Doing your make-up for the office is easy when you know how. Follow these guides:

Forward planning
Brighten your complexion by applying concealer under your eyes and at the corners of your nose. If you do this skilfully, you will need less foundation and therefore fewer touch-ups.

Cover all bases
Apply a longwearing foundation only where you really need it. Then use a compact powder to touch up if you need more coverage, or a loose powder to reduce shine if you don’t. Blend a blusher just slightly brighter than your natural blush onto the apples of your cheeks. Make sure there are no visible lines.

Keep it straight and simple
Sweep a medium-toned eye shadow over your eyelids, then curl your lashes and apply eyeliner. Follow with mascara. If your eyebrows are fair, have them professionally tinted so that you don’t have to fill them in every morning.

The bottom line is what counts
Apply a natural-coloured lip liner over your top and bottom lips so that your colour won’t bleed, then apply lipstick. Remember that the brighter the lipstick colour, the more obvious it will be when the colour lifts, so you’ll have to retouch regularly. No time for touch-ups? Then stick with naturals.

Go the extra mile
Natural nail enamel looks groomed and a chip doesn’t show up easily. If you do use a more obvious colour, make sure that it’s never chipped.

Bonus tip
It’s a good rule to try to leave glittery sparkles and heavy eye make-up for after hours.