Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate

We love a bit of glow and shadow, but never more, perhaps, than when it’s beautifully put together by Tom Ford in one of his sexy-click palettes. We love Mr. Ford’s quote that ‘the first step to beauty is understanding the architecture of your face and brining balance and symmetry to your features.’ Of course it requires a deft touch so as not to end up with ‘stripes’ on the cheek or under the jaw, but the bliss of this texture is that (despite the colour in the palette), it’s creamily textured, blends beautifully and goes on sheer and seamlessly, creating just a whisper of shadow where some flattering, face-sleeking shading is called for. (Did anyone say ‘jowls’…?)

We don’t have our photograph taken often, but when we do, contouring really comes into its own – and Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate is now the go-to palette, for a little extra facial ‘architecture’.

Then there’s the highlighter: brilliant for brow-bones, for the centre of the nose – and upper cheekbones with one proviso: you don’t have a crow’s foot to your name. If you prefer a powder texture, though, do check out the new Tom Ford Illuminating Powder, which shimmers and gleams as if you’re lit by candlelight.

Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate/£56 and Tom Ford Illuminating Powder/£56 at www.selfridges.com