Image credit (left to right): Mango, Focusonstyle, Lookfantastic, Nordstrom.
By Adele Mitchell
It’s spring and as predictable as day follows night (or spring follows winter) that means the makeup trend timer has switched over to ‘pink ‘ mode.
There’s a reason pink is a perennial favourite for spring: it’s fresh, versatile and flattering, whatever your age. It looks good in sunshine (because we’ll be having lots of that, obv), and it matches the seasonal catwalk colours, of course.
Each season brings a new (or, if you’re been around long enough, revamped) take on this classic – and some elements are always distinctly more wearable than others.
This season’s catwalks saw makeup that playfully referenced the 1980s: pink on lids, pink that on cheeks and temples, pink on lips. Lots of pink, then.
But be warned: If, like me, you’re old enough to have been wearing make in the original 1980s, then it’s a look to approach with some caution: get a little heavy handed with your blending and you’ll look like you haven’t updated your makeup since you first laid eyes on Bananarama.
To wear pink with aplomb its best to target one area only, and keep the rest of your make up more low key.
Eyes…
Here’s the home truth: over-do pink around your eyes and you’ll run the risk of looking as if you’re fighting off a nasty infection. Instead aim for a super-pretty English Rose look, with a touch of watercolour-effect soft pink eye shadow, centred on your lids. Then balance the look with a pared-down natural finish on lips and cheeks.
Our 6 Favourites:
L’Oreal Paris Color Riche Eyeshadow Palette Nude 02 Rose £14.99
Benefit Dandelion Blush £23.50
Clarins Extra Firming Lip Contour and Balm £32
Cheeks…
The new ‘super blush’ look that extends from cheek to temple may create a ‘party all night’ vibe on the under 25s – but it’s a bit ‘hot flush’ on those of us old enough to prefer Graham Norton and a cup of cocoa on a Friday night. So proceed with caution and tone your blush down with a lot of careful blush-brush blending.
Lips…
To really nail the pink trend your best bet by far is to keep the rest of your make up low key and opt for a pop of lip colour instead: from hot coral to magenta, it’s a dazzling way to update your look – and lift your mood. A lip colour with a semi-matt finish is by the far the most flattering way to go, and if you are concerned about colour bleed then line your lips using feathery strokes of lip liner first.
