All too often, we fall into a routine of wearing just one style of make-up. Day in, day out, always the same look. Yes, you might go a little heavier on the smoky eye come Friday night, but heaven forbid you’d try a fuchsia lip.

Well why on earth not? Sometimes it does the world of good to shake things up a little. Keep your face on its toes.  Whether you’re a red lipstick obsessive or swear by the joys of contouring, now’s the time to take a long, hard look at yourself in the mirror and just go for it. Go for that purple mascara you’ve been a bit scared of. Go for that heavy shadow of crimson blusher. Go for something well outside of your owncomfort zone. And so in the valiant quest to uncover new beauty truths, we flipped our party make-up script and went for a look we’d never, NEVER, hanker after for a night out.

Joanna, beauty director, tries a cat eye flick:

'The whole thing about my habitual wearing of a red lip is that it’s easy. Far too easy. So much so that I can barely bring myself to step outside of its jazziness and try anything else when I’m dressing up for a party. But, after a while, your eye becomes accustomed to the same thing and just lately, I’ve felt a sense of tedium radiating up out of my make-up bag. I hate the phrase ‘make-up rut’ but I am searching for another term that describes just that: I need to think outside the (red) box. 

And so I put my face in the very capable hands of Kayleen McAdams who, cleverly judging my apprehension, avoided the full throttle smoky eye and instead, gave me a far less considered, less obvious, 60s feline flick in midnight blue using CK One Liquid Eyeliner Marker, £14 (with the misleading shade name, Psycho Candy). She then over-lined the same shape, tapering it out to a tip with the same Eyeliner Marker, aptly called, The Drama, £14

It’s nice to see my face with a big red dot on it for once. And I think, dare I say it, it’s a little less ageing than red lipstick on me. Now, I just need to set aside a few more minutes to apply it before dashing out and I’m almost there.' 

Angelica, beauty writer, tried a red lip:

‘I am not a huge make-up wearer but when I want to dress my face up a bit, it’s always in the form of an eye. Whether it’s a subtle cat eye flick or smudgy black shadow, it’s always some sort of eye product I’ll reach for. So trying out a classic red lip, a real Marilyn Monroe type one, felt very out of my comfort zone. It's certainly not my go-to weapon of choice during the party season.

The whole discomfort of this was quickly put the rest by international make-up artist Rebecca Restrepo, who's confident manner and expert skills put me at ease. She applied the colour  - Elizabeth Arden's Red Door Red, £16.58 - as though I'd imagine Monet would paint a Provençal scene: steady hand, an almost OCD-like application and a use of a few key tools to ensure the finished look was spot on.

It made me feel a bit self-conscious at first, when in fact make-up is meant to make you feel more comfortable and better about yourself. But it quickly grew on me. I like the idea that while eye make-up takes a bit of time and trouble, a slick of red lipstick can go on in seconds and yet transform your whole complexion. I might just be coming round to red lipstick.’

Lynn, staff writer, tried facial contouring:

'I don’t wear that much make-up, I’m one of those people who slaps foundation on on the bus (I know, sorry). I don’t even own brushes (I know, sorry).

If I’m going to a party, I just update things with eyeliner and red lipstick, so to get proper facial contouring, to have somebody paint light and shadows onto my face, well, that felt way outside of my comfort zone. Talented make-up artist Claire Lille did it for me, all in a matter of seconds, using Illamasqua Sculpting Powder Duo, £16.

I sort of liked it, my razor-sharp cheekbones, my daintier chin, my super-arched eyebrows. I felt fierce, ready to face anything, and it made me realise why people like Nigella and Kim Kardashian pile it on. It’s a good look for a party.'