To make things easier, she suggests adding night-time elements to your original daytime look by applying texture to the eyes with a dusting of metallic powder over the eyelids.

'For a more dramatic effect you can apply glitter to the eye and lip area,' Wong says. 'Finish with a feathery layer of mascara and smudged eyeliner to create a sexy yet natural look.'

Red Earth makeup artist Marie Vaucelle says now is the time to try something new.

'With party makeup you can go over the top. It's a little bit like your party dress - you want to do something special.'

Vaucelle recommends shunning silver in favour of gold metallics. 'This winter is much more about gold shimmer paired with black pencil eyeliner and mascara. We're moving away from seasons past of white and silver. Gold is such an easy colour to wear and blend - but make sure you use a warm gold to brighten up the eyes,' she says.

'You can even take the gold up to a bronze. Some golds can look quite yellow on light Asian skin and can make you look jaundiced, so avoid these. Of course, more tanned skin looks great with any type of gold.'

Cheeks should be earthy with perhaps a little shimmer, but keep the texture soft and creamy - this is easier to apply than powder and more moisturising in winter. Lips are kept sheer or creamy with a hint of shimmer in beige or pink nude. But avoid gloss, which is slowly making its way off the trendy list, says Vaucelle.

If you're heading to a function from the office, Vaucelle says the quickest way to look party-ready is to rim your eyes with lots of black pencil eyeliner.

'This reflects the look of fall-winter. Stay away from bright colours. If you want an alternative to black, try charcoal or a navy that's almost black - this will make it more contemporary and chic. But make sure it's an easy to blend pencil eyeliner as anything else [including liquid] just looks dated. For eyeshadow, use just one or two gold metallic shades on the eyelids and add black mascara. If you have more time you can add chocolate brown eyeshadow to the crease to create more definition and shape.'

The number one accessory is still false eyelashes, and it's here that Vaucelle says you can really have fun and go to extremes.

'Don't try to look too natural,' she says. If you're a false eyelash 'virgin' then practice first by buying an extra pair as you may have to cut the length to fit your eyes. Make sure all of your eye makeup has already been applied (including one coat of mascara). Bend them first to make them a little softer then apply glue to the back of your hand. Use a disposable wooden stick (the kind you use to push your cuticles back) to dip into the glue and run the stick along the false lash. Use the stick to press the lashes on - making sure they're as close to your natural lash line as possible. Add an extra coat of mascara to bind your false and natural lashes together.

The other must-do is nails. 'We're moving away from black, which morphed into purple and now the trend is towards deep chocolate colours that are very dark on short, well-groomed nails,' says Vaucelle.

For those after a more classic look, Wong recommends chic, smoky eyes, 1940s-style, paired with Dita Von Teese-inspired red lips. Vaucelle agrees that you can't go wrong with this look.

'Lots of rich red lipsticks in burgundies or plums look great with pale skin and peachy cheeks. For a perfect mouth, apply lip liner to the entire mouth and blend it in with a brush before applying lipstick,' says Vaucelle.

It's important not to forget the cheekbones - Wong recommends experimenting with contouring by blending a darker powder or foundation from the top of your ears to your lips to bring out your bone structure. But she warns not to overload your skin and know when to stop as overindulging in trends or over-exaggerating certain areas are classic makeup mistakes.

To complete your new look, don't forget your crowning glory. Hair stylist Kim Robinson of the eponymous studio in Central says it's important not to look as if you've tried too hard.

'If you look too 'done' then you'll look old. But if your hair looks lived-in, you will look contemporary.'

For this, he suggests spritzing hair with water and sea salt or flat beer for a lived-in look.

'Try an undone-up do by teasing your hair with a comb and using a curling iron to wrap the hair haphazardly and then add a hair accessory such as a clip.'

Robinson recommends using hair accessories such as clips and thin hair bands to change your look from day into night.

'But don't put them in to 'hold' the hair - use them in unexpected ways.' Another popular look is hair half-up and half-down a la Brigitte Bardot.

'It's pretty hair that's sexy, flowing and long,' he says. 'For short hair, go for something like the Twiggy look if it works for your frame. But be careful of the harsh London 1960s looks that are in vogue - I don't believe they're flattering as anything that's hard can make you look bloated and full.

'Back-combed hair is the look of the moment. Flat hair is dated and a bit over - it's boring and people want a change so we have been doing a lot of movement and rumpled, dishevelled hair. Try pinning some of it back with a few pins as it can change your look dramatically without having to cut your hair off.'