KEY POINTS:
The coming season's beauty palette has a fresh new feel
In the makeup world, spring/summer is usually open season for pink. Not this year. Now I'm all for pink - and if you must, it still has a presence - but it's actually rather refreshing to be able to try a whole new world of different colours from soft neutrals through to metallic silvers and bronzes, neons and orange in all its peach, coral and apricot incarnations on a pale, matt base. Beautiful.
1. Elizabeth Arden Golden Bronzing Shimmer Powder - $59 for 11g
Bronze isn't so much about looking like a sun-worshipper this year as being glamorous at the Hamptons. This powder bronzer gives a smooth, silky look to cheekbones, forehead and brow bones. And it comes with a kabuki-style brush to make light work of application.
* From selected department stores and pharmacies from August 13.
2. Chanel Mango Fluo Brillant Lumiere Fluorescent - $45 for 5.5g
This is a wonder. In the tube this apricot looks bright. On the lips during daylight, it's much more subtle, but at night, it cleverly takes on a fluorescent appearance - for the sheer fun of it.
* From selected department stores and pharmacies.
3. Estee Lauder Peach Sorbet Nail Enamel - $36 for 9ml
For that polished bare look that's happening, this barely-there nail colour is ideal. It's soft, pretty and pale - perfect for doing dreamy.
* From selected department stores and pharmacies.
4. M.A.C Big T Eyeshadow - $34
Fashion is having a neon bright moment, so it follows that makeup will also get in on the act. And doing colour with an eyeshadow is actually less work than investing in a dress. This intense aqua with green pearl frost is definitely going to get you noticed. As M.A.C says "there is no room for fashion wimps, style-wusses or the tone-timid" with this.
* From M.A.C stores and Smith & Caughey's Newmarket.
5. Lancome Pop Cherub Eyeshadow Palette 02 - $70
This is a honey of a compact right down to the sweet little angel charm on the palette. It's home to two cream shades (warm bronze and baby blue) and three powders (white, ivory and muddied gunmetal) which have the power to do angelic to starlet in no time.
* From selected department stores and pharmacies from August 20.
