With hints of summer peeking through the days, spring is in full bloom. It’s definitely time to shift your beauty routine and try something different with your make-up. The hottest make-up trend for Spring/Summer 2011 is colour – bright flashes of colour everywhere, from sweet lips to eyelids. Violet, bright pink, fuchsia, coral, yellow, teal, and neon green are the bold and sassy colours to go for right now. Just don’t try them all at once – you want people to notice your fresh and natural skin, too.

Lip shades

Lips are taking centre stage this season in colours from hot pink to a juicy, bright orange. Perky shades of cantaloupe, watermelon and citrus will be on girls everywhere.

For those orange-tinted lips so in vogue right now, try Giorgio Armani’s #24 lipstick, or get a taste for the trend with peach-inspired coral shades such as Estee Lauder’s Blazing Coral lip gloss. Orange lips may seem scary and intimidating for the uninitiated, but they can look good on a variety of skin tones. Remember you can apply orange in bold, or more lightly for a subtle hint of colour.

Whatever shade you go for, be sure you choose one that also moisturises – jojoba oil and shea butter, for example, are ingredients to check for when testing out lipsticks. If you’re especially skittish about going orange, pick a light, soft coral-pink shade that contrasts well with bare, fresh skin.

Eye shadows

Neon colours were framing eyes all over the runways this spring and making a bold statement – from liners to shadows, in shades such as cobalt, teal, bright violet, and neon green. Like any other eye shadow, apply them from base to crease and slightly beyond. Just don’t make the mistake of combining a bright shadow with a bright liner – opt for a sweeping, bold line along your upper lashes instead. The bold streak of colour can perk up any night-time look, as long as you balance your face with subdued make-up elsewhere, such as light pinks and nudes on lips and cheeks.

Feeling adventurous? Try the Nars’ bold green Soft Touch Shadow Pencil in Celebrate from its spring collection, or a shadow palette such as Bobbi Brown’s Peony and Python for a selection of shades that you can play with.

Cheek blushes

The right cheek blushes can give you a beautiful spring glow and boost your relationships with friends, dates and others by making you look healthy and happy. Try Yves Saint Laurent’s Crème de Blush in Powdery Rose on the apples of your cheeks for a glowing look that complements bold-statement eyes or bronzed skin.
Whether you’re going to the park for a picnic with friends or you’re going on a first internet dating with someone you met on Cambridge dating website, have fun with make-up colours this spring. Fun, after all, is the spirit of the season.