Desk to dinner

BEAUTY:It's that time of year when you may have to do a quick spruce up after work before heading out for the evening. The following can easily be added to your daytime look to lend a little night-time glamour.

A concealer/highlighter will even out the complexion and freshen up the under-eye area. The Body Shop’s Lightening Touch is very good (€17).

Adding a slick of Bobbi Brown’s Glitter Liquid Eyeliner in Silver will instantly open up eyes – and this long-lasting formula will stay in place until the party’s over (€20.50).

Applied over your daytime mascara, Lancôme’s Hypnoise Drama Topcoat mascara will add a subtle silver finish to lashes, along with the famous volume and length (€26).

I don’t usually advise the matchy-matchy route, but for Chanel I’ll make an exception. Fatale is a delectably rich red shade for both lips and nails, as illustrated beautifully above. The Rouge Allure Extract de Gloss (€28.50) gives as much or as little glossy colour on your lips as you desire, while the matching Le Vernis nail colour in Rouge Fatale (€21) will liven up any outfit.

A pop of pink on your cheeks will add that winter glow. Try Max Factor’s Miracle Touch blush in Soft Murano (€10.29).

BROW POWER

Here’s an example of a perfect eyebrow, courtesy of precision waxing at Brazilia. It’s just right – the arching is spot on (above the outside edge of the eyeball) and the shape tapers outwards to a defined finish. It shows the benefit of having a tint to further elevate the brow into its rightful position as a main player. A shape with tint costs €20 at Brazilia Wax, South William Street, Dublin 2 and 4 Sandyford Office Park, Dublin 18, tel: 01-6750000, brazilia.ie.

SHOPPING LIST

There are only four Saturdays left before Christmas, so I thought I’d jot down some suggestions each week for your perusal.

Anything from Jo Malone – really, anything is sure to please – and boy will those black trimmed ivory boxes highlight your good taste.The Pomegranate Noir candle is an all-round winner (€60) and burns for 40 hours, and you’ll be top of the class if you present teacher with one of the fragranced bath oils in a 30ml glass decanter bottle (€20).

Here’s a gift that ticks a number of boxes – it’s well priced, practical and cute. Blow-dry enthusiasts will mentally thank you each morning as they step into the shower wearing this mood uplifting hair protector. Beauty queen shower cap from Avoca branches and rainbowprincess.co.uk (€10.59).

Yves Saint Laurent Palette Metallic Colorama. Expect oohs and ahhs if you give this glamorous rose gold leather palette – it’s guaranteed to impress and suits all ages and complexions. This is a finishing powder that gives a radiant finish to the face with a subtle, pearly champagne shimmer.