Beauty: Shine lifts wintry spirits

Picture / Glenn Jeffrey

There's no rule that says you can't wear shimmery colours in winter. True, there is a natural tendency to hibernate in more matt foundations and cream lipsticks but it doesn't have to be this way. A bit of shine and sparkle in one designated place on the face is a way of keeping the excitement of makeup alive and well.

1. Estee Lauder Pinklight Pure Color Crystal Gloss
$46

This limited edition range of glosses and lipsticks comes with neon glow - a neon pearlised special effect that gives a prismatic effect and a mass of shine. This pastel pink's destined for great things.

From selected department stores and pharmacies.

2. Clinique Crystal Berry Colour Surge Eye Shadow Super Shimmer
$44 for 2.2g

In the light, this soft purple is shot with gold - so subtle and pretty. The oil-free formulation means the new Colour Surge shadows in velvet, soft shimmer and super shimmer colours stay put and special polymers go round, absorbing any naturally occurring oil.

From selected department stores and pharmacies.

3. Bobbi Brown Apricot Shimmer Brick
$94 for 10.3g

These pearlised Shimmer Bricks are a genius idea. Run a brush over one, some or all the five colours that go from ivory pearl to soft bronze and apricot tones between for a soft, peachy glow on cheeks, eyes, all over or anywhere you want to radiate good health.

From Smith & Caughey's Queen St.

4. M.A.C Gold Dusk Pigment
$48 for 7.5g

This is part of the gorgeous Sundressing collection which is all about mid-summer mellow, bleached-out colour and shimmer. But there is no reason this light yellow gold loose colour powder can't look every bit as good without the beach. Use it by itself for a wash of warm gold or over the top of another eye colour for intensity.

From Smith & Caughey's Newmarket and M.A.C Chancery.

5. Elizabeth Arden Sheer Lights Illuminating Pen
$48 for 1.8ml

So this one's not meant to do shimmer, but illumination is still to be commended. By now, we should all be familiar with these pens that aren't exactly concealers but take the place of them around the eyes by reflecting light back to illuminate rather than conceal dark circles and imperfections. Arden's version is as good as any other.

From selected department stores and pharmacies.