My first makeup tip is to go with your mood on this one. There are so many variations to complement this look, and here we will be looking at just two. For a change, let’s begin with tips for lipstick. This will give you a sense of the two variations we are looking at. First, classic red lipstick. Second, nude lips.

Go for a soft grey eyeshadow with the red lipstick. Line the eyes with a thicker line on the outer edges, and pile on lots of mascara. Use a darker grey to blend into the crease, concentrating on the outer edges. Soften the creaseline with a blending brush and fade inward. Finish with cream highlighter and define the brows.

You can also wear the red lipstick with brown eyeshadow. This time, use a nude or vanilla colour all over the lid, followed by warm medium to dark brown on the outer edges, blending inward. Fill the crease in as well, and fade it out the same way. Top off with a sheer satin highlighter on the browbone. Define the brows.

Give yourself a sunkissed appearance with shimmer brown or bronze blusher lightly over the cheekbones, forehead, nose and chin.

The second set of makeup tips is for you if you choose to go for the nude lips, you might like to keep the eyes very neutral as well. Wear either cream or soft pink eyeshadow all over the lid. Define the crease lightly with a medium brown eyeshadow, fading the entire effect for a soft appeal. Curl the eyelashes with an eyelash curler and tube them with brown mascara. You may wish to line the eyes on the outer edges 1/3 of the way in with dark brown eyeliner, but it is not necessary.

Apply caramel or poppy pink blush on the apples of the cheeks, in soft upward flicks of the makeup blusher brush. A large round blusher brush works best to give a natural flushed look. Use lipliner the colour of your lips and fill in with your favourite nude lipgloss. This is one of my favourite looks of all time. It has a very sexy low-maintenace appeal. Complemented with the white t-shirt and blue jeans, this is the look to go for when you need to feel approachable, like everybody’s best friend.

For more makeup tips, click on the categories on the right, or navigate your way through the pages on the number links below.

Skipping the foundation altogether is of course the surest bet in practicality. Go bare if you dare, but this does not mean you need place a bag over your head when the hottie you’ve been eyeing happens to walk by.  A smidgen of concealer under the eyes and a dab of it with a small wand on the dark spots will leave your skin looking fresh and flawless, without the heaviness. A good concealer should blend right into your skin. If you have a tinted moisturiser like Stila’s Tinted Moisturiser with SPF 15, all the better. Apply and use your fingers to pat away any excess. Once it sets, check using a dry tissue that it won’t smear.

You can play up the eyes with white or a shimmery nude eyeshadow in the inner corners of the eyes. Using your fingers or a taut eyeshadow brush, blend in a tan matte shadow just on the lower outer corners just behind your eyelashes. Line the eyes with smudgeproof eyeliner, and finish them off with tubing mascara such as Blinc or waterproof mascara in dark brown or black.

Skip the cheeks to prevent any accidents, but drink lots of water and a cup of juice to keep you going throughout the day and keep your skin hydrated and in the pink of health. Use cherry or watermelon lipgloss, fix your hair in an easy high-ponytail or something fuss-less, and you are ready to go!

For the day out at the mall, a little goes a long way to perfectly practical yet pretty! Have a guilt-free shopping trip and go have fun with your girlfriends!