This summer, pastel gets a delicious twist with brighter accents. It’s fresh and wearable for all skin tones. Avoid going over-the-top cutesy by keeping skin matte and sheer.

GENERAL RULES

• For a modern twist, use matte instead of frosted eye colour.
• Keep cheeks and lips in the same colour family.
• Well-defined brows are essential.

PALE COMPLEXIONS

• Pastel shadows (pink, lavender, peach, jade green, pale blue, etc.) are perfect for creating a ballerina look. But stay away from pink all over the eye if you’re a pale blonde, or you’ll look washed out.
• A fresh peach bloom on the cheeks is pretty.

MEDIUM COMPLEXIONS

• Choose eye shadows in the blue, apricot, lavender or green spectrum.
• A pop of pink or coral blush is important to stop your features looking washed out.

DARK COMPLEXIONS

• Go for a soft and natural look with a wash of pastel on the eye and smudged underneath.
• Don’t overdo the mascara, as you want the look to be understated.
• Cheeks are the focal point for colour – and pink a good colour choice.

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Top tip from Dior International make-up artist Emmanuelle Geoffrey:
Add excitement with a pop of energetic colour - use shades of fuchsia, blue, turquoise, lavender or orange and focus on one feature, whether nails, eyes or lips. This works especially well on deeper skin tones.

Coral and bronze are the very essence of summer fun, and work for all complexions.

GENERAL RULES

• The more tanned you are, the more orange you can go on your lips.
• Pale skin? Go for soft coral lips.
• Dark skin? Use golden orange or deeper coral. Leave off lip pencil; use lipstick as a stain by patting it on with your finger - with gloss over it.

MEDIUM TO DARK COMPLEXIONS

These shades work wonders on darker complexions, but bronzer shouldn’t be used in the same way on pale skin. Dust it lightly on the jaw line, the hairline and temples with a big blusher brush.
Avoid muddy-brown bronzers.
Choose a feature and underplay the rest.

PALE COMPLEXIONS
For a faux beach look, create a flawless glowing complexion with a light-reflecting foundation.
Use bronzer on cheekbones, nose, chin, neck and forehead.

Top tip from Lancôme’s national make-up artist Andrew James:
Avoid bronzers that are too orange or shimmery – these look fake. To get it right, go for one that’s two shades darker than your skin tone.

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The smoky eye always looks elegant and it’s freshened up for summer nights by giving black an injection of shimmering jewel tones – especially sapphire, ruby, amethyst and jade.

GENERAL RULES

• Highlight the inner corner of the eye with cream and take it under the eye too.
  
• Use a jade black or sapphire liner on the upper and lower lashline, extending the line slightly beyond the eye.
  
• Instead of blusher, use bronzer on cheeks, focusing colour on lips.

Top tip from Black’Up’s Malusi Malanga:
This season, smoky eyes are black with a touch of blue. Dark-skinned women should keep skin flawless, matte but semi see-through. Halve the amount of your daily foundation, mixing it with Black’up’s famous Matifying base. 

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Black’Up – the upmarket French brand for women of colour – is now available exclusively from Edgars. You’ll find it in 30 of our stores countrywide. Although it is designed to meet the needs of women with richer skin tones, the wide range of foundation shades means everyone can find their match. Highlights include the incredible eye and cheek colours and the shine Matifying Base.