There’s nothing quite like a little shimmer cream or dust for giving a girl the glow she deserves. With little being the operative word. Unless you’re a showgirl (or Kylie), the key is restraint. Pick one feature only to play up. For example …
FACE: For a subtle all-over gleam, mix some illuminating cream into your foundation. Play around with the ratio. Some days, you may only need a dollop, others more. Also experiment with colours. Pearly mixes can give skin an ethereal quality, while golden and bronze tones are great for mustering up a summer glow or helping you match skintone to a fake-tanned body. On days when you want to take a break from base, but keep the glow, simply mix your illuminator into your moisturiser or sunscreen. Great buy: Model Co Luminosity Shimmer Whip in Bronze, Pink and Champagne ($34 each from from Model Co Shop).
HIGHLIGHTS: To enhance great bone structure (or try to fake it), use a highlighting balm or stick to dab along the upper cheekbones and underneath the browbones. This creates a gorgeous play-with-the-light effect, as well as giving your features added definition. Paler skins should work with cool tones, such as silvers, champagnes and pearls, while medium and darker complexions are most complemented by burnished hues of gold and bronze. Great buy: Australis Shimma Stick ($9.95, from pharmacies and variety stores).
EYES: Sweep a shimmery eye shadow (in either a pressed or loose form) all over lids. In general, powders are preferable to creams, as they last longer. But eye shimmer creams are worth considering; they create a pretty, dewy effect, and also serve well as a pre-powder-shadow base, giving the final effect more dazzle. Don’t extend shimmer beyond the creaseline of lids - this can cause a puffy look or exacerbate any pouchiness already there. Finally, a sprinkle of shimmer around the inner corners lights up the eyes beautifully, and detracts attention away from any dark shadows. Great buy: Stila Eye Shadow in Kitten ($34 from Mecca Cosmetica).
LIPS: Want to give your lipstick a glamorous finishing touch? Use a lip brush to etch some loose shimmer dust in a golden shade. To create the illusion of fuller lips, dip your pinkie into the shimmer dust, then press into the middle of lips: instant pout. Great buy: Stila All Over Shimmer Eyes in Gold ($36 from Mecca Cosmetica).
BODY: Use a large makeup brush to dust a bronzing shimmer powder along shins, arms and décolletage - this not only enhances a fake tan but gives the body some sexy definition. You can also dust around cleavage to visually volumise - a tried-and-tested celebrity makeup artist trick. Great buy: M.A.C Mineralize Skinfinish ($46 from from M.A.C).
HAIR: To amp up shiny hair, simply swish shimmer dust all over your blow-dry,adding a little extra along the layers around the face, which gives a gorgeous halo-ish glow effect. Go for gold if you’re blonde, copper if you’re a redhead, bronze if you’re a brunette, and gold if you’re darker-haired.
