I thought I’d take the opportunity to visit my mam and dad, and eat some of my mam’s cooking!

In Scotland yesterday, I was co-presenting a seminar using the new collection from MAC, Antiquitease, this is a gem of a collection, with guilded colours which suit all skin types available at www.maccosmetics.co.uk

At Christmas, MAC have special greetings cards to help raise money for the MAC AIDS Fund – www.macaidsfund.org. The cards, produced by children aged three to 15 who are affected by HIV/ AIDS, are sold at this time of year and 100% of the selling price is donated to a paediatric HIV/AIDS organisation and other related groups.

This year MAC have introduced a gift wrap to the collection. I’ll be buying mine tomorrow.

Q. I’m starting to think about Christmas already as the place I work are holding our ‘do’ quite early this year. I don’t have any idea of what I’d like to wear, but I do quite fancy wearing false eye lashes. The trouble is, I have never worn them before, and don’t know where to start! Also, do they stay on? I don’t want them to fall off half way through the evening!

A. Yes they stay on! I’ll take you through the steps. MAC’s lashes have recently been re-designed by Christina Smith whose client list includes Liza Minelli, Dolly Parton and Raquel Welch. Each set of lashes is hand-made. I think that’s amazing! I also like the fact no two sets will ever be exactly the same.

The spines on the lashes are shorter so that they fit the eye better, and thinner, and in some cases clear, making them really easy to apply.

They are primarily black with the addition of a few brown hairs which give these lashes a superb texture and realness.

After choosing your lashes you must purchase good glue. MAC sell the best lash glue which is sourced from an outside company, this is called Duo. Then buy some manicure/orange sticks. These aren’t a must, but do help with application. You will find these easily in Boots, Superdrug or Mugi.

Now you have all the neccessities, curl your lashes, this will help make your natural lashes and your bought lashes look as though they are one in the same.

Take the lashes and before applying glue, try them on your eye to check they fit.

They should do, but if they don’t, cut an amount off the longer end of the lashes so that they are the right length.

Put a small amount of glue on the back of your hand and using the wider end of your orange/manicure stick apply a thin even layer to the spine of your MAC lashes.

With your head tilted back, look into the mirror and place your lashes on the lid, but right into the root of your natural lashes.

If you find your fingers too clumsy, hold the lashes with some tweezers instead. Use the pointed end of the orange/manicure stick and gently push the spine exactly into place. Done!

People always ask if you can wear mascara with fake lashes.

The answer is, it’s up to you! My personal opinion is to apply your mascara first to your natural lashes to avoid build up on your new set.

To remove, pull from outer or inner corner gently. Before your next wear, gently pull off the old glue and start again!

If you have any questions for Caroline, email hannah.davies@ncjmedia.co.uk and we will pass them on.