September 2nd, 2015
Who said that nudes were boring? We’re certainly a fan of the gentle nude shades which subtly enhanced many of the A/W ’15 shows – from camel and taupe to caramel and peach. Combined with the gentle pastels which we enjoyed this spring, you have the perfect colour combination for trans-seasonal make-up.
Skin
Once you’ve settled on a base you can start introducing subtle shades to enhance the complexion without any harsh contouring or bold blushes. Something like Clinique’s Sculptionary Cheek Contouring Palette (£28) in Defining Nudes is enough to bring life back to the face without ever appearing obvious. The finely-milled Ambient Lighting Powders from Hourglass (£38) also add a certain je ne sais quoi to the skin, and the range of colours means that you can play use the subtle contrasts in tones to shade, define or leave a luminous sheen.
A more recent release is from Dior’s Fall 2015 collection – Peter Philips’ first colour collection for the brand, the Cosmopolite collection contains the beautiful DiorSkin Nude Cosmopolite Illuminating Face Powder (£31.50), an illuminating powder in a peachy shade. It leaves a luminous finish without ever appearing glittery or heavy. In a similar vein, we’re still utterly entranced by the Clé de Peau Beauté Luminizing Face Enhancer (£62) in Pastel, or Sand Beige on deeper skin tones. These jewel-inspired palettes combine ultra-flattering shades to be used as a highlighter or complexion enhancer – a pricey investment, but once you’ve seen it in person, you’ll be hooked.
A pastel-tinged lemon shade can be your best asset when brightening skin or concealing discolouration. Give your make-up a zesty twist with Benefit’s Lemon Aid (£16.50), or Make Up For Ever’s Skin Equaliser Radiant Primer (£24). Lemon Aid is an eyelid primer which conceals any redness or darkness, brightening the eye area and providing a smooth base for shadow. You can also tap some of the product around the tip of the nose to discourage any Rudolph situations. The yellow Radiant Primer from MUFE is designed to help tanned or olive skintones appear brighter, less dull and more even. They have a whole range of pastel-tinted primers depending on the depth of skintone.
Eyes
The high street has a fantastic range of nude shades for the eyes which you to stock your kit with. As mentioned in last week’s Hot Off The Press, Bourjois have just announced a new range of neutral colours for their classic Little Round Pot eyeshadows (£6.99) which arrive later this month. From pale golden and peachy shades to lavender-tinted taupes, it’s very hard to over-do a look with these pots of goodness. Speaking of taupe-y nudes, the Maybelline Colour Tattoo shadows (£4.99) are great budget alternatives to other cream shadow bases. The colours of Creamy Beige and Pink Gold will have so many uses, with a satisfyingly thick and pigmented cream formula.
For a nice balance between versatile nude shades and delicate pastel toned shadows, we love the Nude Tude eyeshadow palette from The Balm (£30). With most neutral or nude palettes leaning quite warm, we liked the balance provided by shades such as Selfish. The delicate pink of Stubborn can be used to give a pretty cotton candy haze around the eye. Don’t have the time or space for a palette? For a speedy pastel sheen, try something like the Ciaté Eye Chalk (£14) in Jump Rope, an eye-brightening blue, or the gentle lilac of Teacher’s Pet.
A touch of shimmer can be all it takes to tie an effortless look together. For a silky-smooth wash of colour and sheen, invest in the Shiseido Luminizing Satin Eye Colour Trios (£36). Use with a light touch for a delicate veil of colour, or build up for a pop of pastels – try the Static trio of mauve, blue and green, or go for the versatile Nude trio.
Lips
Step forward Rimmel, who recently launched their new collection of Lasting Finish By Kate Nude lipsticks (£5.49) and corresponding nail varnishes. They’ve done a great job of shade selection, whether you’re looking for a pinky undertone or a caramel, the six shades should be flattering on just about everyone. If you’re looking for a nude lipstick though, where better to turn than Bobbi Brown – her whole cosmetics empire started with that original, sell-out nude lipstick. Her traditional Lip Colour (£20) with a creamy, semi-matte formula has more nude shades than you can shake a stick at.
If you’re in search of some poppy pastel lip colours, fashion giant Topshop has a great variety of candy-coloured Velvet Finish Lipsticks (£8) – we particularly like Innocent, one of their best-selling shades chosen to commemorate their 5 Years of Beauty collection. For bolder pastel shades, ideal for editorial work, MAC’s Lipstick (£15.50) colour range is unrivalled; Notice Me is a pale lilac which can be built to a bolder purple, while French Twist is a gorgeous peachy shade. For budget options, NYX classic Round Lipstick (£4) in shades such as Athena, Harmonica and Marrakesh Pink are pigmented, creamy and have a huge range of colours.
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