Elizabeth Mathew
Beauty may lie in the eye of the beholder, but if you want a little help in that department, look no further than your makeup box. One sweep of that brush and you can mask a few flaws, hide a wrinke or two and maybe even add some glow, but every season, your ‘tool kit’ needs an update, and here’s what you’ll need for this season.
Big, bold brows
Say good bye to over-plucked and highly defined brows, the new look is a strong, bushy brow that makes a statement even without any makeup! Ever since Cara Delevingne stepped on to the runway with her thick eyebrows a few shades darker than her hair, the trend had been set. With her signature pout adding to the look, seems like fierce and powerful brows are the way to go. While there a range of products, from eye brow pencils to fillers and gel to set your brows straight, the most important thing, of course, is to grow them out. Take a break from the monthly or weekly threading and try and stick to your natural shape. Accentuate the brows with help of a brush and use a pencil that’s one shade darker than your natural colour to get the strong brow look. Look for inspiration to Camille Bell and Sofia Vergara, both of whom have let their brows make a statement.
Pop those jewel tones
Jewel tones on the eye have started taking over the make up scene, starting with Chanel’s L'Ete Papillon de Chanel makeup collection for 2013. The collection is named after its inspiration - the bright colours on butterfly wings that are a sign of summer. And nature seems to be the inspiration for one of the key looks for the season, with everything from bright grassy green eyeliners to sunny yellow-hued mascara and a deep blue eye-shadow.
Combine as many or even two basic colours to create a look that’s as fresh as it is alluring but the key to getting this look right is carrying it off with confidence. The jewel-toned smoky eye is another colour that has been spotted across runways – from Gucci to Chloe’s Spring/Summer 2013 show. Jewel tones work on every complexion, so if you’re worried about picking the right colour, eyeliner is a great place to start experimenting. Do remember not to over coordinate though – sometimes, contrast is king!
Pale and shimmer
If colour isn’t your cup of tea, there’s no need to worry – another eye trend, from the opposite end of the spectrum – is the pale as ice look. Think white eye liner, silver eye shadow and lots of glitter – the looks is ice queen with extra glamour. Even pale shades of icy blue or a simple nude will work, since the look is all about keeping it in simple colours, without losing the emphasis on the eye. Whether its glossy peach eyes at Louis Vuitton or silvery ones at Chanel, the focus here is to keep the eye lids as pale as possible – though Givenchy might have taken it a bit too far with the bleached out brows at their show!
Two-tone trend
Another style statement that we think will slowly become a mega trend is the two-toned lip. First spotted on runways at the Jason Wu spring show, a deep burgundy lip with a bright cherry red at the centre caught everyone’s attention and slowly the trend has been gaining momentum.
Two toned lips are revolutionary in theory and not the easiest trend to pull off practically, but with a bit of care, you can make heads turn with this unique style. One way to do it is to pick two shades that complement each other – but do not blend into each other – and put one on each lip. A hot neon pink on the upper lip and a bright coral on the lower is a great way to go dual tone and keeping it spring-themed. Another option is to have the bright coral in the centre of both lips and the neon pink outside, blending it in just a little so that the transition seems smooth.
Try mixing shades of pink, from pale to fuschia, or if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, maybe even reds and browns to create your own palette! Unleash your creativity and test the boundaries, and you’ll be setting the trend in no time.
elizabeth.mathew@thehindu.co.in