It's that tricky transitional time, complexion-wise, when most of us want to warm up our complexions a bit without coming over all Barbados-bronzed... This is what's been doing it for us, whisked over our regular winter shade of foundation to kiss it with the lightest touch of sun.

The stripes - inspired by Mademoiselle Chanel's love of sailor tops, naturellement - blend beautifully when swirled with the brush, and perk up the skin while at the same time mattifying it a little - as if you were using the lightest-weight silken powder.  (If you look carefully, there's the merest whisper of shimmer in the formula, but on the face it adds luminosity, not glimmer.)

Normally we ditch the brushes that come with compacts, but this is a good size.  (Though we still prefer the effect of applying it with our lovely Liz Earle Powder Brush, which you can read about here.  It's 'buildable', so as the season progresses, add more to intensify the effect.

You can also dip a finger and use the darker shade for sculpting, or add a touch of the golden stripe to brows for highlighting. (NB  Go for Sable Beige rather than Sable Rose, we'd say: this peachier shade is universally flattering even on pinker-toned complexions.)

Et voilà!

One gorgeously, slightly-summery face.

UK readers find Soleil Tan de Chanel Luminous Bronzing Powder/£34 - just click here US readers find it at www.chanel.com/$60 - just click here