Eyeshadow

Tip 1: Blending is key

HOW TO BLEND. You use three different colours: The base, usually a very light taupe, a highlighter for the crease and a main colour for the lid, but how to get them to look as if they merge into each other like the colours of a rainbow?  The secret is: Start light then go darker. Brush the base colour to the entire eye up to the brow bone (base is the lightest colour), apply the lid colour (the medium colour) and THEN apply the highlighter (the darkest colour). Also, don't be too heavy-handed or you'll have to start over.

Extra tip: Practice makes perfect. Play with your make-up a few days before a big event.

Tip 2: Choose shadows that make the colour of your eyes pop

Gone are the days when beauty experts advised against blue shadow. Matching the colour of your eye with a shadow actually brings the colour out (think blue shadow on blue eyes). At the same time, contrasting colours make eyes pop too (think a deep jewelled blue shadow on deep brown eyes or gorgeous gold with blue eyes).

Tip 3: Never apply deep colour to your brow-bone -- unless you're doing a cover shoot for Vogue

You don't want the drama too much shadow brings. Apply shadow up to the brow-bone but don't apply shadow ON the bone unless it's a neutral colour.

Tip 4: Highlighter can make or break your look

When applying dark shadow to the crease of your eye, be careful to blend only on the outside edge. Get to close to the eye and you'll cause your eyes to look teeny and beady.

Tip 5: Set shadow with a great base

Shadow base are super hot right now because they help set make-up that stays for hours. I've found the secret to keeping shadow in place for hours is a shadow base.

Tip 6: Shimmer is hot, but shows off wrinkles

Shimmer makes eyes really pop, but it also highlights heavy lids, lines and wrinkles. If you don't have wrinkled eyelids yet (I do and I don't care!), try this great look for shimmer: create a "nude" lid, but apply a bit of gold shimmer to the brow-bone. Gorgeous!

Tip 7: Smokey is great, but keep it to the lid

Making up a smokey eye? Keep colour to the lid and just under the lower lash-line. Don't extend colour above the crease.

Tip 8: How to pair shadow with red lips

If you're going for dramatic red lips (never out of fashion), cover unsightly blue lines on lids with a concealer or shadow primer and then keep eye-shadow light.

A great eye-shadow will stay on your eyes all day long. What's more, quality department counter eye-shadows typically have richer colours.

Tip 9: Make eyes brighter with white

A dot of white shadow or pencil on the inside of the eye near the tear duct will make eyes look brighter. You won't believe how eye-opening this is. It works so great, I use this trick even when doing my make-up for work.

Tip 10: Go for colour

Consider mixing shades if you bought a colour that's just too bold for you. Mixing an electric blue with taupe can turn out the most perfect colour.