'A bright lipstick is like applying a smile'

"A bright lipstick is like applying a smile," says make-up artist Leonard Daly, who knows a thing or two about the mood-boosting properties of lipstick. A new favourite of his is Sisley's L33: "it has the most amazing colour and texture, and the perfect blend of moisture and matte. I also love Armani's lip shade 400 as it doesn't need a lipliner – genius! For budget brands Rimmel's Kate Moss is hard to beat and the Catrice range feel like brands costing five times the price." See beautybaked.com

On the happiness scent

Fresh and floral, Clinique’s Happy scent (€31.50) is bursting with springtime joie de vivre. Notes of lily of the valley, freesia and mimosa are balanced with amber and white wood. If you fancy your home smelling like a palace, take a leaf out of the Duchess of Cambridge’s book and sit back and enjoy the scent of blackcurrant, nutmeg and ginger in Neom’s Contentment candle, €50 from Brown Thomas.

Bags of Style

Polka dots are always cheerful and this practical duo covers everyday needs and weekends away. Lots of compartments keep everything organised. It costs £29 (€33.68), from happybags.co.uk

I can't live without....

Christine Monk, Arts & Culture Publicist

Weekly blowdrysLaura Reid at Brown Sugar is a fabulous force of hairdressing nature. We've become great confidantes. She knows all my secrets.

Tom Ford Eyebrow SculptorYou think you know eyebrow pencils. Then you meet this one. The killer price tag pales in comparison to the results it creates. More like buying actual perfect eyebrows than a mere pencil.

Tom Ford Cherry Lush lipstickMy original TF product, a present from my husband two years ago. I adore it and wore it daily until I went to replace it and realised he had spent almost €50 on a lipstick. It's now for very special occasions only.

E45 body moisturiserThis moisturiser is around a fiver and works perfectly on my allergy-prone skin. No fragrance so doesn't clash with perfumes.