Beauty spot: Face up to bare essentials

Nude makeup is one of those things that makes my boyfriend roll his eyes. Why would I bother putting it on if the goal is to look like I'm not wearing any?

Anyone who has tried a good nude eyeshadow or lipstick will know, though, that sometimes the best colour is no colour. A shade just a touch darker or lighter than your natural colouring can make you look refreshed and radiant without being overly made-up - and nude lips often complement to smoky eyes.

The first step when you are going nude is to start with a really good base. I'd recommend Natio's Pure Mineral Foundation ($19.95). It's full of light-reflecting minerals that blend with your skin tone and smooth everything out.

Also worth looking out for is Living Nature's Soft Lights Illuminating Tint in Day Glow. I'd never come across this before, but I can't speak highly enough of it. It's designed to give skin a soft glow without any weight and, even better, it minimises fine lines and wrinkles. It doesn't give heavy coverage but lasts all day.

A hint of colour doesn't go amiss on the cheeks if the rest of your makeup is understated. Don't be put off by thoughts of stripy 80s blush - modern varieties are designed just to give you a healthy flush. Look for L'Oreal's True Match varieties or try Living Nature's Warm Summer Blush. It's easy to apply and kind on skin.

To add definition to your lips with the barest hint of colour, line them with a nude liner, then fill in the whole lip with a sheer, pearly hue. Try Natio's Mechanical Lip Liner in Nude ($13.95) with Natio's Mineral Lip Glow ($15.95) - number three offers just a hint of honey bronze. The lip glows are super-moisturising but really sheer.

Or, for a treat, try Kiehl's Lip Gloss in New York Nude ($36). It's made with natural extracts and is really rich without being sticky.

Maybelline's New York Color Sensational Creme Gloss in Touch of Toffee ($17.99) is another good option - it's a bit darker but packs a really gorgeous shine.

Another favourite is Maybelline New York Color Sensational Pearls Lipstick in So Pearly ($20.99). It contains micronised pearls for radiance and gives the impression of shimmer, almost without colour.

For your eyes, you can either dust a single colour over your eyelid - I find this really makes your eyes stand out - or apply a darker nude or taupe shade on the lid and a lighter, almost white shadow up to your eyebrow.

I highly recommend Maybelline New York Eye Studio Mono Eyeshadow in Beige Nude ($9.99). Although it's not expensive, it's really long-lasting, easy to apply and flattering for blue/green eyes.

Living Nature eyeshadow duos are also excellent. Try Sandstone, Beaches or Blossom - the colours work really nicely together, wear extremely well and you feel that you are doing something good for your skin at the same time.

Nude nails are really elegant and will finish off your look perfectly. Try Natio's Nail Colour in French ($9.95). It's quick-drying and long-lasting. I also really like MAC's Nail Lacquer in Abalone Shell.