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I am not a great wearer of make-up if truth be told, but on the rare occasion I get that social itch I have a selection of different foundations waiting to be used. Why a selection? Because my face is a monster, that’s why; oily some days and dry the next – sometimes a bit of both if it feels like. As I have quite sensitive skin I have tried and tested hundreds of different foundations (liquid specifically) in order to find a few that work for me. Here are my top five:

• Chanel Perfection Lumière, £36

A slightly more expensive brand, but one that’s worth the hefty price tag. With a huge selection of shades for you to choose from, the velvety, light-weight cream blends easily into your skin, giving you medium coverage that feels as light as some powders. It’s my personal favorite for this reason, as well as the sheer glow it gives on application. Suitable whatever the occasion.

• Giorgio Armani, £38

Moving away from the sheer, we have the matt. Lightweight and ideal for splashing on in the morning for a natural, unassuming look, it is great for people with slightly oily skin. It is easy to blend (with finger or brush) which makes it one of my favorites for quick application and on the go touch ups.

• Bobbi Brown Long-Wear, £30

My current favorite, this oil-free foundation is great because you can build it up without having to worry about caking it. Depending on the occasion, I can change it from light to full coverage by just adding on a few layers. It is super smooth, smells delicious (I don’t know why, it just does) and like the Chanel, gives one a sun-kissed glow.

• MAC Face & Body Foundation, £27

It would be shameful for me to leave this great out! Water-based and water resistant (how does that work?), there is something about MAC products that makes me feel like I am a model on a date with the catwalk. Although I find it not as ‘natural’ as my other foundations, the sheer, and resilient formula is great on those night outs when you need that long lasting coverage and durable, sweat resistant finish.

• Guerlain Lingerie, £38 

I started on an older model of Guerlain (it was my first wallet-busting foundation in fact), but I have sampled my friend’s Guerlain Lingerie and can say that it remains as good as ever. With a slight SPF and natural, smooth finish, the formula is light, moisturizing and perfect for use during the day.

These all might be a bit pricey, but in the long run they are worth it. While I might not spurge on eye shadows and mascaras, having a good foundation that is easy on the skin and long lasting is the – dare I say it – foundation for having a healthy and natural looking face whatever the occasion. I would suggest going to a cosmetics counter at any of these stores (Clinique is particularly skilled at this) to have a short consultation about your skin type to help you find a foundation that caters to your dermatologic needs.

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While in China, do as the Chinese do!

It began with a couple of Shanghainese commuters. Petite and effortlessly fashionable, they boarded the crowded train with their ebony waistcoats, shimmering pumps and matching Celine bags – fake, I guessed, (wished, with uncontrollable envy) not that it mattered. Not like you could tell the difference. Their sing-song voices faded behind the scuttle of metal as the train jerked into motion. I continued to track them. Wedged between the sweating pits of a rotund man, my roommate and a trio of schoolgirls, their beauty became a retreat from the radiating body heat around me. What fascinated me most were their eyes. Even across the train I could distinguish their intolerably long, dense eyelashes sweeping the lens of their glasses, eyes enormous and enlivened; a Chinese doll or an anime perversion.

What kind of mascara do they make in China, I wondered.

“They’re fake, everyone gets them here” came my roommate’s bemused voice from behind me. Clearly she had noticed my staring. “Asians don’t have eyelashes like that,” she continued, nudging into me as the train lurched to a stop. I looked over at her and her toothy smile. She fluttered her eyelashes as me – dense, but short and unimposing. “I should know, being Asian and all.”

So started my obsession with fake eyelashes – not the ones you get in a box and pop on with some white glue before a long night, but the semi-permanent lashes you get at a salon. A few days after that fateful train ride I found myself a reputable salon that grafted eyelashes. Between Silk and Mink, I opted for the latter, which doesn’t last as long but gives a more ‘natural’ appearance. The procedure took around 30 minutes and I even fell asleep in the chair while it happened. It was painless, quick and in no time at all I had enviable lashes. Even with no makeup on having such prominent fixtures made me appear awake and alert; great for someone like me who isn’t one to wear cosmetics during the day.

They last two to four weeks and slowly fall out unless you go back to a salon to have them removed, which I would advise you do should you wish to forgo them, seeing as they are attached to your natural lashes. Here is what they look like on me!