Natural, fresh, bronzed... these are the words we are used to reading in the fashion magazines when it comes to the latest makeup looks for the season. Varying shades of brown, taupe and beige are the basis of most makeup kits and - let's face it - it's hard to make a mistake when you are dealing with such subtle colours.

Because natural shades work on everyone, why not add a point of difference to your everyday makeup and avoid looking like a latte by adding a splash of colour to your palate. It may be as simple as a fuchsia lip-gloss or an aqua eye pencil to brighten up your face -  and your day!

In the eighties, colour was rampant, our clothes, shoes and accessories literally glowed in the dark and makeup followed suit in shades even a parrot would envy. You can't blame the girls of that vintage for being a little scared when it comes to accepting pink blush and green eyeshadow as fashion's new look! The secret when it comes to using the new season's bright makeup is not to go overboard, but to balance your features with subtle use of colour.

MAC's has an array of stunning shades of turquoise, chartreuse, fuchsia, melon and jade green. These luscious and tempting shades may look alarmingly bright, but the key is to experiment with different tones to find what works best for you. When it comes to application the rules are simple. If you decide to go for bright and colourful eyes, keep your foundation sheer and your blush and lips minimal, that way you will avoid the 'overdone' '80s look. Alternatively if brightly coloured lips are your choice, your eye makeup should be as natural as possible, with just a soft flush of color on the cheeks.

Aqua eye shadow like MAC's 'Big T', works well smudged along the lashline, as this opens up the eye while adding a bolt of colour. Try a touch of MAC's 'Eye-popping' (gold/green) on the inner corner of the eye to make the whites look whiter. Bright pink eyeshadow like MAC's ' Passionate' should be reserved for those with olive skin and this shade works best when blended along the eye socket to add depth and intensity. Lavender blends beautifully with fuchsia and the addition of lemon yellow will make your eyes will look as bright as a sunrise. These daring shades need to be as well blended as possible, so always sweep a neutral white or cream eyeshadow across the eye first to help with the blending process.

Brightly coloured blushers in tones of pink and coral may look a little scary at first, but once again, subtle application is the key. Shade your cheek bones with your usual neutral blusher and then add a touch of vibrant colour- such as Bobbi Brown's 'Apricot' - to the apple of the cheek. You will be amazed at how this simple trick will make your face come alive.

Experiment with the new seasons vibrant colours and you may just surprise yourself!

Nikki Lovrich -  FashioNZ pro make-up artist

Be first to comment this article

Only registered users can write comments.

Please login or register.