The science behind fashion, beauty and your mood

We’ve all felt the January blues, but can embracing a coloured eyeshadow, bright lipstick or even just a touch of tinted moisturiser help us feel more positive? Beauty director Victoria Jowett finds out…

I’m sitting on my bed looking aimlessly at the mess of make-up strewn across the windowsill. Today is my nephew’s first birthday, and I’m 227 miles away from him (and the rest of my family, who live in Manchester). I know I’m not the only one with this feeling in the pit of my stomach. The past few months have been littered with missed moments, cancelled celebrations and feelings of being “too far” from the people we love. So, whenever I get the chance, I’m all for clinging to the small things that bring me joy. It may sound a bit superficial, but I’m someone who has long loved the creativity of playing with make-up – swatching rainbows of eyeshadow, admiring the light as it bounces off a glitter pigment, the feel of a velvety powder crumbling under my make-up brush – it makes me happy. So, I reach for the Pat McGrath eyeshadow palette that’s been sitting on my windowsill, and start playing.