Flower power: what makeup to wear with spring’s bold floral prints

Bold floral patterns and geometrical designs popped up on fashion catwalks for spring in London, Milan and Paris. Italian fashion house Max Mara used a vivid Kelly green and hot pink give their runway presentation a jolt of energy. Chanel and Balmain also used floral prints in their collections.  This look is an uplifting and fun antidote to the long, snow-filled winter we’ve had. But it does present a challenge on what makeup to wear with such show-stopping designs. In past seasons, stylists would have kept the makeup completely nude so as not to compete with the prints. But beauty looks have evolved and now artists are encouraging you to pull out one colour from the fashion print and use it in your makeup. It’s considered chic to have a lipstick that matches the poppy floral on your jacket. Just be sure to follow the one guiding rule: play up your lip colour or eye makeup. Not both.

 

 

Beauty Master Class:

The challenge: Find the makeup that best complements spring’s bright floral fashion palette.

Quick fix: The trick to wearing this trend is to create balance with the perfect makeup.

Makeup pitfall to avoid: Choose to focus on your eyes or your lips – not both.

 

“This look is all about balancing your eye or lip colour,” says Estee Lauder’s Rick Dicecca, a Global Makeup Stylist for the brand. “If you want to go a little bolder, coordinate a lip colour in the print that you’re wearing and make a statement. Take your cue from the dress. If it is bold and bright, create a subtle effect with your makeup. If the dress is a light print and a softer texture, create a little drama with a bold lipstick shade.”

 

“It is all about balancing the makeup with the fashion,” says MAC Senior Artist Jane McKay. “You want the makeup to complement the fashion. If in doubt, take a selfie and you’ll instantly know if the makeup is the right intensity and colour.”

“I like to blend a neutral shade of eyeshadow with just a touch of shimmer over the eyelids always starting from the lash line and blending up over the lids to create structure. One of my favourites is Estee Lauder Pure Color Eyeshadow Duo in Cobblestones,” adds Dicecca explaining how he creates balance in his makeup design.

“Create soft definition along the upper and lower lash line, but nothing too thick. Smudge the line once you’ve applied it with an eyeshadow brush or the sponge

tip on the end of an eyeliner. To finish, apply mascara in Extreme Black or Extreme Brown to upper and lower lashes.”

“Two of my favourite shades to create a bold lip are Peach Pleasure and Enticing Fuchsia. This is a great formula because it adds a bit of volume to the lips. The more you use it, the more it conditions and softens lips. To extend the wear, line your lips with a matching lip liner, fill in the lips with the liner then apply the lipstick.”

 

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