You beauty! Tom Ford Illuminating Cheek Colour

A woman has a certain lazy, hazy, lit look when sitting bathed in the glow of the sunset at the end of a steamy, sun-drenched day. It’s a sexy iridescence. It has a slightly devil-may-care attitude because it’s probably been tanning itself (more than the derm doc advises) and it wants a drink and might find itself doing some extreme flirting in an hour or so. Quiet shimmering confidence without the crassness of glitter. Hot, summer allure.

We need to pin down this radiance, this spark, because we live in London and probably won’t be spending the next three months solidly sitting on Mediterranean terraces warmed to our very bones. It’s possible – anything’s possible – but it’s looking improbable at this point. Isn’t it? Without wanting to be depressing.

So turn to Tom Ford, because he gets it. Always has. His products provide the velvety magnetism that makes women feel expensively feminine. Try his sexy take on summer sheen: Illuminating Cheek Colour in Blush Guilt. Use it over his bronzer for luminous cheek-bone contouring. Smooth over eyelids for polish and slide over lips to pull it all together in a pared down, Bo Derek-10 way. Corn rows are optional.

With a tan and tinted eyelashes I am perfectly at ease hanging out in only bronzer and this chubby, multi-tasking gleam-stick. And clothes I suppose. Unless the Tom Ford fuelled summer flirting goes unexpectedly well...

Tom Ford lluminating Cheek Colour, £48, at selfridges.com