Pat McGrath is something of a guru in the beauty world. Winner of the Pantene Pro-V Make-Up Artist Of The Year Award in both 2000 and 2001, McGrath has been in the business for more than 10 years. The list of people she's worked with reads like a Who's Who: Cameron Diaz, Nicole Kidman, Björk, Gwyneth Paltrow and Oprah Winfrey, not to mention the A-list models she has made up for magazine shoots and catwalk shows. In 1999, McGrath, who is black, started collaborating with Giorgio Armani on the creation of his new range, Giorgio Armani Cosmetics. Not only are the products sleekly designed and luxurious, but unlike so many other ranges, exclusive or otherwise, it caters for everyone from the palest through to the darkest of skin tones.

"When working with Mr Armani, I placed importance on creating colours to suit every skin," McGrath says. "It is a totally international range."

So what is the one essential make-up tip she'd give to black women? "For black skins, it's important to add highlighters to foundation," says McGrath. "For example, for a dark black skin, try Luminous Silk Foundation No 13 mixed with Fluid Sheer No 4. The Fluid Sheer adds colour and luminosity.

"I have never used one specific brand for black skins," continues McGrath, "but I do pick up products from some professional make-up artist's brands when I need them."

If you're still wondering about your look for the party season, McGrath has some tips. "For Christmas, it's dramatic," she says. "The look is for a sophisticated woman with red lips, dark eyes and red nails. Use a light foundation to suit your skin from the range, Nos 0 to 13. Add extra luminosity with the gentle gold Fluid Sheer No 1. The powerful ruby lips are outlined with Smooth Silk Lip Pencil No 5 and filled with Shine Lipstick No 8. The dark eyes are created with Silk Eye Pencil No 4 layered with Eye Shadows No 4 and No 21. The Sheer No 0 lipstick is also really versatile: use it as a gloss on its own or over colour on lips or eyes, or as highlighter on the cheeks."

And if Armani make-up feels like too much of an extravagance, you could always ask Father Christmas.