Too Pretty: Laura Mercier

Sometimes make up arrives so beautifully presented that I wonder how I will ever steel myself to use it. This Gilded Garden Mosaic Shimmer Bloc, 30 pounds, from Laura Mercier is a very good case in point. Peppered with different light reflecting colour nuance, you can sweep it over cheeks for a sheen, experiment with using on eyes or later on in the summer dust it over tanned shoulders to reflect and glimmer. Don’t – despite all temptation – sweep it over the whole face. Hate a glittery face. Make up artists rattle on about all over glow, face shimmers and highlighters, but unless you’re very clever at applying, these have to be used sparingly otherwise it just looks like something went very wrong. A few years ago, a well known make up brand introduced a fine, shimmery eyeshadow that was actually designed to spill over the cheekbones. Why? God only knows – these things can happen when creative types meet a big budget. Unfortunately, nobody – other than those in this weird beauty world – got the supposed sophistication of it all and just assumed a glaring make up mishap. It’s all such a fine line…..