REFRESH your make-up bag and check out this season's upcoming beauty looks with our round-up of the hottest trends for spring and summer 2008.
By Lisa Haynes
FORGET the spring cleaning. Put your feather duster to one side and concentrate on brushing up your make-up routines instead, with the new season's hottest hair and beauty trends.
From barely-there beauty to ultra-bright shock colour, glamorous groomed hair to laid-back gypsy locks - there's a look we can all adopt from the spring/summer 08 catwalks.
The industry experts reveal what's new and fresh for hair, make-up and nails this season. Our beauty forecast for this summer is certainly bright and sunny.
MAKE-UP
For spring, runways were awash with fresh-faced, dewy complexions. "Immaculate skin" is the beauty buzz phrase here, with big brows being a key focus to frame the face.
"Less is more," says make-up artist Gucci Westman. "Don't wear a full face of make-up but do conceal any imperfections."
As a complete contrast, colour made a shocking comeback, from loud mouths featuring orange and blue lips at Louis Vuitton to two-tone blue/green eyeliner at Karl Lagerfeld. Either work your eyes with a wash of bright colour - or give lips a pop of colour - but never both at the same time.
"Anyone can pull off coral or orange lips," says Jo Bull, celebrity make-up artist. "A lighter coral works better on paler skin and those with blonde, red or light brown hair and darker orange tones look great on brunettes and those with a more olive complexion."
SPRING SHOPPING LIST: Lancome Photogenic Lumessence, £25 (www.lancome.co.uk). Clinique Blended Face Powder in Invisible Blend, £17.50 (www.clinique.co.uk). Jemma Kidd Dewy Glow Radiance Creme, £11 at Boots. The Body Shop Cheek Blush, £9. Famous Brow Kit, £16, at Superdrug. Mac FAFI Eyes 2 palette, £29 (47.50 Euros) (www.maccosmetics.co.uk). Revlon Kiss Me Coral Super Lustrous Lipstick, £7.29 (0800 085 2716).
HAIR
Is the towering Winehouse beehive look starting to bore you? Lose the backcombing and excessive hairspray, this season marks a more relaxed vibe to hair, whether up or down.
Sam McKnight, hairdresser and ambassador for Pantene Pro-V says: "There's not one key hair trend this season. In keeping with the eclectic bunch of fashion trends hair looks are just as disparate, from the gorgeously groomed' look at Versace and Matthew Williamson where hair looks expensive, glossy and very feminine to the modern gypsy' look at Etro, Giles and Chloe, where texture plays a key part of the overall look."
To go with the glossy approach, hair either needs to be long and full of body and shiny, or tied in a glamorous low ponytail with a slick wave - ideal for warmer summer months.
For relaxed bohemian style locks, hair is teased, twisted or even crimped. "This look is all about individuality," Sam says.
SPRING SHOPPING LIST: Pantene Pro-V Full & Thick shampoo and conditioner, £2.87 each, stockists nationwide. Aveda Pure Abundance Hair Potion, £16.50 (www.aveda.co.uk). Bumble and Bumble Prep Spray, £12.50 (www.spacenk.co.uk). BaByliss Pro 200 Crimper, £14.99, Boots nationwide.
NAILS
Painting your talons is the easy way to tell the world you're stepping into spring. Lose the devilish dark colours and give your nails a colour blast to embrace the new season.
"As always bright nails are always a must-have for summer," says Charlotte Straughan for Ciate.
"Julien Macdonald had a fab coral colour on his S/S catwalk models. To get the look keep your nails short and neat, then paint on two coats of coral colour. Finish with a super shiny top coat to keep your colour for longer."
Lilac, yellow, orange and blue are also key brights for new season talons.
Not that brave with the lacquer brush? Natural pink nails were big on the runways at Basso & Brook and Viktor & Rolf shows.
"A soft pink works well on a number of skin tones and will brighten up dull, stained nails," Charlotte says.
SPRING SHOPPING LIST: Nails Inc Carnaby Street yellow, £9.50 (www.nailsinc.com), Mavala Bubbly lilac polish, £3.75 (01732 459 412). Elegant Touch Gerbera orange, £4.95, at Superdrug. OPI Elephantastic Pink, £9.75 (www.lenawhite.co.uk/01923 240 010). Ciate Speed Coat £8.95 (0208 466 5200).
BEAUTY NEWS
If you're crying out for colourful new kit for the spring/summer season, look no further than Mac's new FAFI line. The cool collaboration with modern French graffiti artist, FAFI, includes colourful, vibrant, and girly cosmetics with colours that remind you summer has well and truly arrived in your make-up bag, if not outside. Prices start from £8 for nail lacquer. The FAFI collection is available now at MAC locations nationwide and online at www.maccosmetics.co.uk
You don't have to appear on TV to get a hair makeover from Andrew Barton. The 10 Years Younger hairdresser has used his 25 years of experience to create a new line of hair products, Shiny Happy Hair. "When you have great hair, you feel happy and immediately have a smile on your face. Shiny Happy Hair gives you great hair, every day", Andrew says. The new divine smelling range of shampoos, conditioners and styling products are available exclusively at ASDA stores nationwide. Prices start from £3.95.
Say goodbye to winter skin and give your face an oxygen boost for spring. Cobella's Oxygen Spa Facial is the perfect tonic if you feel like you're face is flagging from the winter weather. This luxurious facial includes deep but gentle exfoliation, followed by nourishment with rich jojoba oil, vitamins and minerals. But the real glow-factor comes from the pure oxygen gas applied to the face, which leaves the skin radiant and rejuvenated. Priced from £77 for 60 minutes, available at Cobella Kensington or Selfridges London. Visit www.cobella.co.uk or call 0870 9000 440. For an oxygen lift at home try Nivea Visage Oxygen Power Day Cream, £12.99.
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