Top 5: Spring beauty trends

‘Out with the old and in with the new’ seems to be the defining beauty zeitgeist for the coming year with a preference for metallic lids, dewy complexions and colour pop lips. So what are you waiting for? Haul yourself out of that makeup rut and freshen up your face with the top 5 beauty trends for Spring/Summer 2014.

1.The orange lip

Rearing its bold head all throughout Fashion week 2014, orange lipstick is certainly set to be the colour of the season. Spotted in a spectrum of citric hues at DKNY, Donna Karan and Rag and Bone, the orange lip is a great way to inject some warmth and sassiness into your standard makeup palette. Feeling lustful? Splash out on MAC Lipstick in Neon Orange, (a delicious matte tangerine laced with red) or mix Maybelline’s Colour Sensational Vivids Lipstick in Electric Orange and Neon Red for a perfect fruity pout.

2.Gilded lids

Metallic eye-makeup, despite being tricky to pull off is a perennially sexy makeup look that can take you from day to night with a flick of liquid liner. What’s more, this get-gorgeous eye candy channels beach goddess even on the wettest Manchester morning. Keep it simple a la Ciara at the Grammys by dabbing a shimmery powder such a Mac Pigment in Tan or Damson all over the lids, or create depth by using a dark matte shadow in your creases and highlighting your lids and inner creases with molten makeup as at Gucci Spring 2014. Finish off with natural undulating waves and you’re ready for 2014.

3.Ethereal eyes

Whether it’s ghostly liner, nymph-like shadow or even light mascara, the white eye makeup trend will be a force to be reckoned with. Showcased this year at Alice and Olivia Tibi and Altuzzara to name a few, it is an edgy and clean alternative to the reliable smokey eye. Wash your lids with iridescent shades of pink and white such as Bobbi Brown eye shadow in Bone and Shell for a fresh, doe-eyed look or get graphic with Illamasqua Precision ink in Scribe with a frosty feline flick across the top lid.

4.Low-key nails

The Spring 2014 runways at Nina Ricci, Milly and Lela Rose went back-to-basics simple and sophisticated two-tone nails. 2013, the year of graphic prints, dagger nails and embellishments has officially passed in favour of a cleaner, shorter and more natural look. They key to this look is in its neatness so keep a nail file handy and make strengthening a habit. Ready for the trend transition? Create a fresh yet preppy nail look with a pastel pink base and baby blue crescents at the nail base. Essie polishes in Fiji and Find Me an Oasis are fail-safe.

5.Get the glow

As much as I love a natural sun-kissed look us Northerner’s should know by now that when it comes to ‘getting the glow’ you have to fake it to make it. As we welcome the new year, Philip Lim and J Mendel gave fresh, matte bases the boot in favour of dewy, subtly shimmery complexions and it’s high time to follow suit. Get the balance between luminescent perfection and shine overkill just right by mixing a few drops of Nars illuminator in Copacabana or Revlon Skinlights into your regular foundation.