Hello sunshine

RULE 1: MISMATCH YOUR POLISH

Thought you had to coordinate fingers and toes? Think again: throw out the rule book and pair hot pink toes with juicy orange talons, match mint with lavender, black with yellow and blue with green or glitter with matte. Match Revlon’s Nail Enamel in Charming, €9.20, with one of Max Factor Colour Effect Mini Nails in Mellow Yellow, €4.99, for a custom clash.

RULE 2: BAN THE BASE

Move over heavy foundations and powders. For summer, what we want for our skin is something that provides light coverage with hydration, skincare benefits and SPF. Something like a BB Cream, in fact. The new oil-free BB for combination to oily skin, €14.99, from Garnier has nice care benefits, an SPF20 and some coverage. On areas you need more help? Use a little concealer and under eyes, try this smart idea from Clarins’ Claude Defresne. If you’ve previously been applying concealer in thick circles, “don’t,” he instructs. “Just place your concealer in a triangle below the eye, as that’s all you need.” Try it — it works!

RULE 3: POP YOUR POUT

We’re dizzy: gloss reigned supreme for years and then went out of favour while old-school lipstick had a couple of years of firm dominance. But for summer 2012, new glosses are definitely topping out the charts. Try Maybelline’s new hybrid Superstay Tint Gloss, €11.49, which stains the lips and adds a shiny finish that flatters, or Benefit’s cute new Ultra Plush Glosses, €19.50, which come in six shades to match the brand’s boxed powders.

RULE 4: CONTOUR WITH COLOUR

Contouring is massive right now and it’s all thanks to Kim Kardashian and her fondness for bronzed, airbrushed beauty. While there’s no doubt clever contouring can sculpt the face, on paler skintones, too much bronzer can look muddy. Karim Sattar from Dr Hauschka has a clever trick. “Use a blusher instead,” he recommends. It’s a clever trick but one that actually makes a massive difference if you’re Celtic-toned. Choose a tea-rose shade, buff it well into the hollows of the cheeks and you’ll get the same shaping effect with none of the grubby finish. Try Dr Hauschka Rouge Powder in 03 Rose, €21.45.

RULE 5: SCENT FOR LONGER

Fragrance that doesn’t stick around is a pain and packing for holidays is even more hassle these days with cabin restrictions and baggage charges. New hybrid fragrance oils are the way to go, providing moisturisation and a scent that lasts a lot longer on the skin. Yves Saint Laurent’s Saharienne Dry Oil, €41, plays excellently in warm weather, perfuming and hydrating skin while saving on vital suitcase space.

Stockists

Dr Hauschka at health stores and www.drhauschka.ie; Garnier at supermarkets and pharmacies; Max Factor at Debenhams and selected pharmacies; Maybelline at supermarkets and pharmacies; Revlon at Boots; Yves Saint Laurent at department stores.