Deekolour’s style

Nobody rocks red lips like Gwen Stefani. It's her signature look, and let's face it, she would be barely recognisable without it. For most of us, however, wearing the same old make-up and hairstyle decade after decade can date us right back to the days when we started playing with our mum's lipstick.

Jackie Maxted, founder and CEO of the Beautyheaven website, says she was once stuck in a cosmetics rut, wearing the same make-up styles despite being surrounded by the latest trends.

"When you're in your teens, you either have a high level of interest in make-up or you don't. But chances are, this is when you'll find out what suits you and many women tend to stick with the same look throughout the years," Maxted says.

Good foundation

Using the same foundation season after season isn't the best start. Make-up artist and stylist Anthony Adams says that when it comes to foundation, less is more and you need to match a foundation to your skin type and age.

"There are so many foundations out there to choose from," Adams says. "Moisturising foundations or tinted gel moisturisers offer lovely soft coverage, particularly for more mature skins."

To match your skin tone, aim for a foundation that supplies invisible coverage. It shouldn't look like a mask.
"Select three shades that you think match your skin and apply them to your jawline before checking them in natural light. The shade that blends perfectly with your skin is the one you should choose," Adams says.

Make-up maestro Rae Morris, author of Makeup: The Ultimate Guide (Allen & Unwin), says: "Always match your foundation to your chest area; your face and body should be the same colour. When your body tans, you should darken your foundation to match."

Eyes right

The traditional four-colour eye shadow palette can cause a lot of beauty ruts. "A lot of women stick with the same colours and styles they've lived with for years," Adams says, pointing out that this can look dated and ageing.

"Colour-wise, go for a contrasting colour to your iris and try to stick to just two colours: a lighter colour on the lid and a darker colour on the crease."

Try using an eye shadow instead of liner around your eyes. Look out for gorgeous, soft metallic shades or brilliant summer hues that will make any eye colour pop. Don't forget to blend with a soft brush; colours shouldn't be harsh, but soft and enhancing.

"Move away from black mascara and eyeliner to some of the other colours that are vailable to instantly update your look," Adams says. "And apply any liner as close as possible to your lash line to make your lashes look thicker."

Lip smacking

After years of sticky lip gloss lips, lipstick has made a triumphant return as the season's hottest look.

"Colour is coming back, with some gorgeous reds and pinks out there," Adams says. "But don't try to enhance the lips too much. Try a beautiful, soft colour and take the time to apply it properly. Use a lipliner in the same shade as your lips to outline your lips, then fill them in to give the lipstick something to adhere to."

Just as you can update your wardrobe with a few seasonal accessories, you can bring your face up to date with a hint of this season's colours. Start small if you're worried about looking like a painted lady. Maxted says to dip your toes into new trends. "Try bright summer shades on your toenails to really feel well dressed from top to toe."

If you're not sure how to move out of your cosmetic comfort zone, ask the experts.

"Don't be put off by the seemingly glamorous girls at the cosmetics counter," Maxted says. "Ask them what's new and what will suit you."

Another option is to call a make-up artist and ask them what it would cost you for a lesson, Adams suggests. "They can give you tips on how to use what you've got and find the look that's right for you."

Or browse magazines and fashion websites to see what the current trends are and then experiment. "Go into your bathroom and experiment with new colours and styles, or experiment with your friends," Maxted says. "Be bold: one of the girls at work convinced me to try a bright turquoise pencil on my dark brown eyes and it looks amazing."

Gordon Espinet, MAC's vice president of make-up artistry, says make-up is all about experimenting with different looks. "Make-up is meant to look beautifully effortless," he says.

Take one key trend from each season and experiment until you find the way it can suit you. "Remember, it's make-up, not a tattoo ... you can always wash it off," Adams says.

Be brave, be bold and you will be beautiful

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