Don’t confine dark lip colours to winter | Funmi Fetto

Stories on dark plum lipstick usually centre on its use in winter or Halloween. It is not obvious spring fare. That’s the point I want to make here – dark lip colour can say more than one thing. You can make it work outside the aforementioned context by going a little bit off piste and pairing it with the unexpected, as per a recent Viktor & Rolf show. They’ve taken berry lip colour and teamed it with a pretty pink blush and a wash of bronze around the eyes. Now dark lips are telling a very different story.

1. Vieve Sunset Blush in Cherub £23, vieve.co.uk
2. Lisa Eldridge Liquid Lurex Eyeshadow £19, lisaeldridge.com
3. Byredo Astronomical Mascara £37, byredo.com
4. Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Davita £17, stila.co.uk
5. Huda Cheeky Tint Blush Stick £21, feelunique.com

I can’t do without… A brilliant eyeliner that won’t break the budget

Using this eyeliner – which, of late, I have been doing a lot of – reminds me of a conversation I had pre- life as a beauty editor. A friend was bemoaning the inefficiency of her inexpensive black eyeliner. Miss Know It All here responded with: ‘What did you expect? It’s cheap. You should have gone to…’ Then I reeled off the usual (luxe) suspects. I wince as I type this. Anyone who has read this column long enough will know that I maintain that the cost of a product is no indication as to how effective it will be. To be fair, that was not always the case: historically, cheap beauty products have been shocking. But there is now a wealth of products that are affordable, accessible, brilliantly made and seriously effective. Which is where this incredible double-ended eyeliner (a pencil with a built-in smudger) comes in. It has a powder gel formula that is super easy to use – you can create smokey, smudgy eyes, slick sharp flicks and basic lined eyes with very little effort. It is waterproof and longwearing (I’ve tried 12 hours and it didn’t budge). And the sublime pigment is an unapologetically inky black – important, because on darker skin, most liners in this texture show up as grey. And there’s the price; £5.99. This, one of the best eyeliners I have ever used, kills the myth that expensive is always better. Maybelline Tattoo EyeLiner, £5.99, lookfantastic.com

On my radar… Get skin spring ready with these face serums

Aloe darling This super luxe, lightweight serum – a nourishing and brightening blend of hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and aloe leaf juice – is the latest from this beauty wellness brand. Costa Brazil Serum Para A Face, £128, net-a-porter.com

Sun smart Anyone in the market for a serum that moisturises and corrects hyper-pigmentation while future-proofing skin with an SPF will love this (out next month). Murad Correct & Protect Serum with SPF 45, £70, murad.co.uk

Vitamin hero Using the most stable form of vitamin C, this antioxidant-rich but light serum brightens, smooths, and protects skin from environmental aggressors. Verso Super C Serum, £80, cultbeauty.co.uk

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