Even though early-morning workouts are a good idea, unkempt hair and faded makeup are often more associated with sluggishness that sex appeal. At the spring 2006 shows in New York and Milan, however, underdone beauty was a prominent feature on almost every runway. The result: A confident, self-assured lady whose spontaneity only enhances her appeal. This season’s au natural look isn’t just for supermodels with flawless skin. The following ten trends can be worn by any woman.
In The Nude
Spring makeup was more discrete than we have seen in seasons, a sign of fashion’s return towards minimalism. “The goal of spring makeup is to create a ‘is she/isn’t she’ look. Viviane Hidalgo, a makeup artist at Miami’s Primal Studio, says that the goal is to create a ‘is she or isn’t she?’ look. For most women, this means that they use a concealer, how to pick the right Laura Mercier products, moisturizer, and a moisturizer to get good coverage. Hidalgo warns that a completely white look can make you look unnatural and dangerous. She suggests that you add some definition to your corner if you have great eyes.
On The Runway: Models at Chloe wore very little makeup. At Balenciaga fresh-shaven faces were accentuated with hints carefully selected color. At BCBG Max Azria, Christian Dior and BCBG Max Azria, there was no makeup at all.
Best Bets Maybelline New York Revitalizing Foundation, Laura Mercier Oil-Free Foundation and Olay Complete Moisturizer. Prep + Prime Skin
Rope Trick
Every season seems to have a unique hairstyle. For spring, braids were the favored style. You might want to reconsider if you haven’t worn them since sixth grade. Kim Lepine, a Lepine New York salon owner, says that it’s a youthful look. She recommends that you do it everywhere, even if you are young and playful. Lepine recommends a simple braid at the back of the hair for older women. This can be used as a subtle detail to a bun, or updo.
The Runway: Sleek cornrows were the rage at the L.A.M.B. At Rochas, hair was pinned into princess-worthy, skinny halos. Viktor & Rolf’s stylists opted to wear long, loose versions. Calvin Klein had a simple, low-maintenance style.
Best Bets Exquisite Rat Tail Comb. Mason-Pearson Brush. Biosilk Silk Therapy. Sebastian Shaper Hairspray.
Hot Lips
Some makeup artists used ruby lips to inject drama into a season that was all about understatement. Troy Surratt, a makeup artist, loves the classic, glamorous look. He says that a bold, sexy lip color is perfect for winter. You don’t have to be afraid of it. You can use a red lip but keep the rest of your face covered.
on the Runway: lips were a matte cherry from Alessandro Dell’Acqua and a glossy rich scarlett at Costume National. They were also warmer tom shades at Emanuel Ungaro.
Best Bets Maybelline New York Moisture Extreme, Chanel Le Crayon Glossin Grenadine Gloss, Urban Decay Pleather Pencil, Kink, Nars Lipstick In Heat Wave
Heavy Metal
On almost every runway, shimmery shadows in gold, silver, or bronze were a big hit. Surratt says that shimmer can enhance anyone’s eyes and that golden shades are the most flattering. He emphasizes that the key to achieving a dazzle effect is to use a small amount of shimmer.
On The Runway: Alberta Ferretti used golden shadows to highlight the eyes’ inner corners and darken to bronze at the browbone. Anna Sui used only a slight sheen on the lower lash lines. Chanel chose a futuristic, silvery shade. John Galliano’s metallics took a Felliniesque turn.
Best Bets Maybelline New York Roller Color In-Line Ice, Bare Escentuals Foling Glimmers and Girlactik Beauty Sparkle Ear Liners Set, Benefit Showoffs
Brown-Eyed Girl
Browns can be anything, thanks to spring’s sienna, mink, and sable shadows. Bobbe Joy, of Bobbe Joy Makeup Studio Beverly Hills, says that browns are a great balance of nude and made up. There are many options. She says that you can amp up a neutral shade by adding a line of gold shadow or iridescent shadow from your lashes to the crease of the lid. It’s still natural, but it opens up the eyes.
On The Runway: Eyes were enhanced by a warm walnut at Andrew Gn; Celine makeup artists used an offbeat ochre color; Moschino’s dark chocolate shadows were glittered across the crease, while Vera Wang’s eyes were swept with a less striking ecru.
Best Bets Cargo Eye Shadow Cocoa Beach; Cover Girl Eye Enhancers Mink; Too Faced Eyeshadow duo in Full Frontal; Afterglow Multitasking Eye Shadows, Champagne Shimmer, Dune and Coco
Pretty Slick
Even though it has gangster connotations, the slicked-back hair looked stunning on runways. Lindsay Rider, a hairstylist at the Bang Salon in Washington D.C., says that this look looks best for those with straight, thin or fine hair. If you are sure that your hair is the right type, apply a smoothing cream to freshly washed hair. Then, blow-dry with a shine spray. Rider recommends that you use less product at the beginning to ensure a sleek and shiny end result. You can always add more product later if necessary.
At the Runway: Hair was pulled into shiny ponytails at Chloe & Prada. Narciso Rodriguez used glossy hair to give an ultramodern French twist. Alexander McQueen split it by slicing the front and letting the hair down in the back.
Best Bets Tigi Bedhead After Party Smoothing Cream Frederic Fekkai Glossing Cream Redken Vinyl Glam 02 Mega Shine Spray Citre Shine mist Anti-Frizz Spray Spray Laminator
Doll Face
The trend of using rosy blushes by makeup artists to give models a pretty, fresh glow continues. The key to a convincing flush is not racing streaks in the ’80s. Selecting the right product is crucial. Hildago says that you should avoid using pigments that are too dark for your skin. Creams and stains work best on skin with smaller pores. Powders, however, can be used to enhance less-perfect complexions. She adds that in either case, you should use a circular motion to blend well and then remove any excess using a tissue.
On The Runway: Carolina Herrera’s models were given a healthy, pale pink flush while Anna Molinari and Zac Posen got more intense rosy shades.
Best Bets: Chanel Joues Contraste Blush in Rose Bronze, Nars Orgasm Blush, Fresh Blush Powder in Charm School, Cargo Blush in Topeka
Smudge Report
On the catwalk, thin is always in fashion. However, at spring shows makeup artists used thicker, more precise spoltches to line their eyes. Hildago says blurring the lines is mostly a matter choosing the right product. She suggests that a soft kohl pencil can be used to rim the eyes for a diffused effect. Black can be intense so you might want to use a neutral brown or taupe instead.
On The Runway: At Donna Karen the eyes were enhanced by a smudge black liner in the inner corners and an abridged cats-eye on top. At Givenchy the lines were thicker, more intense and continued around the entire eye. Louis Vuitton used lighter shadows to blend dark lines with lighter shadows at the lids.
Best Bets Revlon Colourstay Eyeliner Black, M.A.C. Eye Kohl Liner in Smolder. Benefit Bad Gal Liner. Estee Lauder Artist’s Eye Pencil, Softsmudge Black.
Wet ‘n’ Warm
Lip glosses were used by makeup artists to give neutral palettes a luminous sheen. Surratt suggests that you first prepare your lips with some foundation to give your gloss more durability. Then, line your lips with a shade that is close to your natural color and then add a little gloss. Surratt says the liner will prevent the gloss from bleed onto your skin. Surratt suggests that you choose a nude, lustrous lips. He also suggests that you “play up your eyes and add a little highlighter on your cheeks” if you want a nude, lustrous look.
