REMEMBER the childhood ditty: 'Sugar and spice and all things nice, that's what little girls are made of.'

Funnily enough, big girls don't seem to be any exception to the rule either, especially when it comes to girly make-up.

I've seen many a dragon lady turn into mush at the sight of pretty compacts and cutesy dolly-head fragrance bottles.

Make-up is good. But when it comes decked out in cutesy packaging, suddenly the dizzy factor is heightened.

Some brands have made a name in cute kitsch. American designer Anna Sui's cosmetic line is so a la French boudoir with black rosette motifs and sweet dolly heads.

Dolls, it seems, are always a hit - brands like US Stila, Australian Bloom, and Japanese Ettusais (when it first started) all used illustrated pretty heroines to lure women to pick up the make-up.

Kawaii (Japanese for cute) is haute, no matter how sophisticated one is. Even make-up artist brand, M.A.C - known more for its shock-provoking spokespersons like cross-dressing entertainer Ru Paul and burlesque queen Dita Von Teese - isn't above going the cutesy route.

Two years ago, it hooked up with toy giant Mattel to push out a full line of girly make-up inspired by Barbie. And this year, M.A.C is going to make more grown women squeal with its make-up collection that pays tribute to a famous pussycat - Hello Kitty.

Let it be known that I am not a big Hello Kitty fan. But I'm inclined to purr at this collaboration between M.A.C - one of my favourite make-up brands - and Sanrio.

It's edgy too

I love the kitsch factor of M.A.C's Hello Kitty Colour Collection (out at Tangs Orchard and VivoCity), a comprehensive line of make-up products that include lipsticks, lip glosses, eye shadow quad and nail polishes.

It combines edgy and cute. I'm tickled that a cat is going to sell a lot of lipsticks with names like Strayin' and Fashion Mews.

It's almost a guarantee that the products will be snapped up. Not just because of its obvious cuteness, but the colours - mostly pinks, violets, magentas and corals supplemented by blue-silvers, brown, soft golds and white - are easy to wear, and frankly 'sugar and spice, and all things nice'.

It's no wonder that M.A.C's projected sales profits for North America alone, is US$12million ($18.5m) - this during an economy crisis.

Not only is there the cosmetics, but there's a line of accessories - from make-up bags to brushes and a tote - to snag too. How can a collector not get dizzy?

And if that's not enough, there is a premium limited-edition Hello Kitty Kouture collection of make-up that launches on 13 Mar at Tangs Orchard and VivoCity.

With two lip glosses and three shades of finely milled finishing powders, this collection is more luxe, because the kitty packaging is decked with Swarovski crystals. More apt perhaps to go with your designer clutches.

Sweet and delightful, without adding a pound to your hips - who says a girl can't have her (make-up) cake and wear it well too?

This article was first published in The New Paper.