Make-up and masks? Here’s how

If no one can see your mouth, you’ve got to make it all about the eyes

Forgive me for using that now much overused phrase ‘the new normal’ but times being what they are we’re now spending much of our time in masks. Which in beauty land means getting excited about eye make-up; at Space NK, sales in the category are up 156 per cent compared to last year. Shiseido reports its top sellers online are eyelash curlers and its

Full Lash Serum (10, £37, shiseido.com). Max Leykind, co-founder of My Beauty Brand, says: ‘We have seen an increase of 480 per cent in eye paint sales in the past month.’

So if you’re ramping up your eye look I’d recommend starting with the brilliant Elf Putty Eye Primers

(6, £5, elfcosmetics.co.uk). They help to make your shadow last longer and stay crease-free; they also come in six shades (suitable for all skin tones), each of which helps with a different finish: from adding light/depth and colour correcting to boosting a smoky-eye effect.

I’m loving a hit of bold colour and swiping on Nars Powerchrome Loose Eye Pigment (1, £22, narscosmetics.co.uk) in vibrant turquoise Islamorada. A bit of powder can drop as you’re applying but it lasted well (especially with those Elf primers).

My Beauty Brand By Me Total Colour Pearl Eyepaint in Kate Pearl Gold (5, £15, mybeautybrand.com) is a very glamorous glitter option, which can be used alone or to add a metallic finish to another shadow. Westman Atelier Eye Pods (4, £80, harrods.com) have a luxurious velvet-creamy texture and come as a trio of bronziness with a white to add light.

Decorté Eye Glow Gem Lasting Eyeshadow (11, £25, decortecosmetics.co.uk) is also creamy and new shades include

Flower Mist, a charming pink.

If you like a compact, try new

Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Natural Eyeshadow Palette in

Warm (2, £45, chanel.com), a mix of corals and golden sand, and

Le 9 De Givenchy (9, £61, givenchybeauty.com) for some more dramatic options with great pigment payoff.

For easy eyeliner, look to

The Quick Flick Eyeliner Stamp Kits (7, £19.99, superdrug.com). One end is a stamp (there are three size options) shaped for a perfect feline flick; the other is an ink liner to fill in the lash line. Maybelline The Falsies Lash Lift Mascara (3, £9.99, boots.com) – one of my favourites for serious length and lift – now comes in a waterproof version.

Don’t forget brows. Guerlain Mad Eyes Brow Framer Natural Volume Gel (12, £31, johnlewis.com) is easily applied with the comb head – just make sure the product is evenly distributed first. And L’Oréal Paris Plump & Set Brow Artist (8, £7.99, boots.com) is a water-resistant gel that really holds brows.

Eye make-up sales have gone up by 480 per cent in a month