As you probably know by know, blue make-up is back. Well, blue eye shadow, at least. Blue has never really been my colour, make-up wise. Blue eye shadows were either so chalky and lacking in colour that they were strictly off limits, or so dark that I ran the risk of looking like I was recovering from either a heavy night or a couple of black eyes. Well, not any more.

These new blues are bright with strong pigments, making them suitable for anything from the lightest to the darkest of skin tones. Yes, there are still some that are hideously old-fashioned and, once applied, they look more grey or white than blue, so, as ever - test before you buy. And test shades you would normally shun because blue seems to be more deceptive than other shades, especially against dark skin. The White eye colour from Ruby & Millie (140P) is a perfect example. It's called White, it looks white, but on black skin it turns into a beautiful light blue.

The Eye Colour from Anna Sui (214) looks like a very pale purple, but once on dark skin it's probably the palest blue you can get away with.

If you're really into blue, Mac's Denim collection and Stila's Lotus Infusion are great bargains, each with four different shades. The former has the best selection for darker skins and the latter for lighter.

Spending time building up the colour gradually will stop it disappearing or sliding down your cheeks the minute you leave the house. Dip the shadow brush into the colour, tap it to get rid of excess powder and then apply on your hand. From here, use your hand as a palate, taking the colour from it, rather than from the pot, and apply in a block to the socket only. This takes time but not only does it increase its staying power, it allows you to build up the colour evenly.

On dark skin, blue is a night-time look and it's one that only works when worn boldly, but don't just save it for special occasions - it also looks amazing worn with denim.