THE BEAUTY COLUMN: SPRING BEAUTY REPORT – PART ONE

Nicole Cottrell

orange lipsRag & Bone S/S’14

Gone are the days of intensive moisturisers and deep berry lips. A/W has been and gone and spring is practically round the corner. The sun is trying its hardest to peak its head through the clouds and grace us with its presence which means one thing – it’s time for the spring beauty report.

Spring is an exciting time for us beauty junkies because it means we get to revamp our skincare stashes and inject a bit of colour into our make-up bags. Not that we ever need an excuse to. But I mean, we can’t run the risk of being caught with a lipstick that’s ‘so last year’. God forbid.

First up on the spring agenda is the lips. We’ve all been sporting the vampy vibes but it’s time to make room for orange. This bright, almost neon, hue was all over the fashion week catwalks and it looks as if it’s here to stay. Corals have always been popular, but this trend is a little brighter, bolder and punchier. MAC Morange is perfect, but if you want to start with subtle, Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Mischievous is your guy.

spring-lips

Next up is barely-there beauty which requires minimal effort but creates maximum impact. Well-conditioned skin is paramount in order to pull this off, so clever concealing is essential as well as having lip conditioning on lockdown. Lush’s Bubblegum or Popcorn Lip Scrub is ideal for the perfect pout. For a flawless base, why not try the Gosh Velvet Touch Foundation Primer followed by a lightweight BB cream to create this effortlessly chic look.

springskin

White liner has been tipped to be high in the beauty stakes this spring due to its flattering and awakening properties. Apply on the lashline and waterline to create a fresh-faced look. If white is a little too much, try the Rimmel Scandal Eyes Waterproof Kohl Liner in Nude to rid the redness and create a brightening effect. 

springeyes

The madness surrounding monochrome is being carried from fashion to beauty as not only white liner is on trend, black is too, and a lot of it. Granted, it’s nothing new, but you should be coveting inky eyeliner now more than ever. Straight liquid flicks and smudgy kohl are what it’s all about and the Collection 2000 Fast Stroke Eye Liner is a gem.

In terms of nails, you’re spoilt for choice. Pastels are in and you can find a whole range on the high street. Essie in Blanc, Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine in Prickly Pear and Models Own HyperGel in Pink Veneer are some of my top picks. The barely-there nudes are bang on trend too with Ciaté in Pocket Money and Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine in Lychee being my firm faves.

spring-nsils

If in doubt, throw a few pastels together with a bright lip and liquid liner lids. This season’s trends are fun and fresh with a slight edgy influence and are guaranteed to put a spring in your step.

 Find more from Nicole on her blog www.lifeofatraineejournalist.com