1 Estee Lauder Sumptuous Color Mascara in Amethyst, £17.50

This mascara from Estée Lauder is one of the subtlest ways to introduce the shade of the season. It lends lashes an exotic look and, even better, glides on without clumping.

2 Cover FX Briteprep FX, £40

Whether you go for a matt or a glossier look with your foundation, a primer is an increasingly important part of the modern beauty arsenal. This one will brighten the skin and give more of a glow — which is crucial for most of the key autumn looks. It will also help your make-up last longer, and comes with an SPF 50.

BACKGROUND

• Top 10 beauty products for autumn

• Beauty trends for autumn

• Statement hair and make-up for autumn

• How to do autumn make-up

• This season, throw away the rules of make-up

Video: How to do autumn make-up

Ruby Hammer distils the runway fantasies into attention-grabbing looks

3 Dior Diorliner in Plum, £21.50

This limited-edition liquid liner goes on easily, and the shade is so dark, it’s more of a deep aubergine than a plum, giving the eye a just perceptible lift.

4 Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Shimmering Touch, £50

Fragrance that’s just about the smell is soooo last season. Well, kind of. For a touch of winter sparkle, how about wearing one of the all-time fragrance greats as a tantalising body shimmer? Just rub a little of this elixir onto the décolleté and watch everyone move in for their own close-up. Perfect for party time.

5 Givenchy Gloss Poetique, £28

If the trend for a dark, moody face — from plums to modern goth — feels a little too much, then this almost- translucent black lip gloss is the answer. It gives just a hint of rebelliousness to keep you on trend, but won’t leave you looking like a wayward extra from the new

6 L'Oreal True Match Roll-On foundation, £13

As natty foundation twists go, this one leads the pack. It looks like a wall-painting kit, with a “pot” of creamy foundation and a roller applicator. Still, it’s fun to use, gives great, non-streaky coverage and costs about the equivalent of three lattes to go. You can’t say fairer.

7 Lancome Palette Liberte in Indigo Royaute, £35

Vibrant blues — in every shade from turquoise to sapphire — never quite seem to leave the make-up repertoire. But thanks to Aaron de Mey’s collection for Lancôme this season (which has a French Revolution theme), blue is stronger than ever. This rainbow indigo can be mixed with gold for an added military — and shimmery — emphasis.

8 Bobbi Brown eyeshadow in Bash Metallic, £14

Green, especially this forest shade, is one of the most wearable colours for autumn and can be used simply as a wide strip above the lashes, like a broad eyeliner. “It’s the perfect autumn shade, inspired by plaids, ivy colours, back to school and everything fall,” says Bobbi Brown. “It is a shade that is very ‘of the moment’ while also being classic.”

9 Clarins Long-Wearing Moisturizing lipstick in Joli Rouge, £14.50

Lips are very much about classic reds and deep plums for winter, so it makes sense to invest in one of the truest red lipsticks on the market. This one was first introduced in the early 1990s and is in constant demand by make-up artists, including Daniel Sandler and Mary Greenwell.

10 Laura Mercier Colour Wardrobe, £50

This two-tier compact is ideal if you want to go for a one-hit seasonal update for your beauty palette. It covers everything from jewel black/plum to natural shades for eyes, some glowy neutrals for cheeks, and six great shades of red for lips. Just brush and go. Selfridges; 0800 123 400

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