopped up with a dusting of MAC Mineralize SkinFinish Natural Powder, £17.13. We suddenly wished we'd brought our Guerlain Pour Homme Terracotta Bronzing Powder, £34 (because it's formulated for men it contains not a hint of shimmer, so looks super natural). Maybe next time.

If you want to check it out and hear us say 'Facebok' instead of 'Facebook' (we really did try to sound intelligent) then click play on the image below:

Mirror, Mirror

I've decided that the mirror in my bathroom is A Good Mirror. It's wide, full-length and shiny. It might have something wrong with it, admittedly, as it seems to stretch and slim everything it reflects, but this is no bad thing. Bathroom Mirror is a friend. Unlike Hallway Mirror, which is nice to my face then stabs me in the back as I walk away. A quick glance over the shoulder and suddenly my rear view is worthy of a 'Honk If You Like Bacon' bumper sticker. Which is terribly confusing, since Bathroom Mirror told me not five minutes ago that I looked ok.

Schizo mirrors aside, there are some makeup products that I know I can depend on, and which work on every single person I've tried them on (which, in the tsunami of 'miracle' products that are launched at us every month, is saying something). It's by no means an exhaustive list, but if you're on the lookout for a new balm, brush or liner, these come with the PoppyLovesLipgloss triple tick of approval.

BEAUTY SUPERHEROS

Clinique Repairwear Intensive Lip Treatment, £19.57 - the best balm in existence. Expensive, but it won't dehydrate your lips the way cheaper versions can. And if further proof of its softening powers were needed, this is the only balm, in my opinion, that can tackle the discomfort of cracked, dried-out lips caused by powerful anti-acne drugs.

Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Liner, £18 - a soft, cake liner that creates a smudgy, natural eye in seconds. Simply rub a flat, firm bristle brush into the liner (I use Bobbi Brown Cream Shadow Brush, £21.53) and wiggle the colour into the outer corner of your lashes for a longlasting, eye-enhancing look.

MAC Blushcreme in Lilicent, £14.68 - for royally rosy cheeks, this ultra-natural cream blush blends in seamlessly and suits pretty much every skin tone (it's also a perennial favourite amongst beauty editors). If you prefer powder, then try their Powder Blush in Tenderling, £14.68.

Scents and sensibility

How quickly a particular smell can delight the senses, or send us nose-scrunching in disgust.

I'm thinking specifically of a boat trip that I treated the Baby to in Ireland (I imagined a gentle cruise along the coast, but it turned out to be 90 minutes of high-sea, stomach-churning waves). Within minutes of setting off, poor Baby had gone greener than Neptune's beard and vomited all over herself, the boat, and me.

"Thas' what they call projectile vomitin'," informed the Captain in his thick Irish accent. He even called the coastguard to tell him that he'd never seen a baby so sick. He didn't turn the boat round though.

Now I can handle a bit of sick, but it hit me directly in the side of the head. And asides from the acidic locks now dangling centimeters from my nose (what a day to forget a hair elastic), I had to endure the whiff of fish guts emanating from the Baby's lifejacket which, it seems, had taken a dip in the boat's own bouillabaisse. My turn to feel nauseous.

But to dry land we did return, and after three shampoos and lots of cuddles, the Baby and I were clean again. My nose, however, had not forgotten, so I reached for the one thing that I knew would make my senses happy again: perfume.

One spritz of Jo Malone Dark Amber & Ginger Lily Cologne, £29.50 (www.jomalone.co.uk), and everything felt right again. The perfect mix of sexy and not-too-sweet, this fragrance is limited edition so snap it up while you can. For other scents to rebalance an upset nose, try pleasantly powdery Philosophy Pure Grace, £34.40 (John Lewis), or this Summer's incarnation of Stella McCartney Sheer Stella, £36 (www.escentual.com), a green-smelling mix of freshly cut fruits and flora.

Let me know your favourites too - we've a boat journey coming up in August, and I need ammo.

Get me to the church on time

Confetti! Champagne! Dancing Queen! Yup, I'm off to a wedding this weekend. In Northern Ireland. I've packed my Marc by Marc Jacobs black taffeta prom-dress with shoulder bow (yums) and brown leather wedges (I know, I know, they're a bit mumsy but since I declared that I'd be holding the baby for specifically 80% of the party (in a bid to stop the mother-in-law from committing a grab-n-run) I need something that I won't fall over in when drunk... and those Moet bubbles hit me like a smack of alco-frogspawn in the face.)

So there I was, merrily packing my case full of girly frocks for frolicking in the Irish flora, when The Husband advised that, rather than slips of chiffon, I should really be packing my cagoule. My what? This man has been married to me for nearly 3 years. Has he ever, I asked, ever seen me in a cagoule? It's ok, he said, we can probably pick you up a Cag-in-a-Bag at the airport. Lucky me.

One thing I am packing is my party face, made up of the most gorgeous beauty bits to wing their way to my desk recently.

First up is Prescriptives Mineral Color Making Faces Kit, £26.43 (stockists: 08700342566), which contains a beautifully natural loose powder blush, all-over radiance powder (for making even sozzled skin look radiant) and a nifty little brush that's small enough to slip into your clutch bag. Mineral virgins: this is a great place to start.

Pink lips always work best for weddings, and I heart Clinique's new limited edition Butter Shine Lipstick in Bamboo Pink, £14. Part of their summer collection, this shade is already a bestseller, but here they've combined it with the melty, glossy, moisturising texture of Butter Shine Lipstick - if you've never tried it, I urge you to. It's marvellous.

And finally, because I love nail varnish but get bored of shades quickly, Collection 2000's new Hot Looks Nail Polish, £1.79 each (available from July) are perfect - mini bottles of polish in summer-hot shades that won't harass your purse. I'm switching between Hoola Hoop (baby pink), Big Hair (coral) and BMX Bandit (a Blu-tack blue which looks fab on toes).

Happy Wedding Season xxx

Bottoms up

So I've been thinking about this Butt Bra idea (see previous post below).

Why has the importance of a good supporting knicker never been addressed? At school, in magazines, the weird French women who did the school run... they all harked on about always wearing a decent, supportive and uplifting bra to stop your boobies from making a run south. (And because you'll never hitch a sailor if your balls hang low.)

And they were right. You only have to flick through the pages of the National Geographic to see what happens to a (third) world without Elle Macpherson Intimates.

But why no mention of what becomes of your behind if you only wear Primark pants with no lycra content? I'll tell you what happens... you end up with a saggy old bottom that bounces around like two water balloons in a carrier bag, that's what.

So here I was, pondering the name for my genius invention (a soutien-derrière? The bum-balconette? A halter-butt?) when I came across this... www.feelfoxy.com/Biniki_Butt_Bra_p/bk01a.htm.

It lives, dear reader! And do you know what? It looks pants.

I can see you

It has recently come to my attention that whenever somebody asks me how old my baby is, the next thing they inevitably do - with admirable nerve - is to give me a quick once-over. Every time. Men, women, young and old - all checking out the post-baby goodies 7 months down the line.  Not that I particularly care, but newsflash: if we're having a conversation, then I'm looking at your face. Which means I can see what your eyes are doing. At least wait until I'm walking away to assess the junk in my trunk.

If you're watching the wobble (as I am, every week in Pilates, quite literally. It's the 360-degree mirrors. They're a deathtrap for anyone who already suspects their bottom might need a support bra), then try a skin-tightening body gel. They sink in quicker than a cream, and while they're never going to give you thighs like a foal, they do give a pleasingly 'squeezed' effect that spurs you on to do one more set of lunges, if nothing else.

I like Bliss FatGirlSlim (minty, tingly and tightening) and Mamma Mio Zap Tummy Toner (not just for mums and tums - these days I'm using it to tackle slack upper arms).

Perfectly flushed.

Nothing, I tell you, nothing can make you look as fresh and dewy as a pop of blusher can. Worn high on the cheekbones (and swept across eyelids for a subtle match that looks sweet and simple), choose hues with a hint of shimmer - relax, I said shimmer not glitter - that will keep you far from sparkly but give your cheeks a happy, healthy glow. Try these on for size: MAC Powder Blush in Peachykeen, Nars Blush in Orgasm (above) and Bourjois Little Round Pot Blush in Rose D'Or.

Lost In Foundation

There once was a time when buying foundation filled me with dread. I just didn't know where the start. Matte? Too dull. Light-reflective? Too shiny. Shade 1? Too pale, surely. So I would umm and ahh, and swipe a few samples onto the back of my hand. And sometimes, like you're supposed to, onto my jawline. I'd then go outdoors and peer into a hand-mirror (which, whether you're standing outside Superdrug or Selfridges, inevitably lends an air of lunacy), and left me none the wiser.

The choices seemed endless yet I'd always panic-buy the wrong shade or finish - until I started thinking in terms of a foundation wardrobe. Most women need at least 2 different shades, one for paler Winter skins and one for bronzy Summers (which needn't cost the earth - see my list below). Never purposefully buy a darker shade in the hope that it'll add colour to a washed-out pallor - it won't, it'll just make you look dirty. Leave the tanning to your bronzer and trust nature's choice, however milky.

My top tip is to pick your bases the way you choose shoes - you wouldn't wear stilettos to go camping (nor should you slap on a thick layer of base if you have great skin), and you wouldn't spend a fortune on designer shoes in the wrong size (actually, you probably would, but you shouldn't. And that's the point - a vanity case full of dodgy shades doth not a fresh face make.)

If you're thinking of choosing a new base, the list below are some of the best I've come across, and come in a range of shades that suit most skintones:

£ Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse Foundation - a deliciously whipped texture that glides onto skin without any heaviness. Good for normal and oily skin.

££ Prescriptives All Skins Mineral Makeup - a powder foundation, but don't let that put you off: buffing it into the skin gives a super-sheer finish that is at once shine-reducing, light-reflective and doesn't block pores. Good for normal, oily and spot-prone skin.

£££ Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation - the ultimate luxe in texture and packaging, this melt-into-skin liquid leaves no tell-tale tidemarks and lasts all day. Good for normal and mature skin.

Special mention -

££ Benefit You Rebel Tinted Moisturiser - this oil-free formula has an SPF15, and comes in just two 'suits-all' shades. I alternate throughout the year and find they make perfect 'no-makeup' daywear. Good for all skin types.