Beauty Clinic: Glam seasonal make-up

Q. Help please! It’s coming up to party season and I want to redo my make-up. I would like a more glamorous look – a bit Gatsby perhaps - but not totally OTT. Where should I start? A. We truly have the answer! Take yourself off to a Bobbi Brown counter this lunchtime and look at the fabulous Old Hollywood Collection, which is just launched. Bobbi’s mantra is unabashed: ‘The new rule in Festive makeup? It’s about what makes you feel glamorous’.

We’re just playing with the new products now – which given it’s 9 a.m. says a lot. Being Bobbi of course the palettes (for eyes and lips) are so soft, subtle and wearable that you can choose from a range of shades and finishes – both matte and shimmery. So you could apply the basics early, then layer on the glam for evening.

We always advise having a good play before any big event – and preferably booking in for a makeover on counter so you can pick up some pro tips. There’s also a short video about the new collection on the website: www.bobbibrown.co.uk and do also look at Bobbi’s Makeup Lessons, under Learn in the header banner, and browse the Christmas collection – so many gorgeous things!)

We suggest you look at the Old Hollywood Eye Palette, a limited edition mirrored compact with nine shadows ranging from a basic ivory and beige to soft silver and gold sparkles, plus chocolate and charcoal shimmer shades that you could also dampen and use as eyeliner, with a useful double-ended brush. (For the same price, do also look at the Twilight Pink Lip & Eye Palette, with mini versions of ten shadows and four Creamy Lip Colours, to keep you going from dawn to dusk.)

There is also a new Ink Liner in Blackest Black, which comes as a teeny-tipped felt pen – so it’s fantastically easy to get a perfect line. We like to push eyeliner right down into our lash line to accentuate lashes for day, but you could venture into more exotic flips for evening.

An old favourite, Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick now comes in new Tuxedo Black, plus Limited Edition 24 karat (yes, its goldy) and Bronze. A doddle to stroke across your lids and then blend. Oh, and there’s a new version of Sarah’s favourite highlighter – Nude Glow Shimmer Brick, which Bobbi calls ‘candlelight in a compact’.)

Finally, lips and nails: of course no Hollywood siren worth her celluloid would be seen without scarlet lips. But we counsel a little caution with matte red if you have gone for the full smokey eye look: you might be wise to try the Siren Red lip gloss, so your lips and eyes aren’t fighting for attention. If, however, you choose a ‘cleaner’ eye, perhaps with liner and cream shadow, your new best friend could just be Old Hollywood Lip Color, swiped straight from the bullet – with drawn on precisely with a lip brush.