Louise McSharry: Put your eye shadow on the sentence for a few minutes

That doesn’t mean I want to compromise on a good make-up though. I still like to look polished and interesting – I just want to achieve that in a more practical way. Usually, that means simplifying my routine by using fewer products that still pack a punch when it comes to their impact.

When it comes to my eyes, this usually means layering the eyeshadow with shimmer or shimmer. Although at one time creams tended to accumulate and shrink, new product development methods mean that these days, most people don’t need to worry about that.

Instead, cream shadows provide a lasting finish, which makes them the perfect base for any makeup look. They work on their own, of course, but you can layer other products on top of them to add a little pizazz.

Most of my favorite options in the cream shade category come in crayon form. I find them easy to use – swipe them on the lid and under the lash line before blending. Laura Mercier Caviar Sticks (€29 per spacenk.com) are good, like Bobbi Brown Long Lasting Eye Shadow Sticks (€29.50 per boots.ie), when Kiko Milano Long Lasting Eyeshadow Sticks (€7.99 per lookfantastic.ie) is a great budget option.

Once I’ve applied my cream, I use my finger to touch the shimmer shade on top. The finger is the best way to apply any shadow with a shimmer – it’s much better to pick up the product than with a brush. This method is also quick and easy – what’s not to like?

While chunky glitter has its time and place, I prefer to use fine glitter to give an eye-catching look that still feels grown-up. These types of shades are a very easy way to bring a little drama, especially for a low-light night.

I have a couple of things that I like about this group, the first is a unique product that has thousands of followers. I’m talking about Space Cowboy with Urban Decay (€25.30 per cultbeauty.com), which is a pale pink shade, with a beautiful shimmer.

The second is Half Magic’s Blushing Lizard (£14 per sephora.co.uk), a beautiful shimmery blue shade.

Finally, Danessa Myricks’ Colourfix Sticks cost 48.88 Euro cultbeauty.com) each with a shiny ‘foil’ side. My favorite shades are Interstellar, a champagne shade, and Meteorite, a light purple.

These all sit beautifully on brown or nude shades of cream, but also work with deep purples or navy if you want to be bold. Just apply mascara, and you have a beautiful and eye-catching look that won’t take you more than a few minutes. Once you’ve found your favorite combo, you’ll be ready for life!

Irish shopping

I’m never in need of a good cleansing balm. It’s an essential part of my routine, and I rely heavily on it to remove sunscreen and SPF. Doctrine is an Irish brand, founded by three professionals with years of experience in the skincare industry. The formulas are developed in-house by Tracey Ryan, the brand’s co-founder and cosmetic chemist. You have done a very good job The Divine Cleansing Balm of Teaching (€42 per doctrineskincare.com), which deeply cleanses the skin, leaving it soft and supple.

Old thing…

Highlighters have gone through the awful phase of making people look like shiny metal giants, but we’re back in the land of subtle glow these days. Well, it may not always be easy, but, for the most part, today’s highlighters offer the kind of glow you’d see on a supermodel. Stila’s Heaven’s Hue Highlighter in Kitten (€38 per boots.ie) has been around for a long time now, but it’s a dream. A shimmery pink, shimmery and illuminating, it leaves the skin looking like it’s glowing from within, which is exactly what I want from a highlighter. This shade is suitable for fair skin, while the other shades available (bronze and lilac) would look good on darker skin.

Something new…

Kosas has made a big name for itself across the Atlantic, but remains a relatively unknown name in this part of the world. It’s a shame, because the brands are great and always provide easy-to-use products that suit a lot of people. Its recent launch, Liquid Glisten Powder Highlighter (€ 36.80 per cultbeauty.com), is clearly large. The powder melts into the skin, giving it a dewy look, without leaving it looking chalky or metallic. Also, the shade of pink (Glimmerose) will suit beautiful, Celtic colors, but this range also includes the shade of peach (Haloed), which will work with beautiful warm colors, as well as bronze tones for deep skin, and blue Opaline, which works for anyone who wants to look like a fairy.