Beauty spot: black lipstick

I'm well into make-up as performance. Not all slap needs to make you look younger, or sexier, or even prettier, so I'm delighted to embrace the black-lipstick trend with an open face. Bobbi Brown has done a gorgeously edgy gloss-black Black Raspberry (£15.50, bobbibrown.co.uk ), as has Illamasqua, which never minds going a bit wacky when the season calls for it (see its navy shade). If you really can't bear to black out your lips (with pale eyes and just a crabapple of blusher), then try a dark plummy red, such as Dolce & Gabbana's or Maybelline's. But wear it thick. You want to keep your lips hovering in the corner of your sightline, whichever way you look. Visit theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/fashion for more style advice