Talon treats
Gone are those long school days spent adorning our nails with Tipp-ex and highlighters at the back of the class. With Chanel and Dior showcasing fun and fresh fingers this season, painting our talons to pastel perfection just got a whole lot easier. “There’s going to be a lot less bling nail art around this year,” says catwalk nail supremo David Barton. “But there’s still plenty of play to be had, with pastel patterns and clashing colours.”
Finger tips
Try the Ring Finger manicure – simply paint your ring finger talon in a different pastel hue to clash with the rest of your cotton-candy nails. Use a white eyeliner pencil under your nail tips to make them look fresh and clean. If you’re feeling experimental and have a steady hand, try the Plaid Pastels look. “Paint your fingers in your chosen pastel colour,” says David, “Then paint on a cross in white with a nail art striping brush. Once it’s dry, paint a very thin line in the centre of each white stripe with an alternative pastel colour – sweet as!”
Candy kit
Me Me Me Nail Gloss in Pensive, £14.99 (as part of set) (1); Essie Nail Polish in To Buy Or Not To Buy, £9.95 (2); OPI Nicki Minaj Nail Polish in Pink Friday, £11, is the perfect pop pink; Cina Nail Art Pen in White, £7.19, is our fave for getting arty.
Eye love ice cream
Eyes are enjoying a tutti-frutti revival, with pastel colours worn bold and intense. Sugar shades have risen to the top of the beauty barometer for a very good reason: their youth-boosting properties. “Pastels are like a lights-on switch for the face, giving a fresh-faced look and luminosity,” says BareMinerals make-up artist Sarah-Jane Froom.
High eye-q
Try a wash of colour along the brow bone like the models at the Kinder Aggugini show. UK make-up director for Maybelline New York, Sharon Dowsett, added fruit bursts of colour to models’ brow bones in pretty cornflower blue
and plasticine pink. Intense candy hues and sorbet shades also popped up on the catwalk at Moschino, Anna Sui, Betsey Johnson and Dior.
“Make sure you blend well to soften any harsh edges and avoid a dated, frosted finish,” says Pablo Rodriguez, Mac’s senior make-up artist. “Then team with contrasting eyeliner or lips, à la Michelle Williams in My Week with
Marilyn.”
Candy kit
2True Eye Defining Twist & Line in Aquamarine, £1.99 (3); Max Factor Colour Effects Trio Eye Shadow in Pajama Party, £6.99 (4); Mac Eye Shadow in Sweet Lust, £12 (5); Dolce & Gabbana Crayon Intense Eyeliner in Lemon, £16.50 (6).
Bon bon blush
The cheekiest make-up trend of S/S ’12 is pink blush, creating a look between baby face and sexy vixen, as seen at Roland Mouret and BCBG MaxAzria.
Cheek cheat sheet
“Blush should be put on the apple of the cheek and blended upwards,” says Sarah-Jane. “Find your ‘apple’ by smiling, then aim for the outside edge of your cheek.”
Candy kit
Maybelline Dream Touch Blush in Peach (7) or Berry (8), £6.49; tone down with rosy Nars Powder Blusher in Albatross, £20.50; or brighten up with BareMinerals Blush in Charisma, £16.15.
Lollipop lippy
Poppy pouts covered the Ralph Lauren and hot new designer Richard Chai S/S ’12 shows in kisses. Yup, Barbie-esque Brigitte Bardot pastel lips are back, and they’ll make you look mwahvellous, says Pablo: “Cute-as pastels make your
pout look fuller – proper miracle make-up.” Just don’t team them with dark lipliner in the style of the Spice Girls circa 1994.
Lip tip
Apply pastel-pink lippy, then dab highlighter on the bow of your lips (the indentation in the middle of your upper lip) to draw attention to the fleshy area and give a fuller pout.
Candy kit
Miners Lipstick in Fiesta, £3.99 (9); Nars Lip Gloss in Chihuahua, £17.50, is a light, sugary pink; get your pop on with the bright Revlon Matte Lipstick in Pink Pout, £7.49.
Candyfloss locks
Pastel-pimped hair? Oh, go on then! Rihanna’s fave Jeremy Scott and design duo Meadham Kirschhoff showcased models with pink floss, grass green and duck-egg blue tresses this season. Celebville has also taken note, with Jessie J, Katy Perry and Kate Bosworth all getting sugar-shade happy.
Tresses trick
“Catwalk hair colour has been too safe for a while now, so this micro-trend is a breath of fresh air,” says Marc Trinder, creative manager for Charles Worthington. “Pastel colours work best on pre-lightened hair, but anyone can carry them off!” If you want to go pro, Hob salons offer a Seasonal Fashion Colour service (call 01923 854100 for prices), and will assess your colouring to find your perfect pastel.
Candy kit
DIY with a temp colour like Star Gazer Rinses, which are free of ammonia and peroxide. We love the Baby Pink and Coral Blue (10), £5 each.
