Turn your usual look unusual with new tips and tricks from the ramps in New York

If the international catwalks are any indication, sheer and saturated make-up colours and gorgeous skin are in store for you this season. Here are some snap-crackle new things to try from the ramps.

“Spring-Summer lips should look kissable - almost edible,” says Shiseido make-up artist Tom Picheux, who created the looks at Missoni and Jil Sander. “A light nude gloss drips with sensuality.”
Try: Elizabeth Arden High Shine Lip Gloss in Frosted Camellia.

Touch Bases
For a catwalk complexion (ie flawless), use a foundation brush to apply a shade that matches your skin tone, working from the periphery of your face toward your nose. Then, blend by taking strokes in the opposite direction; you’ll literally fill in your pores.
Try: Lancôme Adaptive All-Day Skin-Balancing Make-up SPF 10 and Lancôme

Brush 2.
Fine Lines
“Black liner is sexy when paired with a juicy lip colour,” says Philippe Chancery, Director, Make-up Artistry at MAC. If you like liquid liners, try this trick Picheux used at DKNY: Dip dental floss in the liner, then hold the floss taut and press it lightly under your lower lashes to leave a straight line. It looks a little Japanese-art like, but it sure adds drama to your face!

Lip-A-Licious
“I haven’t done bright lips for years,” says Picheux. These days, he favours muted pinks (for those with cool undertones) and peaches (for those with warm ones). To quickly complete the look, use similarly coloured cheek and eye products.
Try: Trish McEvoy gloss in Pink.

A few daring designers bucked the trends and sent their models walking with red lips.
Tip: When going red, choose a creamy lip colour rather than gloss, which can smudge and call extra attention to errors, says make-up artist Mally Roncal, who produced the red pouts at the Tracy Reese show.
Try: Il Maquillage lipstick in Flamenco Red.

Peachy Cheeks
With the ultra-natural lip and eye shades favoured by so many make-up artists this season, pink and peach blushes were used to make the face stand out.
Tip: Sweep one directly under your cheekbones to make them more prominent.
Try: Maybelline Blush in Pretty Peachy.

Lash Flash
Tip: To create full lashes, Tina Turnbow, a make-up artist who worked on the Jill Stuart and Cynthia Steffe shows, recommends dotting black liquid liner between the bases of the lashes. As the liner dries, carefully smudge it into your skin with a Q-tip. Then, sweep on two coats of black mascara.
Try: Estée Lauder MagnaScopic mascara.

Eye Sphere
If you’re going to wear colour on your eyes this summer, apply it with a fingertip over the entire lid for a translucent finish, says Chansel. You can also opt for metallics, which don’t always appear dark. Make-up artist Linda Cantello used her Glide Modern Eyecolor Cream in Silicon, a silvery-blue, at the Carolina Herrera show.

Try: Guerlain Divinora Soft Colour Cream-to-Powder Eyeshadow #182.
Tip: Choose an eye palette with white in it, which can be used to lighten green if desired.

Try: Clarins Nature City Eye Palette.
When black pencils weren’t used to outline models’ eyes, the colours of choice were blue and violet, says Turnbow.
Tip: She recommends dipping the tip of your eye pencil into Johnson’s Baby Oil Gel to make the colour a bit more watery. Skip eyeshadow and just sweep on mascara when done.

Try: Nars Eyeliner in Istanbul.

Face Finish
Tip: An iridescent liquid highlights bronze skin. Apply with a light touch.
Try: Clinique Colour Rub Allover Lustre in Sheer Radiance.
The freshest finish for your face now is not too glossy and not too matte. To get it right, try this technique from Turnbow: Smooth on moisturiser, then dab on foundation just where you need it (around your nose, to cover uneven patches). Skip translucent powder, and instead, try a light dusting of shimmery powder.

Try : Lola Shimmer Powder Brush in Bronze.