Beauty: Precious metals

Picture / Babiche Martens

Seasonal changes are so much kinder to imagine in makeup terms than clothing. Why, even thinking about stepping out of the thermals and into some togs is enough to bring on the goosebumps. Eyeshadow, on the other hand, does nothing of the kind, especially when spring and summer have decreed there will be rather of lot of gold on the face - although less Donatella, more Bianca Jagger.

1. Bobbi Brown Pale Pink Pot Rouge for Lips and Cheeks
$55 for 11ml

Pink, the colour choice of all little girls, gets a whole collection devoted to its pretty shades. The Pink Sugar range, which is due out in September, will be worth the wait. This cream in the most fetching blushes-of-innocents shade is a beautiful sheer stain for cheeks and lips. So handy.
From Smith & Caughey's Queen St from September.

2. Shiseido The Makeup Sea Sunshine Silky Eye Shadow Duo
$60 for 2g

This stunning duo from the Golden Kiss colour story has a warm gold colour with almost as many platinum sparkles as a Tiffany & Co window and is offset with a brilliant ocean blue. Great combo.
From selected department stores and pharmacies.

3. Tom Ford Estee Lauder Collection Cap Bronzee Sand The Lip
$50

Fashion design megastar Tom Ford teamed up with Lauder to create a limited-edition makeup story that has everyone clamouring, such is his legend. His inspiration was the'70s jetset with their fondness for the Mediterranean. This warm nude lip colour means while the focus is on the eyes, the mouth is still dressed.
From Smith & Caughey's.

4. M.A.C Gallery Gal/Bright Side Mineralize Eyeshadow
$42

Gold again. This clever eyeshadow duo featuring a soft olive green and frosted champagne gold are the result of baking two shades of eyeshadow on terracotta tile for more than 24 hours. The fine pearl leaves a lovely shimmer on the eyes. As part of the limited edition A Muse colour story, these colours can be almost sheer or applied wet for a stronger hit.
From Smith & Caughey's Newmarket and M.A.C Chancery from August 7.

5. Elizabeth Arden Desert Sun Double Intrigue Lipcolor
$42 for 6.5ml

By now you've probably got the idea that metallics, specifically golds and bronzes, are what summer is all about. This wearable bronze Color Intrigue lightweight lipstick has a lip gloss at the other end, so once you're done with the lippy, you can reach for the high-shine infused peach gloss to finish the look perfectly.
From selected department stores and pharmacies from August 1.