Don't stay stuck in a beauty rut!

It's in our nature to feel secure with things that are familiar to us and to be wary of change. And it happens with our make-up routine too. "It's easy to fall into a comfort zone with a familiar beauty routine and avoid changing it for fear of getting it wrong the first time," says Hoda Al Taweel, make-up artist at Tips & Toes.

 "Trying out a new look can actually make you appear and feel younger and trendier," says Hoda. So if you're still wearing the same frosted-pink lipstick or silver eyeshadow from your student days, it's time to acknowledge you are stuck in a rut. But don't worry - just follow our beginner's guide to eight show-stopping beauty trends.

RED LIPS

Get started: While many of us like the idea of bright-red lipstick, we never actually muster up the courage to wear it. Hands up who has a make-up bag with at least three shades of red in it which have never seen the light of day? We say, unleash your inner A-lister and add some glamour with a scarlet pout.

"This look is all about a clean flawless complexion and statement lips," says Hoda. "You need to remember to stick to minimal eye make-up and pick the right red for your skin tone." If you have darker skin, deep maroon or bordeaux red works best for you. A medium skin tone can carry off cranberry and burgundy shades, and if you have fair skin, try brighter shades.

If you have a cool undertone, opt for pinkish-reds and if you have a warm undertone, coral reds will look work best.

Don't attempt wearing the tricky Hollywood-favourite deep blood red or fire-engine red on your first time!

When it's a bold-colour lipstick, the texture you go for makes a big difference to the final effect. Matte is a great choice for summer and looks very chic, but it calls for flawless application and well-conditioned lips (exfoliate lips with a lip scrub beforehand so flakes don't show through). A creamy red is better if your lips are prone to dryness. A softer diluted red is a good starting point for first-timers.

It's a good idea to outline the lips with a nude lip pencil to define its shape and then fill in the colour with the lipstick. Apply the lip colour using a lip brush in gentle, dabbing strokes - it gives a softer and more precise pout.

To make your lipstick last, blot gently with a paper tissue after the first coat and then reapply the lip colour. Retouch the lipstick throughout the day to keep the pout looking fresh at all times. In case you can't find a mirror, just sweep a neutral gloss over the bold lip colour to refresh the worn-out shade.

Beginners can tone down red and make a softer version of the shade by mixing the lipstick with a dot of lip balm and applying it with their fingers.

Buy: D&G Voluptuous Lipstick in Magnetic Monica, Dh147 (Paris Gallery); Sensai Age Defying Lipstick in Sawarabi, Dh245 (Areej)

DARE TO BARE

Get started: If you never leave the house without your ‘face' on, then it's unlikely you'll have ever tried the no-make-up look. But going for the nude look isn't actually about wearing no make-up. "The key is to create a subtle, but flawless complexion base," says Hoda. "Use a quality primer to refine the texture, cover your under-eye circles with a concealer and even out your skintone with a lightweight foundation or tinted moisturiser.

"I advise using the same brand of primer and foundation - that way it's easier to make sure the foundation and the concealer truly match.

"Once you've got your base covered, go for a single coat of mascara, sweep a hint of blush on your cheekbones and dab on a nude lipgloss."

Buy: Buy: Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Foundation, Dh165 (Sephora); Dr Hauschka Cover Stick Concealor, Dh74 (Organic Foods & Café)

SCULPTED CHEEKBONES

Get started: Contouring sounds complicated, but it isn't as tough as you think. For beginners, stick to contouring just your cheekbones which is enough to create definition.

Using the right contouring kit is half the battle won - choose a kit shade where the dark colour is slightly darker than your skin. "The main thing to keep in mind when contouring for the first time, is to stick to the natural outlines of your face," says Hoda. Knowing your face contours is important - so feel your face and identify your cheek hollows.

"Now take a bevelled contouring brush and start by applying the darker shade in the hollows just under the lower rounded edges of your cheeks. Use feather-light strokes to apply and don't go too close to the nose," she says. To blend in harsh lines, use the brush in a circular motion, moving up towards the temples.

Next, you need to highlight the areas that catch the light. "Use the lighter shade in your contour kit and apply it with the contour brush to the top edge of your cheekbones, the bridge of your nose, Cupid's bow and your chin," says Hoda.

Buy: Make Up For Ever Sculpting Kit, Dh140 (Make Up For Ever at Dubai Mall) 

OLD SMOKY

Get started: Love smoky eyes but not blending or applying eyeliner? It's easy to achieve this smouldering look. First of all, pick the right tools. Make sure your kit isn't too complicated - restrict your palette to no more than three shades. "For summer, stick to bronze and copper shades rather than grey and black as these give a warmer finish," Hoda advises. "Plus it won't look messy if you do make a mistake."

The rule of thumb when applying eye make-up is to always use a good concealer to cover the dark circles under the eyes. "Before picking the shadow, apply an eye primer - this helps the shadow last longer," says Hoda. First, line the upper eyelids with your chosen pencil liner and then blend the darkest shade on top of the pencil-lined lashline. Next, apply the medium shade all over the eyelid contour, going up to the crease and blending it well. The lightest shade in your kit is to highlight the brow and it should be applied just under the brow bone. This season, Bobbi Brown has made it even easier thanks to her new Long Wear collection. With just three products - an eyeshadow, eyeliner and mascara - you can create a long-lasting smoky look with minimal effort.

Buy: Bobbi Brown Long Wear Eye Shadow, Dh130; Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Eye Pencil, Dh125 (Bloomingdale's); Sephora's Nude Pro Lesson Eye Palette, Dh170 (Sephora)

EYELASH EXTENSIONS

Get started: Sometimes even lashings of volumising mascara won't give you killer lashes. Some of us learn to accept it or use self-adhesive false lashes once in a while.

But if you really want to make an impression, you might consider eyelash extensions. Be warned, though, it can be a lengthy process and can be high maintenance, but the results are worth it.

Dubai-based make-up artist Sarah Jane Thompson is a self-confessed eyelash extension addict. "For a natural look I go for three different lengths and usually need between 100 and 150 lashes per eye," she says. "You need touch-ups once a week as people normally shed a few lashes on a regular basis."

Sarah recommends going for a refill every two months before taking a month's break. Stay out of the shower and avoid swimming for 24 hours after your treatment, stay away from oil-based make-up removers and use a salon-recommended mascara as regular ones aren't good for your eye lash extensions.

Book: Eyelash extensions at Tips & Toes, Dh500

COLOURED EYELINER

Get started: This look is all about a pop of colour, like turquoise or coral, with the rest of the eye kept nude. If you haven't got a steady hand, you might want to use a pencil over a liquid liner. Once confident, you can extend your liner out to create a Sixties flick. Start with the flicks to make sure they are symmetrical, filling in the rest of the line after. Finish with a few coats of mascara.

Buy: Sephora Nano Eyes, Dh43; D&G Intense Khol Eye Crayon, Dh100; Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Eye Pencil, Dh125

BOLD BROWS

Get started: "Follow the natural arch of your brows and don't try to force your brows to change shape. The colour should be just a shade darker than your natural hair colour, you never want your brows to be lighter!" says Hoda. Using light strokes, start drawing from the top of the arch into the sparse areas in the direction of the hairs' growth.

Buy: Brow Kit, Dh275 and Natural Brow Shaper Dh95, (Bobbi Brown); Waterproof Eyebrow Kit, Dh160 (Make Up For Ever)

SHOW-STOPPING NAILS

Get started: It's easy to do an on-trend mani at home. For the inverted French mani where the white or lighter tips are at the nail bed, file nails to an oval shape and apply a base coat. Next apply a coat of opaque white/pink polish all over. Give it time to dry. Now without covering the nail bed at the base and the sides (leave a strip of white or pink edge) carefully apply one coat of a nail polish in a contrasting colour. Let it dry and finish with a top coat.

Buy: Sally Hansen Gem Crush Nail Color, Dh29; Revlon Top Speed Nail Enamel, Dh30; (Carrefour)