Spring clean your make-up bag and brush away old hair styling tricks.
It’s a time for reinvention.
Forget the designer outfits and shake up your style with the accessible make-up and hair trends showcased on the spring/summer catwalks.
AMBER ALERT
AS SEEN AT: House of Holland, Missoni, and Prada.
Surprisingly flattering, orange lips can make your complexion look sunny, whatever the weather.
“It’s strong and sexy in a playful 90s way,” says Lucia Pica for MAC, who used orange lips at House of Holland to “create a mouth that’s bold and defined”.
GET THE LOOK: Barry M Lip Paint in Orange, £4.25 (Superdrug); or Lancome L’Absolu Creme de Brilliance cream gloss in Orange Sacree, £18 (www.lancome.co.uk – available March).
SLICK CHICK
AS SEEN AT: Max Mara, Basso & Brooke, and Jonathan Saunders.
The wet look works equally well on long or short hair.
Stylist for L’Oreal Paris, Alain Pichon, dubbed the trend “swimmer’s hair” at Basso & Brooke.
“Think of Stephanie Seymour coming out of a pool drenched,” he says. He suggests you lift hair at the roots to avoid the style looking flat.
GET THE LOOK: Trevor Sorbie Professional Beautifully Moisturised Goop, £4.99 (Boots); or L’Oréal Paris Studio Line Pure Wet Gel, £4.29 (www.lorealparis.co.uk).
PASTEL PLAYTIME
AS SEEN AT: Viktor & Rolf, Dior, and Versace.
Make like a kid in an ice-cream parlour and choose your favourite flavour from the so-cool-they’re-hot sorbet shades.
“This season marked the emergence of a new power pastel,” explains make-up artist Pat McGrath for Max Factor. “These pastels make a statement.”
Be greedy like designers Viktor & Rolf by combining your sorbets or plump for just one pastel from eye-catching lavender, mint, or rose pink.
GET THE LOOK: Max Factor Masterpiece Colour Precision Eyeshadows, £6.99 each (Boots); or Bobbi Brown Metallic Eyeshadow, £14.50, available in Mint, Iced Blue or Lavender (House of Fraser or John Lewis).
PLAITED PERFECTION
AS SEEN AT: Alexander Wang, Prada, and Miu Miu.
The one-shoulder plait is a classic style re-worked for spring catwalks with a “grittier, slightly dishevelled feel”, says Redken creative consultant Guido, who created the Alexander Wang plaits.
Flaunt the new look tousled braid by using volumising mousse before plaiting the hair. Guido says: “Let the braid fall over your shoulder, and pull out pieces to soften the look.”
GET THE LOOK: Redken Touch Control 5 Volumizing Texture Whip, £10.20 (0800 085 4956/www.redken.co.uk); or Samy Volumizing Mousse, £4.99 (Superdrug).
AMERICANA GLOW
AS SEEN AT: Tommy Hilfiger, Balmain, and Blumarine.
Isn’t summer all about that elusive glow? Cue MAC’s “American Nomad” look. Lloyd Simmonds for MAC, says. “The look is a summery tanned feel ... a sculpted face with bronzy-gold highlights.”
GET THE LOOK: MAC Crush Metal Pigment in Stacked 2!, £24.50 (House of Fraser); or Diorskin Nude Natural Glow Sculpting Powder Makeup SPF10, £36 (Debenhams or House of Fraser).
Tried and Tested
Forget painful injections and turn to a plumper for an enviable pout. We test three lip boosters...
e.l.f Plumping Lip Glaze in Ruby Kiss, £1.50 (www.eyeslipsface.co.uk) 3/5
No trout pout action but a definite plumping that lasted around half an hour. The sheer pinky-red colour is gorgeous.
Soap and Glory Extreme-Plump XL, £10 (Boots) 4/5
For the first couple of minutes you’re thinking ‘nothing’s happening’... then the extreme tingling begins! Ideal if you want maximum plump-up volume.
Laura Mercier Lip Plumper in Peach Glow, £24 (Space NK, Princes Square) 2/5
This is a great moisturising gloss and the peachy colour is perfect for spring but I felt my pout lacked a bit of punch.
Just arrived...
New Year skincare resolution a long-distant memory? Make amends with your skin using Origins new Starting Over Age-Erasing Moisturizer, £34 (John Lewis or House of Fraser).
