TWILIGHT ZONE

I have a confession to make.

I recently developed an unhealthy obsession in the cult tween film Twilight (who am I kidding? Searching YouTube at 1am for interviews with Robsten practically screams certifiable) which is shamefully responsible for the marked drop in postings as of late (don't blame me..blame Rob..it should be illegal to look that good...does dangerous things to my heart rate and general grip on reality).

In an effort to combine the two, I decided to scour the movie for make up inspiration. Once I managed to drag myself away from salivating over the vampirically sexy Pattinson, I discovered that Kristen Stewart (Bella) was rocking an understated but equally ethereally stunning look of her own. In her case it contrasted well with, and added femininity to, her low key, tomboyish ensemble of interchangeable jeans and Chucks but I also think it would work beautifully with floaty, floral dresses and Wayfarers this spring.

To create this natural and romantic look, you will need a flawless, porcelain base (skip the bronzer and step away from the fake tan ladies, with both hands in the air), a product that can be used to tint both lips and cheeks, a mascara with curling properties, a dusky mauve/grey eyeshadow and perfectly defined brows.

Start by applying the deep pink or red tint to lips and cheeks( try Nars the Multiple in Riviera or Benefit's Benetint). Pat the product onto lips to create a lasting stained effect and apply in a circular motion to the apples of cheeks. This will create a naturally flushed look that artfully implies hours spent in the arms of your beloved (rather than preening in front of a mirror).

Softly brush the grey eyeshadow across your entire lids, building up the intensity of the colour in the crease of the eyes and outer corners.

Finally, apply the curling mascara to both top and bottom lashes, wiggling the wand to coat them evenly from base to tip. Build the mascara up until you achieve your desired effect (Lancome Virtuose Mascara is loved by industry insiders and creates lush and lengthy lashes perfect for fluttering).

Wear with wavy, flowing hair and a dreamy expression and get ready to take a walk on the dark side.

Vampire not included.

ACE YOUR BASE

At risk of sounding a smidge cliched, a flawless base is like a blank canvas or a freshly painted room, without this (cough) foundation, anything that is used to decorate it next will never be done justice. You may be sporting expensive makeup or the latest beauty look fresh off the runways of Paris but if your skin looks oily, dry, dull or blemished, no-one will see past the flaws.

The key to creating a clear glowing base is using the right products in moderation and enrolling in the less is more school of beauty, even when it comes to coverage.

The following steps will have you acing this look in no time...just repeat as follows:

1.Start with a sheer foundation, either a tinted moisturizer or light foundation (Smashbox's Sheer Focus Tinted Moisturiser and Laura Mercier Illuminating Tinted Moisturiser both provide sheer, glowing coverage)and apply with a foundation brush to get a precision finish (these need not be expensive, a $10 treat from the chemist will work just as well as more expensive brands as long as you clean it regularly to avoid product build up and the spread of bacteria).

2.Next, apply liquid concealer in a large triangular shape, starting from the inner corner of your eye, going across to your pupil and then down to the point where your nostril flares. Also use this concealer to cover up any redness or blotchy patches around other areas of your face.

For a pro tip that will really make your eyes pop and cover up any evidence of less than angelic behavior in the bargain, take a brush-on illuminating concealer such as Yves Saint Laurent's Touche Eclat and brush another smaller triangle (approx 1cm each side) directly below your pupil in the centre of the hollow created by your eye socket. The glowy qualities in the concealer will reflect light away from dark shadows and make you look bright as a button, no matter what time you stumbled home this morning.

3.Brush translucent or mineral powder across your t-zone, working it in a circular motion to create a flawlessly buffed finish.

4.I would recommend using a blemish concealer at this stage if you feel the need for a little more coverage. This is because the powder creates a drier surface for the concealer to adhere to and also due to the fact you will end up using much less product as blemishes will already be partially covered...if you do it at the liquid stage it will slide off in a matter of minutes. Finally add a touch of powder over the top to set the concealer.

Voila! A perfect and long lasting base which will put you well on your gorgeous way to creating the perfect look, any age, anywhere, anytime. Except for you Ms Johansson...I can do nothing for you. You are already too damn beautiful for your own good.

DOING LINES WITH MISS LC

I’ve always loved the classic and polished look provided instantly by a slick of liquid eye liner but my shaking hands (nerves I think, not Parkinsons) and dubious hand-eye co-ordination have always made my efforts more gothic Mortica Adams than beachy bohemian-Lauren Conrad style (in the extremely unlikely event that The Hills isn’t scripted and they don’t all have make up artists on call, those girls deserve snaps…they give good makeup).

After much trial and error and a ton of wasted money optimistically spent at make up counters in the hope that it was the liner and not my ability at fault, I have found a way to make creating this look with a pencil eyeliner just as effective.

You will need a highly pigmented, reasonably soft pencil with a sharp tip to create a clean line- Lancome Le Crayon Kohl in Chataigne works a treat for this look and is long lasting so you won't look up at 10am to find your look has disappeared along with your morning coffee. It's dark brown colour looks softer than black but still provides the necessary definition and impact.

Gently stretch the corner of your eye so the skin on your lid flattens and you have a smooth surface to draw on and then draw a series of small diagonal dashes along your lashline..this will create the sexy almond shape normally provided by a liquid eyeliner. Start from directly above your pupil and work out to the outer corner, building up the colour until you get the desired effect. I then like to smudge it a tad to stop it looking too harsh and 'done'. Finally, softly line the outer third of the lower lid and clean up any mistakes with a dab of eye makeup remover on a cotton bud.

Wear with lashings of mascara, a flawless glowing base and dab on a slick of pale pick lip gloss for a timeless sex kitten look you can wear from beach to bar to boardroom.

Now you are just a Chanel bag, Brody Jenner and a feud with your best friend away from reality TV super stardom!

IN THE PINK

They say a change is as good as a holiday and if you can't afford a tropical escape this winter, a hot pink pout is the next best antidote to those chilly August mornings.

Wear with a flawless and lightly bronzed face (a sheer foundation and beautifully blended mineral powder in a colour one tone darker than your face will do the trick) and lashings of blacker than black mascara.

A lipstick with a glossy finish will keep this look fresh and fashion forward ( think Chloe Sevigny and Sienna with an edge rather than Mary Kay matron ).
My pick is Mac Slimshine Lipstick in Rock Out. It contains moisturising ingredients and provides a sheer stain of sexy colour and a lot of shine. Suprisingly wearable and much less time consuming than fiddling around with smokey eyes. That's another five minutes spent snuggling up under the duvet for you!

To create this look also try: Laura Mercier Mineral Powder, Loreal Lash Architect Mascara, Napolean Auto Pilot Pre-Foundation Primer