Glossy Bronze Makeup

MODELS at the spring/summer 2014 shows were the very picture of health, with sun-kissed skin, flushed cheeks and warm tones giving them a just-back-from-holiday glow as they showed off the season's new collections.

Kardashian-style contouring this was not - instead summer's glow is a natural-looking wash of subtle colour across noses, cheeks, temples and brows, giving models a healthy, outdoorsy look that seems casual rather than contrived.

References ranged from "Ibiza party girls fallen asleep on the beach" at Topshop Unique to "woodland nymphs" at JW Anderson, whilst freckles were drawn onto the noses of selected models at Emilio Pucci for a youthful look speaking of days spent in the sun or dancing at festivals.

And the eyelids makeup came in warm shades of chocolate, bronze, gold or copper, creamy and have a wet look. The new waterproof formula does not gather on the eye and hold a lot more on the beach. In addition, the metallic creates the illusion of fresh makeup.

Au naturel

Celebrities and models have already revealed their true faces. Are you brave enough to join the #nomakeup trend?

EVERY season we're treated to a new variation upon "natural" beauty but, for spring/summer 2014, models really were sent out onto the catwalks with the bare minimum of products and styling.

In essence, it's a look that's all about using as few products as possible to create a look that is fresh, modern and real. 

In 2013, "selfie" was selected as Word of the Year by Oxford Dictionaries, most likely because so many of Instagram's 150 milion-plus users spent a considerable portion of their time perfecting the right angle, arm length, lighting and filters. The right hair and makeup are, of course, also essensial ingredients in any self-promoting activity.

While some selfie posters have moved away completely from the spontaneous origins of the genre, there is an increasing desire for authenticity in social media. Which is why we see a new au naturel trend emerging: hashtag #nomakeup. And it's actresses and models who are leading the charge. 

The fashion industry took notice, from the stars, and the S/S 2014 collections the message was crystal clear: put the products away this season. Backstage at Balmain, Alexander Wang, Proenza Schouler and Anthony Vaccarello, mascara was abandoned antirely. A natural-looking comlexion is also an important part of look. 

Almost more of a non-trend than a trend, the aim is to achieve a raw, natural-looking beauty using make-up to conceal flaws and to define features rather than to completely transform. The only make-up used at Alexander Wang and Balmain was a little concealer where it was needed, whilst at Christopher Kane, Guido Palau merely washed and dried hair before adding a little oil to tame any frizz. At Emilio Pucci and Giambattista Valli, eyes were given a wash of pale colour to hollow and enhance shape, whilst Lucia Pieroni complemented messy plaits with illuminated skin for a "Nineties supermodel glow" at Giles.

"The skin is very nude, very fresh", explained estee lauder's creative makeup director Tom Pecheux, backstage at Balmain, applying just a touch of concealer here and there. 

So, how to face this brave new world, sans makeup? The firs step, is to "moisturise, moisturise, moisturise". You want to keep your skin exfoliated, plump and dewy.

PUT THE PRODUCTS AWAY THIS SEASON, IT'S TIME TO SHOW THE WORLD THE REAL YOU.

Rihanna embraces the nude look

Taking her hit song "Diamonds", literally, Rihanna arrived at the CFDA Awards wearing a crystal-embellished see-through Adam Selman gown, accessorized with a matching cap and gloves, a pale pink Pologeorgis fur stole, Manolo Blahnik heels and Paul Morelli and Jacob jewelry. 

Shine bright, bad girl :)

Be a Disco Diva with BLUE eyeshadow

BLUE eyeshadow has always conjured up images of eighties disco divas, schoolgirls who have just discovered make-up and the perennially unused shades in beauty palettes - but not any more. For spring/summer 2014, make-up artists took shades of azure, aqua, sapphire and sky and made them new again, whether as a flash of electric blue on the lower lash line or in bold blocks of opaque colour across the lids.

The trick, for making the look modern? Dick Page, who created the blue-eyed looks at Marc by Marc Jacobs and Tess Giberson, kept other make-up to a minimum to let the eyes really stand out, whilst Pat McGrath applied the colour in graphic blocks across the lids to prevent it from looking too retro.

All you need for spring/summer 2014 is a black eyeliner

All you need for spring/summer 2014 is a slick of black eyeliner and plenty of attitude. Forget pretty flicks or retro wings, it's all about a rebellious streak along the lower lash line or an almond shape in smudgy kohl.
The perfect partner for the season's pared-back beauty trend - carry your eyeliner with you to take the look from raw to rebellious - the new graphic black eyes look best paired with natural-looking skin and mascara-free lashes, a bad-girl take on classic beauty. From the new places to wear your liner - think under the eyes at Carven or right into the inner corners at Missoni - to the tomboy-referenced look at Stella McCartney.
“She’s an effortless ‘urban’ who likes her make-up in a lived in way… she finds perfection trashy,” said Terry Barber of spring/summer 2014's Just Cavalli girl. Creating a youthful glow on the skin, Barber used MAC's Kohl Power Eye Pencil in Feline to create a lived-in, almond-shaped eye as opposed to the more classic feline flick.