Soap & Glory Arch de Triumph shaping and highlighting crayon A two-in-one pencil with one end of brow colour, and the other a highlighter to use under the brow. There are also handy eyebrow-shaping templates on the back of the pack.
£7.50 at Boots (0845 0708090)

Ruby & Millie i-writer These pens deliver metallic liquid colour with precision, so can be used as an eyeliner or for a more dramatic flash of eye colour.
£10.50 (available nationwide)

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF15 Invisible and weightless, meaning that once applied, it looks like your skin, not like foundation. Available in 17 different shades.
£27.50 (bobbibrown.co.uk)

Maybelline Great Lash mascara Maybelline does many great mascaras, but this is the best. It never clumps, lasts ages and is also available in waterproof.
£4.99 (available nationwide)

Givenchy Mister Eyebrow fixing pencil A new discovery for the Times team, this pencil controls unruly eyebrows with wax that won’t leave stickiness or a visible sheen.
£13.70 (01932 233824)

Essie nail polish Nothing beats Essie for long-lasting polish — up to three weeks on toes! Available in more than 280 shades, from subtle nudes to bright neons.
£8.95 (nailsbymail.co.uk)

NARS The Multiple Can be used on eyes, cheeks, lips and body to provide colour, shimmer or highlighting. Available in 12 shades other than our favourite, Portofino, which is shown here.
£27 at Selfridges (0800 123400)

Clinque Quick Blush A must-have for anyone who applies make-up on the go. The nifty design of the twist-out brush makes application simple and mess-free.
£21 (0870 0342566)

YSL Everlong waterproof mascara A high–performance, hi-tech mascara that is able to stand up to humid weather, swimming and (of course) crying.
£21 (01444 255700)

Guerlain Météorites Powder for the face These coloured balls all play a different role: pink for a warm glow; green to diminish redness; gold and silver for highlights and mauve to attract light. Creates a soft, fresh radiance.
£30.84 (01932 233887)

Chanel Mat Lumière long-lasting luminous matte fluid make-up A wonderfully lightweight foundation that gives brilliant coverage without a “caked-on” look and lasts for hours.
£28 (020-7493 3836)

By Terry Light Expert This nifty foundation brush not only delivers a flawless complexion but plumps out hollow areas and smoothes wrinkles, leaving a brilliant texture to the skin.
£38.17 at Space NK (spacenk.co.uk)

Rimmel London Moisture Renew lipstick This lipstick comes in 16 great shades and cares for your lips with three super-moisturisers, vitamins and an SPF20 sunscreen.
£5.49 (available nationwide)

Benefit bene tint rose-tinted lip & cheek stain Give cheeks and lips a rosy sheer glow with this cult liquid product from Benefit. Smudge-proof and waterproof.
£22.50 (benefitcosmetics.co.uk)

Body Shop Flawless Skin Protective Concealer The zinc oxide contained in this concealer battles impurities, while baobab oil encourages the regeneration of skin cells.
£8 (01903 844554)

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm Start your routine with this hero product. Tightens skin for a more youthful appearance and keeps make-up fresh all day.
£24.46 (0800 0363558)

Prescriptives Custom Blend Lip Gloss Create a bespoke lipgloss from a vast array of base shades, pearls, finishes and flavours. Vitamin E and skin conditioners leave lips silky smooth.
£20 (0870 0342566)

Estée Lauder DayWear Plus Multi Protection Anti- Oxidant Moisturiser SPF15 This light moisturiser is a perfect summer alternative to foundation, with a sheer, “one shade suits all” illuminating tint and the fresh smell of cucumber.
£29 (0870 0342566)

shu uemura Pressed Eyeshadow
These singles come in four textures (matte, pearl, iridescent and metallic) and a whopping 110 different shades. All are moisturising and long lasting.
£14 each (020-7235 2375)

MAC make-up brushes With more than 40 types of soft-yet-firm brushes, MAC is constantly updating its range to accommodate suggestions from make-up artists around the world.
From £6.50 (maccosmetics.co.uk)

Barry M kohl pencil Soft, smudgable pencils for dense colour. There are 20 different shades, from white (apply to the lower lid for wide eyes) and classic black to the pastels pictured here.
£2.95 (available nationwide)

Giorgio Armani fluid sheer The ten available shades can be used for various effects. Gold tones give a fabulous glow under make-up, lighter shades highlight and pinks add radiance.
£30 at Selfridges (0800 123400)

Laura Mercier Bronzing Duo A long-wearing two-tone bronzer for a golden sheen and radiance in one. Formulated with French “cashmere” talc for a silky soft, sheer application.
£25 at Selfridges (0800 123400)

Chantecaille Lip Definer A water-resistant lip pencil that gives soft, smudge-free matte colour. Designed to avoid a ring-around-the-lips effect.
£16 at Fenwick (020-7629 9161)

Times recommends

• What took place in 2010...
• Can you really cure a hangover?
• Video: How to do glamorous smoky eyes