KEY POINTS:
If ever there was a time to festoon yourself in sparkly eyelids, all-knowing perfume and vampish lips, now's your chance.
Party season shouldn't be about everyday timid beige lips and boring bone-coloured eyes but a time for experimentation.
Investing in one crazy piece of makeup is cheaper than buying a whole new outfit.
1. Agent Provocateur
$195 for 100ml eau de parfum
Every boudoir should smell like this. From the British label known for ultra-sexy lingerie that stays on the right side of good taste - just - comes the fragrance. Whoar. It has saffron oil from India, Russian coriander, Egyptian jasmine and Haitian vetivert. It's all woman and is "synonymous with seduction, pleasure and provocation".
* From selected department stores and pharmacies.
2. Chanel Black Satin Le Vernis
$44 for 13ml
When Chanel does blue-black nail enamel, suddenly the Goths' first choice of nail polish is chic and just a little bit dangerous. It's downright vixen-like for when you fancy a walk on makeup's wild side.
* From selected department stores and pharmacies.
3. Yves Saint Laurent Fashion Bracelet
$120 for 1.8g
When makeup and accessories collide, this amazing black velvet bracelet is actually an eye and lip palette cunningly concealed under the gold-coloured square. If 007 wore lipgloss, this is what he'd have, although strictly for the gadgetry. So cool. Open the magnetised compact and there's an eyeshadow with copper and pink highlights, a golden burgundy lipstick and a frosted pink lipgloss. Genius.
* From selected department stores and pharmacies.
4. Elizabeth Arden Jewels & Velvet Compact for Lips
$59 for 5g
The Jewels & Velvet colours are about drama and keen on playing up the sexy, smoky look. This lip compact comes in a deep red quilted compact. Choose from four Ceramide Pump Perfect Lipstick colours: Perfect Garnet, Perfect Plum, Perfect Rose and Perfect Blossom. It's got most of the possible lipstick eventualities covered.
* From selected department stores and pharmacies.
5. M.A.C Glitter Jewelmarine
$48
M.A.C has always done a good end-of-year colour story. Frankly, Jewelscent is nuts - in a good way. Based around jade and turquoise, the colours are intense. Divine Lime's lime and yellow glitter liquid liner is manic. So is this pot of rich emerald green glitter with touches of aqua and royal blue.
Wear it wherever you fancy, but it looks striking on the eyelid over the top of the white pearl shimmer All Over Gloss. Obviously a muted lip is essential if you're not planning on joining a circus any time soon.
* From Smith & Caughey's Newmarket and M.A.C Chancery.
