As we slip further away from the winter that was (good riddance!) and journey closer to summer and Silly Season (horrah!) it's time to think about how to make the most of your skin to brighten up your look. Once the first round of celebrations roll up, your skin is likely to be in great condition, if you look after it well; pat on the back!

However, even the most well meaning of ladies can let her skin suffer after a few too many social occassions. Forgetting to take your makeup off, drinking less water than you should and surviving on  a diet of canapes and eating out can take its toll. Of course, being mindful of your skin and getting back into a great skincare routine will help to turn it back around. But if you need a faster solution, reach for your illuminator. It's the easiest way to give your skin a healthy glow - short of downing 10 green detox juices with extra ginger!

If you are fretting about waking to the looks of judging eyes, here's how to use illuminator to fool people into thinking you've been in bed by 10pm every night this week - even if you didn't get home til 3!

Mix your liquid illuminator into your base

Adding a pea sized amount of liquid illuminator into your liquid foundation will give you a subtle all over shimmer, without being obvious. Just be sure to pick one close in colour to your skintone (pink, yellow, or bronze)

Dust a mineral illuminator over your base to set it

If you wear a powder base, or perfer a more matte finish, try dusting over some powder illuminator instead of the above. Not only will you still get that gorgeous shimmer but it will also help to set your makeup and make it last longer too.

Tap some creamy illuminator on the areas you want to highlight

These areas are the features you want to draw forward. The brow bone (just under your eyebrows), your cheek bones, along your forehead, down the middle of your nose and the smallest amount dabbed onto your cupids bow (above your top lip) are all ace. Simply tap a little along all of these features with your finger (no brush needed) for a heavenly glow.

Finish with illuminating eyeshadow to open the eye

By pressing a teensy amount of illuminating cream eyeshadow into the corners of your eyes (where your eye meets the bridge of your nose) your eyes will be lit up and look much brighter - a great distraction from red and tired peepers!

And there you have it! Be sure to send us a little nod of gratitude next time you get away with feeling a little worse for wear, but are still looking amazing and fooling everyone anyway! - Lauren