We all like to wear makeup to feel good; but, if we are honest, most of us have a makeup bag that is crammed full with old and out of date products!

We need to tip out the lot and go through it ruthlessly, clearing out the never used, the dried-up and the no-longer-fashionable; then consider seriously, what to replace them with.

Quality counts:

Never stint when it comes to buying foundation as this is the base for all your makeup and the more expensive are usually designed for sensitive skins. Do not forget to consider mousse foundations which can be easier to apply and appear more translucent if a very light base is required for daytime wear.

Shop around for the best brands and take the advice of the cosmetic counter assistants as they will be able to help you on skin type and the right color to choose.

Make sure any rouge you wear blends well into your foundation to give a soft and luminous touch of color to your skin. Lancome have one of the best ranges of rouge, but consider L’Oreal, Maybelline, Revlon and Lakme, all of which offer quality products.

Money spent on eye makeup is never wasted. It is essential to buy quality products that do not cause irritation. Consider Couleurs Naturels, cosmetic pencils which contain 100% natural ingredients. May Kay shadows are some of the best, Lakme sells an eyelash strengthening liner and Revlon has a new mascara which lengthens and gives volume to the lashes.

Choose lipsticks or lip gloss which will last all day and where the glowing color stays firmly on your lips, such as Cover Girl Outlast All-Day, Max Factor Lipfinity, M.A.C lipsticks and the Avon range.

Having refreshed your makeup bag; now is the time to clear out all those part-used bottles of nail varnish in last year’s colours! Try instead OP!, Nail Envy, Sally Hansen Hard, Essie Nail Polish or Nailtiques Formula 2 to give your hands that very latest something special.

Finally, finish your preparations by investigating the newest perfumes to add that ‘je ne sais quois’ as you walk tall whatever the time of day or night, knowing you have done your utmost to create a new, glowing you.