Crazy Colour
Poster: Armand 29/03/2006
This month the cosmetic industry launch their seasonal trends. With whacky and wild colours in abundance you may think that the spring 2006 colour trend is great for your daughter but too wild and whacky for you. Don't be fooled! These colours will look fabulous on you, and I can tell you how to achieve it.In the ‘70s and ‘80s, if you were to wear bright eyeshadows that were highly pearlised, lines around your eyes would instantly be emphasised and the shadow would probably crease very easily. In 2006, however, technology behind cosmetics means that improvements in quality and longevity allow a woman in her 60s to look just as sexy as a woman in her 20s.... remember it's not what you wear, it's how you wear it.Red carpet glamour is the inspiration behind Chanel's new look. With an aubergine and silver eyeshadow duo called Stardust and a classic red ‘50s-inspired lipstick called Marilyn, you can see the influences behind this sensational look. One of the must-have products for this season is the gorgeous limited edition Lumieres Magiques de Chanel – a trio of colours which work beautifully as a blusher and highlighter. Simply swirl the brush over the three colours and apply lightly onto the apple of the cheek to give instant brightness to the dullest complexion.Yves Saint Laurent’s collection in inspired by the warm bohemian tones of Provence and dazzling colours of the Mediterranean sea. My favourite eyeshadow quad is No 2 Lavender, which looks great on any complexion, especially if you have fair or grey hair. A tip to applying this quartet would be to first use the pale silver tones all over the lid, then the lilac over the moveable part of the lid, with the orange tone applied subtly into the crease – while a fine line of navy shadow is brushed along the lash line, but widening towards the outer edge of the eye. The effect is smouldering! For a dramatic look and added intensity apply Christian Dior Style Liner next to the navy shadow with a shimmering seawater shade to dazzle. Or simply use the liquid liner on its own to create a fabulous ‘50s feline look. (My top tip for liner would be to keep to conventional colours like black, brown or navy next to the lashes, while unusual tones like Dior's Rose Pink or Sea Water is applied above the conventional colour, adding instant glamour.)Lipstick makes a welcome return this season, with shades of coral going right through to deepest brown. Try Dior Addict High Luster Lip Color in “Heavenly Pearl”, which is a divine shimmering nude pink and will suit most complexions. (Top tip: use it over the top of Guerlain’s Lip Lift to ensure extra staying power.)If you simply can't get by without your gloss then you'll be pleased to hear that gloss gods Lancôme have created some new shades in their best-selling Juicy Tube range. This coincides with the launch of their spring collection entitled Enchantments – a sparkling and beguiling collection of pinks, yellow, purple and green with emphasis on shimmering cheek bones. Colour giants MAC have also focused on the cheeks with the launch of Glimmer Shimmer Liquid Blusher. This is an absolute must for makeup junkies, but do be careful to only use a small amount on the cheek bones and under the brow bone, and blend, blend, blend. If you're slightly heavy-handed you could end up looking like a glitter ball.
