You beauty! M.A.C glitter brilliants

I’m not talking about shimmer, glimmer or sparkle. Nor glow, gleam or sheen. I’m talking about glitter: actual showgirl, catwalk, beauty editorial glitter, with all the fearless twinkle that implies. So, if you can’t take the heat, turn the page.

MAC’s Glitter Brilliants do not pretend to be anything other than full-on spangle. They are not suspended in a moisturising balm, they are not applied with a dinky little applicator. Oh no. They are free-spirited, slightly dangerous; tricky to control, but exuberant, joyous and effective.

There are two ways to skin this cat: dust on the glitter (I do eyelids and also cheekbones — that way you highlight the architecture of your face while leaving a tiny calling card on everyone you kiss. Man in a suit with a rogue dot of glitter on his cheek? Good work) with a brush and allow it to migrate as it so chooses. But you’ll need to reapply. Or, with a finger, press the glitter over a creamy highlighter or sheer coating of something like Eight Hour Cream. It’ll bind with the particles and hold them in place.

It works mixed with lip gloss, too, but I would advise against dusting your décolleté with it because that is when this stuff starts to read as tranny or plastered granny. I love the gold one: heaven for Christmas parties but also fresh on a summer’s evening. And it lasts forever. And ever. Amen.

MAC Glitter, £17 (maccosmetics.com)