Lira’s luminous vitality might be due to her multi-platinum record sales, or it might be due to the big dreams she’s often quoted as to admittedly having. She’s an extraordinary artist, but being the shallow girl that I am, I’ve always been most amazed at the girl’s glow. Whether she’s performing on stage or advertising deodorant, this lady knows how to strut her stuff.

HAIR

Lira’s hair is mostly kept short and natural. To keep your hair and scalp healthy, Janine Redcliff from Capelli Hair Salon at Arabella Spa, suggests using a revitalising shampoo like Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Shampoo, R235. This will combat irritation that leads to dry scalp, which is often mistaken for dandruff. As a treatment product Janine suggests Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Hair & Scalp Treatment, R290, to simultaneously nourish your scalp and smooth hair. Keep styling simple with a versatile product like Super Skinny Relaxing Balm, R234, which smooths and controls naturally curly and frizzy hair, and can also be used as a blow-drying aid.

MAKE-UP

FACE
To make sure you only glow in the right places, apply Elizabeth Arden Pure Finish Mineral Foundation SPF20, R275. For the cheeks, swirl together a few shades of your favourite Physician’s Formula Shimmer Strips Bronzer, R175 and apply it with a medium to large sized powder brush, like you would apply your blusher. When you’re done, lightly dust the tip of your nose, chin and your forehead too.

EYES
Step 1: Aim for a toned down, earthy version of the classic smoky eye, and make it as dramatic or as muted as you are comfortable with. I love using YSL Pure Chromatics Eye Shadow Quartet No. 5, R555, and I’ll suggest adding a warm, earthy colour like Lentheric Mono Eye Shadow in Café Au Lait, R29.95.

Step 2: With an angled brush (or the tip of a sponge eyeshadow applicator), line the lower lashes with one of the two darkest colours in your eyeshadow palette, and extend the line to meet the outer corner of your smoky eye to round off the look. Line upper and lower lashes with black eyeliner pencil like LA Girl Endless Automatic Eye Liner Pencil, R39.95 and follow with generous lashing of your favourite mascara – I’m very impressed with Maybelline One by One Volum’ Express Satin Black, R115. If it’s a special occasion, try your hand at some false eyelashes – if you don’t want to look too over the top, try Eyelure Individuals, R54.95.

LIPS
Lira’s lips are usually toffee-coloured and deliciously glossy. Fill in the entire lip with a liner, like Clarins Lipliner Pencil, R170 in nude or chocolate. Follow with a colour-rich lipgloss like Rimmel Vinyl Max, R74.95 in Breathless or Desire.

BODY
This songbird always has the most luminous, glowing shoulders and décolleté. Make sure you are well exfoliated, and then moisturise with body oil or butter instead of lotion – try Clarins Relax Treatment Body Oil, R440, or Soil Organic Shea Butter, R80. You can follow this with a dusting of bronzer (the same one you use on your face will do) on the collarbones and cleavage.

IMAGE: Nick Boulton