Pretty pastels

With heaps of sugary treats in store for us this summer, its gearing up to be a glorious and colourful season, and the best part is, its calorie free!

The new pastel trend as seen all over the S.S shows including Dior, Viktor & Rolf and Versace is such a delightful departure from the dark days of winter, and with its feminine influence and fun-loving attitude its guaranteed to lift our spirits.

We all deserve a little pick-me-up and these cheerful shades deliver a youthful and happy vibe, so why not give it a whirl?

The Golden Rule is to adapt the trend to suit your style and adjust the shades to fit your personal preferences. But first and foremost consider some of these basic principles.

Pick one area to play up, either the eyes, lips or cheeks, but do not do it all at once. keep it simple, and you will get the best effect. Personally, I think it’s the eyes that have it!!

Those who were blessed with a dark skin tone can enjoy the pleasure of sporting a wide array of pastel shades as lighter colours will stand out more. Lemon yellows are for normally for the brave, but stand out incredibly on dark skin tones while light green and lilac are good for many a skin tone and fabulous with a tan. Pastel blue suits fair skinned ladies while warmer tones can add vibrancy to the paler complexions.

By following a few simple tricks you will soon master this trend.

Subtle twist - Gently does it; A great way to introduce pastels into your summer make-up is to apply just one pretty shade over the upper lid of the eye, then by simply working a little warm brown into the crease and blending through the socket line, you will not only boost and enhance the look of your eyes but will ensure that you remain safely on trend.

Soft and romantic – Pastel smoky eye: Think watercolors, To create a soft wash of pastel colour, swirl a large eyeshadow brush over your chosen shade. Tap the brush to remove any excess then dust colour upwards and outwards to the brows and then wrap around the eye to create a larger eye dimension, add a smudge of soft eyeliner pencil a few shades darker for definition and work it close to and into the lashes and blend, finish with a dark brown mascara.

Bold and Contemporary – Make an impact: Choose two colours and apply one to the top lid and then one to the bottom in a block – to add depth and intensity to the colour apply your eyeshadow with the finger and press into place. Remember to use a clean finger when blending. Try a light purple and light green together these are universally flattering and surprisingly wearable. Frame the overall look with lashings of black mascara, for the ultimate final touch.

Top tips! The trick when using pale shades is to prep the eye area beforehand, . colours will appear even brighter if you simply apply a base of sheer concealer or a neutral primer. This will also help with blending and will prevent the colour from fading or slipping into the creases.

Try mint green its fabulous for girls with brown eyes, especially ones with natural yellow or golden specks.

Try using a bright eyeliner, turquoise or even yellow – but leave the focus there and play everything else down.

Try a little cream blush on the eyelids, a little stain of pastel pink or peach at the centre of the lid makes for a very flattering look.

Products: Hot summer treats!

Bourjois - 72 Violet Absolu - With its fine, soft and blendable powder you can apply this dry for the light and luminous eyeshadow feel or apply wet to reveal the full intensity of the colour pigments and pearl effects. Making this the ultimate eye-conic best friend and the best value for money! Available from Boots – Priced £5.99

Shu uemura - Matte Vivid Rose – These little beauties delivery the truest colour with a non-fading finish. The powders come in an assortment of finishes for a multi-dimensional effect, matte, pearl, iridescent and metallic. Excellent as an eyeliner with a dampened flat eyeliner brush. Available from www.spacenk.co.uk. Priced £14.00

M.A.C - A powder Eye Shadow in which matte and pearlized shades combine to produce a soft pearl-highlight finish. In this limited edition, three complementary shades form a floral motif inspired by the signature patterns of Lilly Pulitizer. Available from www.maccosmetics.com Priced £15.00

Sue Devitt - Hydrating marine minerals eye - Blue Waters: The alluring destination eye palette features universally flattering shades in blendable, wearable and long-lasting eye colour. A unique formulation offers extraordinary hydrating and refreshing properties of the sea. Available from www.harveynichols.com priced £30.00

Illamasqua - Powder Eye Shadow : Bring a room to its knees without saying a word. Each of these glorious colours makes a statement that’s as individual as you are. Highly pigmented, these lasting colours ensure all-night intensity. Available from www.illamasqua.com priced £15.

Nvey Eco Certified Organic - 5 Colour Eye Shadow Set: a smooth and soft organic eyeshadow formula excellent for dry and sensitive skins. With soothing Chamomile and antioxidants Vitamin C, E & A.Available from www.lovelula.com. Priced £32.20