Beauty basics: fresh spring make-up

Ready to change your make-up look? This season’s gorgeous fresh shades may be just the ones to tempt you. You’ve probably been wearing make-up since you were a teenager. And, if you’re like most women, chances are you’ve hardly changed your look in a decade. This season could be the time to consider an update, but we’re not talking about a complete overhaul of your routine, just a few little tricks to highlight your best features. Our expert tips will help you to overcome any anxieties you may feel about embracing today’s more stylish, brighter you.

“The best way to modernise your look is to add in new colours and textures,” explains Sydney hair and make-up artist Laura Dominique. “Don’t be intimidated by intense colours like blue, green and bright pink; they always look more dramatic in the palettes than they do on the skin. A neutral face may be chic but it can be boring. Colour brings life to a face in a way that brown and taupe simply cannot.”

Laura’s comments ring especially true this spring and summer; the new colour palettes offer flattering pinky-bronzes and golds for eyes, cheeks and lips, along with colour-rich highlighters in rainbow shades of green, violet and peach – all designed to make you look more radiant and youthful. And forget about the heavy coloured eyeshadow you might have worn in the ‘80s – today’s pigments are sheer and designed to let your skin show through a light veil of colour.

But before you race to the cosmetic counter for a serving of gelato colour, Laura has one sage piece of advice: “Don’t worry about covering up all your so-called flaws,” she says. “Make-up should be about expressing your individuality and having fun.” So, it’s time to uncover your fresh and pretty visage, gather your confidence and start playing with the season’s new range of glowing colours and soft textures.

Lip Service

“One of the best ways to test drive a trend is to buy a new lipstick,” says make-up artist Laura Dominique. It’s certainly safer and more cost-effective than investing in a full colour collection. Versace’s Lights on Lips, $44, comes in a bronze shade with a subtle blue sparkle that proves all that glitters doesn’t have to be gold.

For glossy lips, you can’t go past Revlon’s Super Lustrous Lipgloss in a gorgeous pink shade called Wild About Violet, $20.95, or Yves Saint Laurent’s sheer yet creamy Rouge Pure Shine Sheer Lipstick in Rose Aqua, $46. The latter is a subtle shade of peony pink, to give your pout a soft sheen. Giorgio Armani’s Sheer Lipstick in No.11, $46, is a neutral pink to flatter any skin tone, and if you want long-lasting colour with a bit of shine, look no further than Rimmel’s Infinite Colour, $18.95, with a colour and gloss in one tube.

Perhaps the best buy of the season is Elizabeth Arden’s High Shine Lip Gloss Duo, $36. This product contains two of the most fashionable shades of the moment – the golden Sheer Starlight and the sparkling pink Pink Lemonade – in one convenient tube.

Skin lights

“Shimmering products attract attention to an area so it’s important to be judicious with your use of shiny pigments over areas of skin that are prone to wrinkles, such as the crows’ feet, or prone to grease, such as the T-zone,” says Laura.

If you want a touch of sparkle on your skin, the cheekbones and brow bones are the best spots to apply shine. L’Oréal’s Glam Bronze in Golden Sun, $24.95, delivers a sun-kissed glamour – and it’s the perfect base for a shimmering powder such as Christian Dior’s Diorshow Powder Backstage Makeup in Artistic Bronze, $65, which subtly lights up the skin with an all-over gleam.

Then it’s time to brighten up your cheeks. “Apply a swipe of colourful blush, such as peach or fuchsia, to the apples of the cheeks to achieve a girlish flush,” suggests Laura. She recommends Clarins’s Multi-Blush Cheeks, Eyes, Lips, $42, in a shade such as Tender Raspberry. Apply to the cheeks and use your fingertips to blend in small circles until the pigment melts into the skin. To finish off your look, go for a golden glow by dabbing M.A.C’s creamy Bronzing Stick in Bronzeray, $41, over your eyes, cheeks and lips.

The eyes have it

“Many women feel cheated when they buy an eyeshadow palette because they end up using only one shade,” remarks Laura. She recommends making the most of your investment by experimenting with all the colours in the palette.

“Don’t just go for the ‘safe’ neutral shade, apply a light wash of any colour all over the eyelid and watch your eyes come alive,” she says. Shades of violet, pale blue and rose will all open the eyes and catch the light. Chanel’s Iridescent Effects Eyes 58 Lagons, $95, represents good value as it contains an array of pastel hues – peach, mint, sky blue and dusky pink. Another good buy is Lancôme’s new Sea, Sand, Sun Palette for Eyes and Lips, $65. It’s a must-have addition to your make-up wardrobe because it contains eyeshadows and lip colour in one handy compact.

“The best way to bring focus to the eyes is to rim them in a shimmering shade,” suggests Laura. She likes to use a gold pigment such as i.d. bareMinerals True Gold, $39, for the corners of the eyes. If you want a vibrant colour to really make a statement, try Shiseido’s Eyeliner Pencil Duo in Electric Iris, $35, which has a grassy green crayon at one end and a sultry violet at the other end for sparkling highlights. “Pencils offer a more dense application of colour than a powder,” explains Laura. For a subtle pick-me-up, apply a hint of colour to the outer edges of the eyes. Try Estée Lauder’s Pure Color Eyeshadow in Orchid, $39.

Once you’ve brightened your eyes with scintillating colour, polish the look with a double helping of mascara. “Thick, luscious lashes are the look of the moment,” stresses Laura. Try Maybelline’s XXL Volume + Length Microfiber Mascara, $17.95, which loads lashes with pigment to make them lusher and thicker.

Question time

I want to update my evening make-up look, but am not sure where to start. What colours should I be looking for this season?

Choose a light colour, such as pink, and add a little sparkle with some shimmer powder. Apply a soft sweep of pink over the eyelids with just a touch of shimmer on the outer corners of the eyes. Then use a dark kohl pencil to line the inner rims of your eyes, to give you a bit of definition. Never forget the mascara!

Apply a little cream blush to the apples of your cheeks (pink, pale orange or beige all work well for this season). But remember that a little goes a long way. Try the Stilla rouge pots - they have a nice soft texture without being too shiny.

Notebook recommends Dior Show Powder, Colour in a Flash, $65.00 highlights the contours of your face and gives a fabulous night-time glow. Estee Lauder Eye pencil, $38.00 will mould to your hand with its detachable foam grip. This handy device aids in straight application when lining the eye. Stilla Rouge pots, $40.00 will put a little colour in your cheeks. The super-light formula creates a sheer tint, but can be built up to suit your mood.

I haven’t changed my make-up look for the past five years. I find it still works well for me, but would like to know how to implement subtle changes. Any suggestions?

When you wear the same look all the time it’s easy to become complacent but, let’s face it, the same make-up does not go with everything. This is the perfect opportunity to be a little different and try something new. Make-up is all about changing your look and enhancing your best features. Try a new shade of blush or use a bright spring colour like green on your eyelids, instead of safe beiges and greys.

Play up your eyes with a double coating of mascara, or put the focus on your lips with a coating of gloss. It’s best to concentrate on playing up one feature at a time – you don’t want to look like a clown! Try out a few new things at home then ask friends or family what they think. Why not swap eyeshadows with a friend before you go out one night? Mix some of your colours together, and you will find you have a whole new palette.

Notebook recommends Lancome’s new Sea, Sand, Sun Palette for Eyes and Lips, $65.00 has everything you need for a fresh and bright summer face. Bobby Brown’s Everything mascara, $44.00 will give you thickness without the clumps or smudges.

Are there particular eyeshadow colours that are better suited to certain eye colours?

Some colours do look better on certain eye colours. Beige, gold and orange tones look great on blue eyes, while purples look beautiful on green eyes. However, I think it’s more important to match your eyeshadow palette to your skin tones. Generally, if you have cooler toned skin, such as pale or light pink, try to stick to cool-toned shadows, such as those with a blue base. If your skin tone is more olivey, look for warmer eyeshadows in colours like bronze or gold.

Notebook recommends Almay’s Intense I-Color Collection’s, $14.95 are designed to enhance your particular eye colour. For example, the 003 Trio for Hazels contain pink, cream and taupe shades to contrast the eye colour and bring out their luster. Benefit’s powder eyeshadow, $38 have three warm shades in one cute compact. The colours of golden sands are very versatile, but best on olive and warmer skin tones.

 

Words: Nikki Goldstein. Photography: Steven Chee. Hair & make-up: Laura Dominique.