My skin seems to be labouring under the illusion that it’s right to be lacking in glow or joie de vivre. It is dull and grey outside and party season seems like many moons ago… Oh, the moon! Iridescent, incandescent. La lune! It illuminates, unlike my skin.

So how can we get this glow back? With the help of…

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish £14 and Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic £14.50 A soft, creamy cleanser buffed off with a hot damp cloth then doused with a beautifully floral hydrating toner is the recipe for skin that’s unafraid to radiate a radiance!

No7 Protect and Perfect Intense Advanced Serum £24.95
A rich cream that sinks into skin fast, a particular favourite for those with dry, mature skin.

Sisley Radiant Glow Mask with Red Clay £73
Five to ten minutes in this mask and skin will be miraculous.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit £65
The ultimate blusher compact. With a choice of four blushers, one bronzer and a highlighter, your face will have a lit-from-within glow.

Dior Star Fluid Foundation SPF 30 £32.50
An illuminating foundation to accompany your new found luminosity!

Benefit High Beam Luminescent Complexion Enhancer £19.50
Strategic dotting of this liquid highlighter on the top of your cheekbones and brow bone for a sophisticated shimmer that’s yours to own!

When stretched for time
I loosen my watch straps
and stretch them.
Under the domed glass
I tug at their hands,
(they’re elastic, fantastic!)
– shaking them –
to be friendly

and they show me who’s boss.

They make muesli of their art.

Ignored button holes and
tortoiseshell
crises
are our safety nets
and colour palettes
which we throw like frisbees
or cowboy hats.