Burberry's beautiful and crave-worthy beauty collection...

With Christopher Bailey at the helm as creative maestro, the downmarket references of the 1990′s have disappeared from the fashion consciousness, and Burberry has returned to London Fashion week triumphantly, spearheading a new wave of looks that stretch far beyond the label’s staple trench. And with ad campaigns featuring the best of British fashion and music royalty, plus a exemplary online project in the crowd-sourced Art of the Trench, Burberry has turned things around 180° and created a new Cool Britannia aesthetic.

Two and a half years in the making, a lot of thought has gone into the make-up collection: “We really wanted the Burberry Beauty to reflect the same attitude as the Burberry girl, so we wanted it to be very relaxed; we wanted it to be easy; we wanted this whole idea of dishevelled elegance to be translated into beauty and make-up,” says Bailey. The ever popular look of past Burberry poster girl, Kate Moss, one might say.

The trench is a strong point of inspiration for Burberry and thus you’ll find every shade of nude in the make-up colour palette, alongside natural tones and darker smoky hues inspired by stormy weather. It’s all about understated sophistication: a smudge of berry-hued lipcolour here, a slick of ‘Effortless Mascara’ there.

Subtlety and luxury are key to the collection, for example the fluid foundation is sheer enough to create a light, radiant, yet lusciously cashmere-soft finish. Lip Cover is satiny-smooth, offering luminous colour in 16 nature-inspired shades from heather to tea rose. Ever on-trend, there are this season’s deep berry tones too, as well as ‘daywear’ colours (we loved Nutmeg) that might just become wardrobe staples. The eye collection offers a similar day/night palette, with sheer eyeshadows in taupe and chestnut for a neutral, everyday look and midnight blue and plum for easy evening glamour.

Products deliver on quality and effectiveness too; make-up is designed to be effortless and thus formulas are long-wearing and highly pigmented. There are UV filters in the powders and foundations and marine plant glycogen in the mascara to accelerate lash growth.

And the packaging? In deep chrome grey and perspex, packaging is embossed with Burberry’s iconic British check and is slick and modern, with a rather clever magnetic mechanism ensuring lipsticks click closed. Definitely as crave-worthy as that aviator jacket!

Burberry Beauty is available to buy online exclusively from Harrods. You can find more information about Burberry Beauty on Burberry’s website.

The Burberry Beauty campaign, featuring Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Lily Donaldson, and Nina Porter.

The sleek, chic salon just off Brick Lane

Avant-garde is one of those oft-bandied around phrases that we like to attribute to those phenomena that manage to predict the trend, arrive there before anyone else and then cruise to dizzy heights of cool.  Not often can you really say that someone has foreseen a fashion or craze, even if through chance or serendipity.

When Vision Hairdressers’ Director Alberto decided establish his salon in Shoreditch, it was a million miles away from the buzzing East London hub that is today.  Vision has been 9 years at its home on Dray Walk, part of the Old Truman Brewery just off Brick Lane, and 13 years in the Shoreditch area.

The first creative hair salon to hit the East End, it has become a touchstone for the numerous cool salons in the area.   But Vision is no gimmick-reliant salon, nor do its prices reflect an overly opulent interior.  It’s a beautiful space, split into two levels showcasing a minimalist theme that sets off the large photographs that in turn showcase the work of the (London Fashion Week-regular) creative team.

Entering the salon I was greeted by the charming and interested staff, who remembered me from a trip many moons ago when my roots were dark, my hair was platinum and my ends were fried.  Oh the joys of all-over bleach!  I was offered an iced mint tea; a gorgeously refreshing spin on the Moroccan favorite.  Alberto himself was tending to my very own bird’s nest, and after a long consultation we decided to rework the layers and style it with an 1950′s pin-up twist.

Products-wise Bumble and Bumble dominate the shelves, alongside the hair world’s latest obsession – MoroccanOil.  If you haven’t already heard of this then you must have been living in a cave for the last three months (or at least not getting your hair cut.)   This luxurious product nourishes hair from within (don’t they all say that?) but really does seems to do the trick.  Applying it to wet hair before styling, my hair felt unbelievably soft and actually shone for the first time in months.

If you too want to banish frizz on a more long-term basis, Vision also offers permanent hair straightening, a process which – and if you’ve ever borne witness to it you will understand – would test the patience of even the most fashion-conscious saint.  Each small section of the hair is coated in solution and straightened individually – Vision’s system of choice is Yuko System, although they are currently looking to expand the range of services to include Brazilian Hair Straightening.

The deco lives up to the hype too!

There’s a full range of services as you would expect, with specialists in cut and colour – whether you’re looking for something seriously zeitgeisty or just a simple trim. And for the time-poor Londoner, the salon is open seven days a week, meaning that you can spend Sunday browsing the delights of Spitalfields before popping along to Vision for a relaxing blowdry. Alternatively you can combine drinks and a cut on Thursday and Friday evenings when the salon stay open until late. It might be an ideal to schedule the cocktails after the cut though…

And did the hair live up to the hype?  Post head massage and mint tea and the intoxicating parfum of my MoroccanOil treatment I was so relaxed I would have smiled and said something nice to Fidel Castro if he’d walked in the salon, but really my hair did look fabulous:  shaped layers that rolled up and sat bouncing on my shoulders.  And so soft! Obviously the uber-cool surroundings of the Brick Lane provide the perfect environment to show off one’s new style too. Plus there’s the added attraction of the area’s vintage boutiques – an outfit to wear with the new ‘do is a necessary indulgence!

For more information, see the Vision website, or you can book online here.

Our pick of the products to boost shine and restore radiance...

Smooth Shine Shampoo – Trilogy

It’s best to start with the basics, so a soothing, shine-boosting shampoo is vital. This product cleverly combines gentle botanical extracts and wheat proteins that enhance the health of your hair, whilst helping it to dazzle. Suitable for the most fragile and dry locks, it will even work its magic on frizzy or colour-treated hair, leaving it silky soft and super light-reflective.

Nutritive Nutridefense Masque – Kerastase

For an indulgent, salon-esque treatment apply Kerastase’s wonder masque to freshly washed locks. Specially formulated for dry and sensitised hair this rich, nourishing cream contains glucose, proteins and lipids. These multi-tasking molecules not only work hard to revive tired tresses, but also provide protection against the onslaught of damaging external elements by reinforcing the hair’s surface. The result? Supple, gleaming tresses with shine that lasts.

Enrich Hair Oil – Aromatherapy Associates

This divine-smelling oil is the kiss of life for weather-beaten and generally stressed out locks. Brazilian murumuru butter encourages hair to retain its all-important moisture by creating a permeable barrier that locks it in. Other luxurious ingredients include patchouli, ylang ylang, geranium and coconut oil, which all work in harmony to leave tresses glowing with health. Work it through hair and rinse after 20 minutes, or leave in overnight for a serious injection of shine.

Brilliant Spray-On Shine – Aveda

If you’re looking for a quick fix or gleam on the go, spritz this fine mist of pure shine straight onto your finished style. Containing vitamin E, it tames frizz and frustrating flyaways for smooth, sleek finish. You can also apply it to hair just before using straighteners to ramp up an ultra glam look. It’s handily-sized and ideal for popping into your handbag as well, making it great for whipping out should you feel the need for an impromptu shine boost.

Glisten Shine Drops – mop

A powerful cocktail of organic oatstraw, horsetail, aloe and hair strengthening amino acids, mop’s Drops have creating high-gloss shine down to a low-maintenance art. This is potent stuff, so you’ll only need a couple of drops to transform lacklustre hair into shimmering locks. Its rich formula is also bursting with hair-loving vitamin E and UV protectors to prevent further damage.

2010's hot colours: delicious greens, deep purples and classic nudes

The It-Colour

The mighty Chanel has done it again this autumn with the must-have colour of the season. Following on from the incredible success of Particuliere, Global Creative Director Peter Phillips has created a stunning new colour in the form of Paradoxal, a grey-violet shade that will have beauty junkies salivating. Get in early though girls, as this is sure to sell out fast, after all who can resist that iconic bottle?

If you miss out on the Chanel polish, there are alternatives: OPI’s Purple with a Purpose is a gorgeous berry coloured shade with a hint of smoky grey, reminiscent of blackberry crumble mixed with the ashes of bonfires. Rimmel’s 60 Second polishes are a dream for colour in a rush and the Delicious Dark purple shade will keep your nails bang on trend without breaking the bank.

Soft Winter Shades

Nude colours are a perennial classic and strike the perfect note this season, complementing the soft greys and camels that paraded the runways. As always Essie has come up trumps with three beautiful new muted shades; Demure Vixen, Playa del Platinum and Miss Matched. These soft colours are understated, elegant and really rather fabulous. OPI’s Sweet Heart is another classic shade that will never go out of style.

Green is one of the hottest nail colours for this autumn with many brands bringing out stunning new shades, from apple to moss. OPI’s Cuckoo for this Colour has possibly the best name ever and the tone doesn’t disappoint. A dark jade colour, this nail polish will make you swoon with delight. Essie’s Pretty Edgy is the shade of the ripest Granny Smith apple and promises to brighten up the dark, cold nights of winter, whilst Turquoise and Caicos is a softer shade for the less brave. Rimmel’s 60 Second Colour Green with Envy is a cheaper alternative, as is the brand’s I Love Lasting Finish in Green Grass.

The On-Trend Topcoat

Despite this array of gorgeous colours, the essential nail product for this season is none other than a humble topcoat. But this is no ordinary topcoat, this is the new matte finish polish that turns the varnish underneath smooth and non-shiny. Matte was the finish of the season and simply by purchasing one of these babies you’ll be able to update any nail polishes you already own. There is a variety of products to choose from as so many brands have now produced one. Most brands are currently offering this product (we especially like Nubar’s Nail V For Men version) and it’s a great way of flirting with the look without the full on commitment of buying a coloured polish with a matte finish. Make sure your nails don’t get left behind this season!

Our favourite products to energise your eyes!

If your eyes are the windows to your soul, does that make the skin around your eyes as important as the frame? A rather overused cliché, yes, but that doesn’t get away from the fact that baggy, puffy and crepey skin under the eyes will age you visually. The skin around your eyes is especially delicate and requires a targeted cream, whether you’ve had one too many late nights or are fighting the signs of aging.

Here are our top five creams and serums to de-bag, de-puff and de-crepe.

Rejuvenating Frankincense Eye & Lip Serum – Neal’s Yard Remedies

When it comes to beauty products, we love a bit of mult-tasking and this clever little serum tackles the appearance of wrinkles around both eyes and lips. Its intensive formula is rich in anti-aging ingredients : frankincense to rejuvenate; marine algae to firm; tri-peptides to smooth and stimulate collagen production and baobab oil to deliver moisture. As with all of NYR’s products, the serum is made with high quality organic ingredients and doesn’t contain any chemical nasties or parabens.

Rosa Fina Revelation Intensive Eye Serum – Barefoot Botanicals

This is a very gentle serum, but don’t be fooled; its highly potent combination of ingredients tackles puffiness, dark circles and wrinkles with full force.  Rosa mosquesta, current wonder product Argan oil and co-enzyme Q10 help to firm, the while good old witch hazel lifts and eases puffiness. The serum is packed full of vitamins too.  You can almost feel it firming the delicate skin around the eyes, and it’s lightweight enough for everyday usage.

Eye & Lip Contour Gel – La Clarée

Products that do double time are great value for money, so La Clarée Eye & Lip Contour Gel, is a firm favourite (no pun intended!). Intensive eye creams can feel a little heavy, so this gel is a great alternative and is deeply moisturising too. It feels very fresh on the skin, but really penetrates to work on wrinkles and crow’s feet. It’s also certified by Ecocert, which means that it has reached exacting standards in terms of its organic ingredients. The gel comes in a slimline tube, so it’s easy to pop in your handbag to use on lips.

Rich Repair Eye Cream – Aromatherapy Associates

If dark circles are not your priority, but anti-aging and brightening is, try Aromatherapy Associates’ Rich Repair Eye Cream which will help to plump, nourish and add radiance to the delicate eye area.  Active ingredients such an oligopeptide stimulate collagen production, whilst sodium hyaluronate help to retain moisture, thereby helping to plump the skin. The cream also contains arctic strawberry which improve suppleness and helps to phase out fine lines.

Sugar Crystal Eye Serum – Korres

Whether you’ve been partying just a little too much of late or have been putting in the hours at work, the telltale dark circles under your eyes are probably giving you away. This light, refreshing gel from Korres is just what you need to banish puffiness and eliminate those undereye shadows. The serum gets to work straight away, minimising puffiness with cucumber and centella extracts, whilst the anti-oxidant properties of gingko biloba improve micro-circulation and gradually work on banishing dark circles. It will make you look more awake than a triple espresso and in the long run, it might just be cheaper too!

The pretty interior at Mathew Alexander

“So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (Matthew 21:22)”

This is a quote from The Bible, it was not what Mathew Alexander said to me as I skipped out of his salon but it wasn’t far off. Since leaving the Lancashire Court salon some weeks ago I have dreamed of returning just to get another hit of the energy boost/confidence zap which he and his team specialise in.

I know, I know, it’s just a hair cut, but that’s the thing, it’s not just a haircut. The haircut/protein treatment/make-up lesson are things you suddenly remember you’ve had when you see yourself in a mirror some six hours later or when you start drying your hair a couple of days afterwards and realise what fantastic condition it’s in. No, Mathew and colleagues specialise in making you feel like the next thing you’ll be doing is meeting the president or sashaying down a catwalk. They have a genuine, or extremely good pretend, desire to make everyone leaving their salon feel like a million dollars. I almost felt like we’d known each other for years and that the next day I should have gone back to hang out on the sofa and have a quick natter before popping off to work!

Mathew’s salon is in an idyllic spot off the side of New Bond Street. His team are all gorgeous, chatty and non-judgmental. They are smart without showing off and funny without trying, they do not talk robot-fashion about holidays; they talk about their favourite restaurant in Barcelona or the most interesting way to travel across Europe, they do not appear to show any preference or transition when shifting between conversations about visits to the Palace and the financial constraints of living in a council flat with six children.  The salon is cute. Neither Aveda beige nor Claridges glitz, Mathew has picked out bold prints that he likes and has hung pretty mirrors, placed comfy chairs and chosen fabulous accessories (the hairbrush pot is a champagne bucket!). Tea is served in an array of pretty tea pots, cups and saucers and in an Alice-In Wonderland-esque manner, the initially tiny space becomes a warm, friendly salon in which Mathew and co move quite seamlessly.

Before cutting my hair, Mathew and his assistant applied their signature Biolustre treatment. This ‘keratin mimicking’ treatment bonds to the hair shaft and restores hair to its former glory but does not wash out. The treatment is applied to wet hair before being set to dry under heat. Once the hair becomes brittle the solution is washed out and hair is repaired and healthy. Biolustre is not the same as a Brazilian Blow Dry as it doesn’t aim to straighten hair. The idea is that tired and damaged hair is simply fixed – and it bloody works – absolute dream!

Mathew then cut my hair. From reviews I’d read about him I expected a mad artist who would insist that I have my hair cut ‘just so’. This was not the case. I would not have minded an approach like that – let’s face it, we mortals know very little about what suits us – but in reality he was very happy to trim and shape without cutting all my hair off and was far more interested in a classic cut than any new-fangled trendy do. The feeling is of glamour, not of fashion; an important difference.

The absolute cherry on the cake was his blow-dry – the man is a genius with hair. With his assistant, working in totally unprompted synchronisation, Mathew dried and twisted my hair to create a wonderful bouncy look which I had absolutely no idea could be created with my (otherwise pretty crap) hair. Walking to the tube later on I oozed the glamour he had put into my hair and my God did I get a response. At home, in the street and at work people were cooing over my new hair as if I had returned from bald rather than simply having some air put through it!

In a courtyard off New Bond Street...

The final thing which Mathew did was my make-up – his true passion. I was taught tricks of the trade and given tips on really useful products and application tools. You really get the sense when having your make-up done that you should have an idea of what you are doing to your face on a day-to-day basis. In reality, pre-Mat, I was still using the beauty products which I had been buying 15 years ago for no other reason than the fact that Becky Shepherd, the coolest girl in my year, was buying them too! Mathew applied subtle products and gave me the dewy, peachy tones I asked for using far more neutral tones on my eyes than I would have chosen. The result was a natural but beautiful look, perfect for summer days and nights.

If you go for nothing else, please go to look at Mat’s make-up box. I swear it is the finest piece of make-up housing I have ever encountered, he more or less squeals every time he opens a draw and remembers that it’s his!!

Mathew Alexander is not too cheap, and it’s not too expensive; it’s just right. You will not feel hurried and you will not want to leave. Everyone should go to Mat’s salon. It’s better than therapy and it leaves you looking good too! Thank you, thank you, and thank you. Now, about those highlights…

Running in Heels readers can enjoy a 20% discount, valid until 30th November 2010 when they quote ‘Running In Heels – reader offer’ when booking (first visit only).

Mathew Alexander is open Tuesday to Saturday (opening hours vary). For more information visit the salon’s website.

Essentials for a perfect summer complexion

It’s a tale well-told: you’ve painstakingly applied your make-up before going out to work, caught a quick glance of yourself and thought, “Looking good my friend.” But one hot and sweaty tube ride later and it’s a different story. Your face is now an unbecoming shade of beetroot, the majority of your foundation has ended up on your shirt sleeve from the constant mopping of your brow, and all of your perfectly applied eye make-up has melted into your lower eyelids, creating a ‘tortured poet’ effect, which was so not what you were aiming for. It’s an age-old truth that make-up and hot weather aren’t the best of friends, and if we could, most of us would happily go without. But for those of us who feel we still need to put a face on for the world, here are some products that will make your face look fresh and glowing even after a battle with city pollution and sweltering summer heat.

Skin and the City

First things first: prep your skin. A heavy moisturising lotion combined with sweat is always going to end up in a break-out. To avoid looking like a hormonal 15 year old, swap your regular lotion for a gel – Clinique’s Dramatically Different Moisturising Gel is cut from the same cloth as the lotion of the same name, but provides a lighter layer of moisture easily absorbed by the skin (and applied after leaving it in the fridge overnight feels divine!) Intense heat combined with the exhaust fumes of the city’s traffic-jammed streets aren’t great for any type of skin – a good toner will ensure it stays grime-free, such as Lancome’s Tonique Douceur, to whisk away nasties such as excess oil, dirt and dead-skin.

When it comes to a base, in the summer it’s wise to avoid foundation altogether, because most likely it will end up dripping down your face. A dab of concealer on the other hand should make for a more than adequate substitute, such as NARS’s Concealer which is specially formulated to melt with body heat, ensuring it blends easily into the skin and provides tip top coverage. If you really can’t go completely bare-faced, then a tinted moisturiser can come in handy, such as Benefit’s You Rebel- which has a nice light consistency, and creates a flawless look without sweating out the skin. An even better summer skin-saver is a dab of Benefit’s High Beam, which gives your forehead, cheeks and browbone a healthy shimmer. Another handy product for pretty summer lips and cheeks is Bobbi Brown’s Pot Rouge in Pale Pink-its pretty pastel sheen is sure to provide a bit of summer magic to the most stressed out city-dweller.

Urban Life in Technicolor

Full eye-make up for daytime is never a good idea, but when your eyes are watering from tiredness, office air-conditioning and intense heat, you can end up resembling like Alice Cooper on an off-day (and only the talented Mr. Cooper himself is able to pull off that particular look!) To avoid under-eye circles comprising smudged eyeliner and stray flakes of mascara, the best option is to concentrate on your upper-eyelid, with a dramatic sweep of liquid eyeliner. Bobbi Brown’s Long-wear Gel Liner stays put once applied, and comes in a range of colours allowing you to get creative without having to commit to full-on eyeshadow. A dab of mascara on the top lashes online, such as Maybelline’s Volum’ Express ensures those peepers stay pristine as opposed to ‘panda.’

Make-up to survive soaring temperatures

With minimalist eyes and skin approach, you can still make an impact with your mouth: statement lips were all over the spring/summer catwalks, and what better way to celebrate summer (and get a taxi much quicker) than a striking cherry red kisser? Tom Ford’s new range of lipsticks such as Cherry Lush and Ginger Fawn are pretty much smudge-proof (I’m reliably informed that Mr. Ford even tested all of them out on his own lips just to make sure) and are packed with delicious Murumuru butter, soja seed and chamomilla flower oils to ensure your lips get pampered in the bargain. For those who want more of a shimmer, try a lip-stain, such as Nars’s Lip Stain Gloss in Indian Red, that is guaranteed to turn up the heat.

With your face now prepped for summer, all that’s left are the nails. For most of us with action packed schedules, short and low-maintenance is best, being much cuter and less ‘precious.’ To get a neat square shape, Swarovski have designed a beautiful glass nail file with a red crystal heart for the All For Eve range, with all profits donated to The Eve Appeal cancer charity. When it comes to colours, OPI have an amazing Hong Kong City range- with colours like ‘Dim Sum Plum’ and ‘Suzi Says Feng Shui’ what better way to celebrate the last few weeks of summer?!

Stay radiant whatever the temperature!

You know how the old saying goes: “Horses sweat, men perspire and women glow.” Easier said than done when temperatures are soaring precariously towards 30˚C and humidity looks set to go through the roof! However, just by making a few changes to your beauty and make-up regime you can make sure you glow your way through the summer months.

Sun protection is vital, so make sure you apply it every day. Better still, why not use a face cream or base that has an SPF incorporated into it – who needs a complicated routine when the sunshine beckons? Try Kiehl’s Abyssine Cream SPF 23 for instant moisture with sun protection built-in.

Ditch the foundation during summer months and go with a tinted moisturiser instead. You’ll love how it feels so much lighter on the skin, in fact, you might even forget you’re wearing make-up at all! A great one to choose is Laura Mercier’s Oil Free Tinted Moisturiser (and it has an SPF 20 to boot, so you get moisture and colour and protection all in one!). If even this feels like too much colour for you, then a fabulous option is Skin Rescue Bio-Complex Veil SPF15 by Jemma Kidd which is pretty much everything you need in a tube – moisturiser, primer, illuminator and tint.

A little colour is sometimes all you need to add interest to the face, especially when the sun is shining. Jemma Kidd’s Contour & Flush Crème Duo is easily applied with fingers just where you need it and a little goes a long way. This truly multi-tasking product can also be used to highlight the eyes, the lips’ cupids bow and the blush can even be used as a liptint.

If you prefer powder formulations, shimmer bricks are a great way to add colour all over, and accent and highlight certain areas of the face. Bobbi Brown’s Shimmer Bricks are almost iconic now, but be sure to choose the right one for your skin tone, as the bricks range from pinky and peachy tones through to bronze and brown shades. Using an eyeshadow brush, pick out a colour or two and use on eyelids and just under the eye brow. Then using a bigger face brush, swirl over the whole surface to add colour to the face and define the cheekbones.

The summer trend this year is to keep a natural face and go bright with the lips and there are so many yummy colours to choose from, you are spoilt for choice. Whether you go for a bright tangerine such as Morange by MAC, an intense raspberry like Amaryllis by Chantecaille, or a classic red (we love NARS’ Jungle Red), keep the rest of the face ‘clean’ by not overloading with competing make-up.

And finally, keep a spritz with you at all times. Not only will this help to “fix” your make-up to your face, it can keep you cool no matter what the thermometer says! La Clarée Soothing Moisturising Mist does exactly what it says, leaving you feeling fresh and cool, while protecting the skin from external aggressors, ensuring a radiant complexion.

Essential products for radiant summer beauty

In this photograph Sienna is working the ‘hairband braid’ look, and her make up is simple so as not to distract from the beautiful hair style. This is very easy look to achieve and can be created quickly with only a handful of products. The key to this look is radiance so it is important not to make the skin too matte.

A simple look to achieve with only a handful of products

How to Get the Look

● For a glowing complexion like Sienna’s start by smoothing a layer of Clarins Beauty Flash Balm on your face which not only moisturises your skin but gives you an instant flush of colour. You can apply foundation straight over it, so no need to wait a long time for it to soak in.

● MAC Face and Body Foundation is perfect for getting this natural and flawless complexion as it is sheer but covers blemishes beautifully.

● Next, use a cream blush such as Origins Pinch Your Cheeks in Brownberry and using your fingers blend the colour over the apples of your cheeks for a youthful look.

● If you have oily skin you could dust a little of Clinique’s Invisible Blend Blended Face Powder over your T Zone but keep it very light.

● Next warm a little cream shadow on your fingers as this will make the product go further. Bobbi Brown have a mouth-watering range of colours and their Long Wear Cream Shadow in Burnished would be ideal. Pat it on to your eye lids to give little definition but be careful not to extend it above the socket.

● Brush your eyebrows to tidy them up, then curl your lashes and apply two layers of black mascara such as Chanel Drama Lash Mascara. This will make your eyes the focal point of your face.

● Finish the look by using a soothing lip balm such as Doctor Lipp which is made from Lanolin and replenishes lost moisture and soothes chapped skin.

Bright tones on eyes at Viktor & Rolf and on Rihanna

What’s blue, green, pink, purple and yellow? Your new summer make-up palette. Ladies, unleash your inner magpie; 2010 is the summer of jewel-coloured eyes.

Catwalks around the world have seen an explosion of colour this season, with label giants such as Viktor and Rolf, DKNY and Versace undergoing the technicolour treatment. The ultra-sweet candy hues that have been brightening up the fashion world seemingly echo the fresher, more fun take on style that we’re seeing this summer.

One of the best things about this look is that it is so versatile, it suits everyone. A sort of ‘one-size-fits-all’ for your make-up bag. When creating the look yourself, bear in mind the colour of your eyes, and choose colours that contrast to really make a statement.

Blue eyed girls should go for warm coppers and reds, like this Barry M Dazzle Dust in Cherry Red, while the green-eyed among us should stick to a palette of purples and blues. Bourjois Eyeshadow in Absolute Violet epitomises evening glamour, and would make any green eyes pop. Accentuate brown eyes with a deep forest shade – one of our favourites is MAC’s Humid. For something more unusual, why not try out some yellow eyeshadow? Chrome Yellow by MAC will create a fashion forward look that’s bang on trend.

To make sure that your colour stays on, look for eyeshadows can be used wet or dry, so you can control the intensity of the colour and slip effortlessly between day and night time glamour. For a dramatic evening look, use a wet brush to paint a bold line of colour along the crease of your eye.

Using different hues of the same colour give your eyes depth and ensures a more sophisticated look. Be sure to apply the lightest shade to the inner corners, as this gives the illusion of big eyes. Gosh’s Trio Palettes are the perfect tool for this, providing you with three beautiful shades and available in a plethora of colours. If you’re looking for something a little pricier, try NARS Duo Eyeshadows – we love the bright, tropical tones of Rated R; a shimmery combination of chartreuse and cobalt that will really make a statement.

If you aren’t feeling brave enough to give your eyes the full rainbow treatment, you can capture a subtler effect by using a coloured liner or mascara, like this neon range available from Model’s Own, whose mantra is ‘streak on to stand out’. Urban Decay’s 24/7 Glide On eye pencils also come in a vibrant range of shades, with a sexy dose of shimmer – perfect for adding a slick of disco diva-esque c0lour. Our favourites are Electric (exotic ocean blue) and Graffiti (bright tropical green).  If in doubt about where to get your fluorescent fix, head to Barry M, the mecca of all things colourful. We love this shocking pink mascara; candy shop chic in a bottle!

One last word of advice, whatever you do, don’t abandon one of fashion’s golden rules: it’s lips or eyes, girls. This trend has so much impact because it relies on the eyes as the focal point of your face. Keep the rest of your make up basic to make sure everybody else’s eyes are drawn straight to yours.

Bright, vibrant tones for eyes that really make a statement