Top trends, tips and products for spring 2014

A new season means new make up trends. As we settle into spring, we show you how to adjust your beauty regime for the months ahead.

Sun, 23 Mar, 2014 - 00:00

From the top trends, to tips from in-demand make up artists, to the best products for your 20s to your 60s and beyond, our Beauty Special has it all. For starters, the experts at MAC bring you a step-by-step guide to two must-have make up looks for spring/summer 2014.

Look One

This modern spring/summer look is created using MAC’s current collection ‘A Fantasy of Flowers’. It’s all about a fresh, healthy, glowing skin with a pop of pumped-up pastels on the eyes and lips. Perfect for a whimsical, dreamy look. It’s like taking an Instagram filter into reality — the make up does all the accentuating for you.

Step one:

Using a #159 duo-fibre brush, sweep Mineralise Moisture Foundation SPF15 using quick motions to give a lightweight, radiant finish to the skin. Add a warm, peachy glow by polishing your cheeks with Stereo Rose Mineralise Skinfinish. Apply a lightweight apricot MAC Prep+Prime CC powder in Recharge to even the complexion and ensure the makeup lasts.

Step Two:

Keep this look modern by sticking to one colour palette on the eyes. Buff MAC Fluidline in Phlox Garden all over the eyelid and undereye. Use what’s left on the brush to blend seamlessly into the socket line. All you need is a firm, flat brush (MAC #239) to get the colour on — and a duo fibre blending brush (#286) to buff.

Step Three:

This is where we bring the eye look to life. Using a MAC #217 fluffy blending brush, sweep MAC limited edition Pink Pearl Pigment all over the Fluidline for a duo-toned effect. The subtle hint of electric blue will make any eye colour look more vibrant and clear.

Step Four:

Make sure to condition the lips to banish winter’s drying effects. Layer MAC Fleur d’Coral Lipstick with a generous coat of Nectarsweet Cremesheen Glass for a nourished, creamy pinky-peach shine. Layer your lashes with lots of Haughty & Naughty Too Black Lash Mascara for an inky black, voluminous look.

SKIN: Mineralise Moisture Foundation SPF15, €37.50

Stereo Rose Mineralise Skinfinish, €29.50

MAC Prep+Prime CC powder in Recharge, €25.50

EYES: MAC Fluidline in Phlox Garden, €18.50

MAC limited edition Pink Pearl Pigment, €24.50

Haught & Naughty Too Black Lash Mascara, €23.50

LIPS: MAC Fleur d’Coral Lipstick, €19

Nectarsweet Cremesheen Glass, €21.50.

Look Two

For this look, the inspiration was MAC’s newest Viva Glam spokesperson, Rihanna. This is a contemporary take on a classic make-up look, reinvented by experimenting with texture and dimension. It’s a universal look which can be tweaked to suit anyone who wants to feel glamorous, confident and sexy.

Step One:

For natural, flawless skin which will last all day (or night), build a veil of MAC Face and Body Foundation using a #130 foundation brush. The compact bristles will give a perfectly even finish to your skin. Use MAC’s classic Cubic Blush to add a slight neutral pink to the cheeks, and Baby Don’t Go Prolongwear Blush to create that backstage contour to Sarah’s cheekbones with an angled #168 blush brush.

Step Two:

Blend a mid-tone cappuccino brown all over the eye lid with a MAC duo fibre #286 brush. MAC’s Prolongwear Paintpot in Groundwork is a classic staple product which lasts 15 hours. Apply a dusting of a satiny cream coloured eyeshadow like MAC’s Brulé from the brow bone to socket line using a soft blending brush #224. Carve out the crease and underneath of your eye with a rich, warm brown like Embark Eyeshadow, to create dimension with a slight nod to a Sophia Loren 1960s shape.

Step Three:

Line the upper lashline with a sleek, classic line using a thin #210 liner brush and MAC Blacktrack Fluidline. When you reach your last eyelash, extend the line outwards and slightly angle towards the tail of your eyebrow to give your eye an alluring lift. Complete with Extended Play Gigablack Lash Mascara for curled, intense black lashes.

Step Four:

Before you do anything, MAC’s Prep+Prime Lip Primer all over your lips is an absolute must. We want this colour to last and glide on effortlessly. Then use MAC Brick Lip Pencil to line and fill in the lips completely. Using a #316 lip brush, paint over the liner with Viva Glam RiRi Lipstick. The final touch is a shimmering layer of Viva Glam RiRi Lipglass, which will add a further juicy, hydrated texture to lips.

SKIN

MAC Face and Body Foundation €37.50

Baby Don’t Go Prolongwear Blush €26

EYES

MAC’s Prolongwear Paintpot in Groundwork €22.50

MAC’s Brulé €16

MAC Blacktrack Fluidline €18.50

Extended Play Gigablack Lash Mascara €18

LIPS

MAC’s Prep+Prime Lip Primer €16.50

MAC Brick Lip Pencil €16

Viva Glam RiRi Lipstick €19