Cheats of the trade: You don’t have to emulate the professionals to look good

Like applying liquid liner properly, painting my nails like a pro or creating a smokey eye that looks more sultry and less “10 rounds with Tyson”.

The list goes on…

But then, very much like Carrie Bradshaw, I got to thinking…

Yes, it’s true I don’t manage to give myself a salon-perfect finish before I leave the house each morning, but then I don’t actually work in a salon, so should I actually expect myself to?

Perfection is overrated – and usually faked using Instagram filters anyway, from what I can tell.

What I have mastered in my short (ahem) time on this planet, is the art of a good fudge.

And that’s the way forward, I think.

Take the way I style my hair, for example.

I have always said that when I win the lottery (note to self, must remember to actually buy a ticket one day), I will have a hairdresser come to my house to sort me out each morning.

After all, nothing makes you look more put together than a decent blowout.

For me, it would be the ultimate luxury (well, that and having someone else to launder my flannels for me, so I don’t simply leave them mouldering by the sink until they can walk themselves to the washing machine).

But as people cheerfully like to remind us, I’m more likely to be run over by a bus than see my numbers come up.

So in the meantime, rather than get up an hour early to spend time smoothing with barrel brushes and clips, I cheat my way to a sleek style each day.

With a toddler in tow, 10 minutes really is all the time I can devote to my do and the secret, I’ve found, is that power tools are the answer.

There’s a reason hair looks so awful when you use a hotel dryer – they just don’t have the oomph (it’s a technical term, OK).

Instead I use a 2,100w, professional-strength GHD Air (£99; ghdhair.com) to blast my whole head in one go, smooth it through quickly with a styling iron to take out any kinks, then finish with a final blast of hot, then cold air to set in place.

It really is the lazy girl’s styling session.

My smokey eye skills have improved exponentially since I discovered Charlotte Tilbury Golden Goddess Luxury Palette (£39; charlottetilbury.com) and realised that bronze is the new black.

The shadow quad contains the perfect four shades marked with exactly what each is intended to do (Prime, Enhance, Smoke and Pop), while Charlotte’s website tells you where to apply each one – and even which brush to use.

It is practically painting by numbers.

As for nails, while my ambidextrous sister is a dab hand at painting hers, unless I start wearing one glove like Michael Jackson there really is no hope for me.

Instead, when I’m doing my own mani in front of the telly, I tend to stick with a neutral, natural colour such as Essie Ballet Slippers Sheer Pink Nail Polish (£7.99; boots.com) so my mistakes don’t show up (I’m less likely to stain the sofa, too).

Sometimes you have to accept your failings, so I leave the more eye-catching berry shades to those times when I can treat myself to half an hour in a nail bar.

Similarly, I realised a long time ago that the art of the perfect liquid line is beyond me – with the tremor I have in my hand I’m never going to master a flawless freehand flick.

Instead I have channelled my energy into becoming a dab hand with a kohl pencil, which is much simpler to rework without the need for make-up remover if (and when) I slip up.

But for those who really want to give Audrey Hepburn a run for her money, try the credit card trick.

And no, I don’t mean paying someone else.

Simply hold the card at a gentle angle between the corner of your eye and the lashes, then use it like a ruler to trace along to draw in your wing.

Fake it ’til you make it, I say.

BEAUTY COUNTER 

Who says styling tools have to come in funereal attire?

The Alfa Italia Amalfi Collection (£44.95 each; alfaitaliapro.com) has vanity cases in four glorious pastel shades – mint, coral, yellow or lilac – containing a small but effective 1200w hairdryer plus a dinky ceramic styling iron that still manages to hit a high of 190 degrees.

It’s the names of polishes that draw me in.

Forget whether it’s a bold red or eye-catching coral, the newest shades from OPI are inspired by Perú.

Each Infinite Shine Long-Wearing Lacquer (£14.50; opi.com) comes with a brilliant moniker, from Alpaca My Bags to Grandma Kissed a Gaucho, and this rather dazzling pink, Lima Tell You About This Color!

The Alfa Italia Amalfi Collection (£44.95 each; alfaitaliapro.com) has vanity cases in four glorious pastel shades – mint, coral, yellow or lilac – containing a small but effective 1200w hairdryer plus a dinky ceramic styling iron that still manages to hit a high of 190 degrees.

Already an iconic beauty bargain, Bourjois’ Little Round Pot Blushers (£6.99; nationwide) have been given a Riviera-themed update for this summer.

The illustrations are stylish while the teeny cases house the ultra-fine cheek colour and still have enough room for a mirror and brush, making them ideal for travel.

Like the hair on your head, your brows are not entirely one colour, which is why Benefit Cosmetics has created the Brow Contour Pro 4-in-1 Defining & Highlighting Brow Pencil (£28.50; benefitcosmetics.com).

Using two shades to define the edges and highlight arches and another couple to fill in the main body of the brow, you’ll achieve a more natural (and waterproof) look.