1. On the edge
Our pick for nails this spring is the ‘inverted' French manicure. On the catwalk, Donna Karan and Thakoon Panichgul have already given their stamp to finishing off a beige or nude nail polish with dramatic, dark-coloured tips (think burgundy, navy and black). Stealing this catwalk mani is easy. "Finish off short nails that are painted in nude-coloured lacquer with a dark colour, painting a single slim stroke over the tips," says Jelena Petkova, nail therapist at Dubai's Vanilla Exclusive Ladies Salon & Spa. A second coat will make the colour even. Avoid very wide tips as they're prone to mistakes. To DIY, try this combo: Lancôme Vernis in Love Jolis Matins (Dh80) as the base and Lancôme Vernis in Love Rouge Reglisse (Dh80) on the tips. Or get this arty French mani done at Vanilla for Dh75 (Call 04-4376010).
2. Lush lashes
Thanks to this season's variety of high-impact, high-performance mascaras, Friday's beauty desk could now be awarded the patent for the best-ever mascara-mixing formula. Grab yourself a pen and note it down now:
Clinique's Bottom Lash Mascara, Dh75 (especially for lower lids) + Bourjois' Beauty'Full Volume Mascara, Dh49 (lush lashes without the stiffness) = ultimate wow false-lash effect.
3. Pout of this world
Who says life's little joys come easy? Every day it's a challenge to decide which colour lipstick to wear. Make Up For Ever has made it even harder by adding 50 new covetable shades to its existing Rouge Artist range. We don't succumb easily, but a girl's got a big dilemma on her hands when one of her fave beauty brand throws a lipstick swatch of 100 gorgeous hues in her face and asks her to choose just one! And with an affordable price tag of just Dh85 each, don't blame us if we develop an addiction.
4. Tan-chic
There's nothing like flaunting a gloriously beach-bronzed body right at the start of summer. And with Lancaster's new colour-adapting wash-off artificial tan range, your tan is so much more effective. No staining ingredients and yet a glorious, tailor-made tan for your exact skin-tone, whether you are blonde or brunette. You can control your shade on the spot by simply mixing two shades, or layering more lotion if you want it intense. In a few seconds the product dries, sets and does not shift. You've got delicious, sun-kissed skin until your next shower! Try Lancaster Bronzing Beauty Adjustable Tan Glow Moisturising Emulsion, Dh140.
5. The eyes have it
Applying your eyeshadow first might not be your traditional make-up routine, but it could save you time in the long run. "It's best to start your look with your eyeshadow, wipe your face clean of any unwanted shadow fallout, prep and prime the skin, and then move on to your foundation," says L'Oreal's make-up artist, Karim Rahman. That way you won't overload your look with blush and lips if you don't need them.
6. Smooth operator
Beauty products come and go, but Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Multipurpose Dry Oil has been a must-have for 20 years. So Happy Birthday, liquid gold! A great multi-tasker oil, minus the grease factor, this blend of six precious oils - macadamia, hazelnut, borage, sweet almond, camellia and St John's Wort - works wonders not only on your body but on your face and hair as well. For its 20th anniversary, Nuxe has released a Huile Prodigieuse Limited Edition Spray, Dh172.
7. Stay on the line
Did you know that going over liquid-lined lids with a powder black eye shadow makes your eyeliner last longer? "The eye shadow sets and buffs the liquid liner so it doesn't move for hours," explains Angela Hosseini, Merle Norman make-up artist.
8. Wise investment
Our pick-me-ups for ageing skin this season are two designer-price-tagged super creams. They might be expensive, but the justification for your dirhams lies in the miracle broths inside. 1: La Prairie's Cellular Radiance Gold Serum (Dh2,890) boasts a liquid suspension of pure gold to impart a youthful glow. 2: Orchidée Impériale Neck & Décolleté Cream by Guerlain, (Dh1,647) has extracts of a rare orchid for its powerful wrinkle-defying properties.
9. In the pink
Want to know the pros' secret to refresh tired, droopy peepers? "Lightly dab a hint of pink eyeshadow with your fingertip on the outer corner of your eye, placing it higher than the eye crease, but lower than your eyebrow - exactly on the browbone," says Samira Olfat, Max Factor make-up artist. This lifts the corners of the eyes and completely transforms tired eyes to make them look refreshed.
10. Romance in the air
The latest crop of summer scents are elegantly feminine and uplifting while not too sweet. Our highlight is Flora by Gucci's delicate garden collection, featuring gardenia, tuberose, magnolia and violet (100ml, Dh420).
11. Get gorgeous locks
Even if you use warm water when shampooing and conditioning your hair, rinse it with cold water at the last step to seal the hair cuticles. "That locks in the moisture and results in gorgeous, shiny hair," says Jamal Hamadi, co-creator of Sunsilk Shine & Strength range.
12. Try and rival this arch
Our list of anniversary covetables now includes a tool that's as innovative as it gets! A pair of tweezers with their own LED and jewel case, if you please. With LA Tweez Illuminated Tweezers (Dh54, Beautybay), you aren't left with any excuse for ungroomed brows. Plus the battery-operated LED light tool has the glam factor with a Swarovski power button, so you'll want to flaunt it!
13. All bases covered
What would you say to a wonder foundation that hydrates, covers and sun protects at the same time? Wishful thinking, maybe? Here's news for you. Bobbi Brown's revolutionary all-in-one hybrid make-up is out and it's called Extra Repair Foundation SPF 25 (Dh232). A fab multitasker, it lifts and hydrates like an anti-ageing moisturiser, protects like an SPF 25 sunscreen and still leaves your skin looking like skin. What's more, it comes in 14 shades to cover all skin tones. We're in.
14. Ditch your dryer
If you have dry or damaged hair, refrain from using a dryer after every wash.
"It makes your hair more porous and fades its colour," says Miriam Quevedo, founder of the luxury haircare brand named after her. "If you really can't do without it, put your dryer on the cool setting or dry your hair upside down so that the heat only reaches underneath and not the outer visible hair shaft," says Miriam.
15. Bring on the brights
Sorry matte lovers, but the answer to the inevitable summer beauty question - to go shimmery or not - is ‘yes'. Just don't overdo it. A hint of sparkle will leave you with an oh-so-chic glow and show off your newly acquired tan beautifully. A waterproof cream bronzer is a safe bet against sweat for the face. For the body, slather on a glitter-specked body lotion. Try Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream in pink beige, Dh93 and Sasy N Savy's Silk Shimmer Body Lotion, Dh172.
