Coloured eye pencils are big news this summer. Black, nearly black and dark brown pencils are the slippers of your make-up bag, and coloured eye pencils are the Jimmy Choos.

When you're picking something that sits next to the eye, you have to be careful. Pick too strong a colour and it will detract from the eye - all people will see is the line. Pick something too dull and it will deaden the eye, rather than enhance it.

Those with very dark skin (ie, black with blue undertones) should go lighter when picking a coloured eye liner. Work with the skin tone, not against it, so choose cool blues or cool greens. Try Barry M, shades 12 and 13 (ice blues), or numbers 3 and 5 from YSL (greens).

If your skin tone is more red than blue, go for warmer shades, such as oranges, bronzes or greys. Try the eyeliner pencil from Shiseido in No3 (green), or Ally Cat from Urban Decay (bronze), or, my favourite, the grey from Clarins (03).

Those with yellow skin tones should avoid anything with a hint of yellow in it. Instead, stick with colder shades. Try Stila's Convertible Colour in Lilac, or Hard Candy's Sonic Glitter in Plush (turquoise).

For best results, lean your elbow on a stable surface, steady your hand by balancing your little finger on your cheekbone and make tiny brush strokes as close to the lash line as possible, advises Jenny Morgan, head of make-up artistry at Stila.

"The whole point of liner is to open up the eye, so start in the outer corner and blend inward, tapering as you go. If the line is too thick on the inner corner, it will make your eyes look small and close together." A strong liner needs at least a base shadow and soft (but not natural) lips.

Mascara is also a must, Morgan says. Black will go with everything, or pick something that matches the tone (not necessarily the colour) of the liner - if you've gone for a cool liner, use a cool mascara. And don't bother trying to do that little flick at the edge. It's dated and, no, it doesn't make you look like Marilyn Monroe.