Oh you PRETTY THINGS

The party-season palettes turning heads

As functional as make-up is sometimes we can’t help falling in love with a new purchase simply because of its prettiness – this is particularly true as the party season looms, bringing an array of precious-looking palettes. Take Charlotte Tilbury’s new Instant Eye Palette (bottom left, €75, brownthomas.com). Her mother always told her that ‘a little black dress will take you anywhere, darling’ and she has translated the idea into a versatile palette, with shades labelled ‘day’, ‘desk’, ‘date’ and ‘disco’, like that of the Les Copains show. Givenchy’s Striking Nights Palette (bottom right, €47, givenchy.com) is strictly for after-dark hours. Wash one shade over the entire lid or use the bronze or silvery shade as a liner. Chantecaille imagined the light-bouncing effect of sequins – then re-created it in Les Paillettes (above, €79, harrods.com), which contains rose gold and pink shades to buff over the entire skin or use as a highlighter. Swap sequins for surrealism and you’ll end up at Nars’s limited-edition collection inspired by the work of artist Man Ray. Use The Veil Cheek Palette (right, €40, narscosmetics. com) to contour, blush and highlight to your heart’s content, then leave it closed by the bathroom sink to be admired by all who pass it. As cosmetic surgery and treatments get ever more advanced and diverse, which ones to have – and where to stop – becomes more complex. Thankfully, one of the world’s leading dermatologists, Dr Stefanie Williams, explains how to age gracefully and beautifully in her new book, Look Great, Not Done!. From understanding your skin to lifestyle choices and picking the right treatments for you, it’s packed with information. You know what they say: knowledge is power… (€12.99, Eudelo Publishing).