The beauty spy: on bright make-up

The Beauty Spy offers her secrets on wearing bright make-up.

As we start peering into spring, the beauty counters are awash with a rich palette of vibrant, eye-popping hues. Colour, it seems, is everywhere, and the spring/summer catwalks resembled a Rio Carnival with their electric shades. Bright is bold, but can it be made less scary for us normals?

At first glance, some of the latest shades are alarming - turquoise eyeshadow, graffiti green eyeliner, neon fuchsia lipstick - a rainbow revolution that can leave you blinded and scuttling back to your trusty soft greys and corals.

Like many, I was a safe, pretty pastels kind of girl until a friend forced my hand. I watched as she expertly applied MAC's Optimistic Orange Cremeblend blush. Yes, it is a bright, shocking orange, but the trick is in the blending and not to use too much. Instead of looking like a clown or an extra from Moulin Rouge, she sported a bronzed glow with perfect "pinched" cheeks.

Orange certainly can add summery cheer to the face, and you can find lipsticks in it that suit most skin tones. MAC's tangerine lipstick Watch Me Simmer and Revlon's ColorBurst Lip Gloss in Papayaare fresh and vibrant and easily blended depending on the intensity of colour you prefer.

However, wearing both bright eyes and lips should be approached with caution. Adopting this daring power combo takes gusto, and unless you are Lady Gaga, you'll need the confidence of a supermodel to pull it off. For us everyday people my advice is to be sparing. Try Bobbi Brown's approach with her new Spring Neons & Nudes collection. Erring on the side of caution, she recommends pairing a bright eye balanced by a nude or neutral lip, or a soft eye with a neon lip depending on your mood.

I love her electric Bluebell eyeshadow, which looks great for the evening. For eyes that stand out, apply to your eyelid and socket, blending up towards your brow bone. After lining your upper lids with a strong liner, finish with lashing of black mascara. Team with a flattering blush such as Bobbi Brown's Nude Pink plus a neutral lipstick such as Estée Lauder's Pure Color Sensuous Rouge LipColor in Sultry Caramel to fully complement the look.

Of course, a good rule of thumb when flirting with colour is that if your make-up terrifies the checkout girl, you know you've gone a step too far. Be careful out there.

M loves

Magic wands

For this Mother's Day we have been searching for a useful yet pleasurable smellie, and luckily Lush has come up trumps with its bubble bath wands. Cute and quirky, these wands create masses of sudsy and lovely smelling bubbles when they are swished around the bathtub. Choose from butterfly or flower designs, each with uplifting fragrances such as lime and juniper berries, Egyptian geranium oil, and chocolate orange and lemon. Plus they are totally reusable and last up to six baths. Languishing in the tub never smelt so good.

Reusable bubble bath wands, Dh45 each, available at Lush, Dubai Mall, 04 435 6114; Mercato Mall, 04 344 9334; and elsewhere

3 of the best

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