Style & beauty - May 2008

Beauty Babe

I love the change from summer to winter beauty. Out with fresh-faced and glossy, in with dramatic and bold.

This winter beauty-conscious babes have a few choices for winter beauty looks and it's time to experiment and play with colour. Beauty trends range from pale and luminescent, sexy and smoky, or 80's disco neon.

For day the look is natural with creamy beige lips and taupe eyes and for night bring on the colour, cat eyes and lashings of liquid liner. Lips are creamy and pink or rich and bold in cherry reds. The pièce de résistance of your winter makeup will be a hint of cheek colour in peach or apricot hues.

If you're feeling bold (and age appropriate) you can make a statement for your eyes and choose a rich bright shade in neon colours of yellow, purple, teal or fuchsia.

Now you've got the makeup right, you need a fab winter 'do'. 'Doable do's' are in this season with looks ranging from loose, relaxed waves, a new and modern 'crop' or a sleek high bun.

So how to get your fab winter look? Here are some tips.

1. Face
A creamy, natural complexion is the starting point for winter beauty with a luminescent and dewy finish.

Try - Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer lotion, $56; Max Factor Miracle Touch foundation, $34.95

2. Eyes
Eyes are in focus this season with looks ranging from disco diva to glamour queen. Winged eyes with lashings of liquid liner (practice makes perfect) and a deep berry lip will turn you into 40's movie queen. Bronze and peach tones in luminous shades will give you a soft daytime look. Lastly, if you want to have fun and stand out from the beauty crowd, rev it up with colour in bright hues of blue, yellow, green and orange.

Luscious full lashes in blackest black turn up the beauty volume and for high voltage looks opt for thick false lashes, maybe even diamond fringed!

Try - Revlon Diamond Lust Sheer eyeshadow in Champagne Buzz, $24.95; MAC Glitter in Fuchsia, $29.00; Bobbi Brown eyeshadow in Steel #22, $44

3. Eyeliner
This is your No. 1 beauty buy this season. Lined eyes are THE biggest thing and liquid eyeliner will become your best beauty friend this season. Practice, practice, practice makes beauty perfect to get the best winged eye.. For a mod graphics look try a very sharp, very black eyeliner.

Try - Covergirl LineExtract Liquid Liner $11.95; Estee Lauder Double Wear Zero-Smudge Liquid Eyeliner, $40

4. Brows
Thicker brows are the trend this season but daily grooming with a brow brush and regular visits to your beautician is essential. Buy a brow pencil in a shade that is closest to your natural brow colour .

5. Cheeks
A natural 'stain' in peach or apricot is the way to go this season. Soft tones for lighter skin and a more intense colour for olive complexions. Try a cream blush which blends beautifully and perfect for older skins.

Try - Maybelline NY Dream Mousse in Blush, $15; The Body Shop Blushing Daisies compact, $34.90; Elizabeth Arden Cheek compact in Pink Glow, $52

6. Lips
My favourite part of the beauty routine. This winter choose creamy and peachy for day and dark and delicious for night. Berry is the colour du jour in various shades and hues. If you want Veronica Lake choose a deep, intense berry or cherry red, or if a Grace Kelly flush is more your style go for a soft strawberry. Hot pink is a bright alternative.

Try - Giorgio Armani Beauty Armani Silk #56, $47; Maybelline NY Moisture Extreme in Real Raisin, $14; Lancôme Juicy Tubes lip gloss in Groseille, $44

7. Nails
Say goodbye to French manicures and say hello to finger art. 'Artified' acrylic nails is the cool trend this season, but perhaps not a look for the office. For the not so arty crowd, opt for a short dark nail in colours of red and berry, or metallic hues in greys, charcoals, blues and bronze. Chanel's Rouge Noir Nail Polish 18 is still one of the hottest beauty buys on the planet and perfect for winter toes.

Try - Creative Nail Polish in Hyde in the Park #435, $16.95; O.P.I. Nail Lacquer in I'm India Mood for Love, $19.95; Revlon Nail Enamel in Revlon Red, $12.95

Esma Versace Styling and Events p 0417 442 616 e versacestyle@ozemail.com.au