As New York Fashion week draws to a close, we’ve had so much fun this week making lists of our favourite looks and colour palettes from the spring ’12 shows.  From gorgeous coral and pink lips to the neutrals featured in so many shows, here’s our rundown of what we loved most, and we’ll be stocking up our makeup bags with for Spring!

One look which we’ve been noticing emerge over the past few months and now fashion week photos have confirmed it, is that this season is all about barely-there-looking makeup and healthy glowing skin!

Bright lips were still a focus for some shows however many designers and most stylish celebrities were opting for more subtle tinted lip colours. We’d have to agree that tints are definitely growing in popularity. Longer wearing and perfect for customising the intensity, one of the most popular colours with the girls at jane iredale Australia head office right now is the jane iredale Lip Fixation in Fascination. It gives that perfect rosy pink tone (as seen in the Carolina Herrera S/S ’12 show). You can apply it once for a subtle tint, or simply layer the colour for a more vibrant hue.

Why not brighten your evening eye makeup look this weekend with statement making shades of purple! We came across this photo of gorgeous Scarlett Johansson wearing purple eyeshadow and immediately wanted to start playing with the goCool palette from the new Naturally Confident collection!

Although it’s not Scarlette’s exact look, we happen to have on hand a quick ‘how to’ on achieving a stunning purple eye makeup look…

Christmas is the season to sparkle and there’s no easier way to do this than with a sweep of shimmery tones in gold or bronze. Be it a hint of gold shimmer on your eyelids, highlight to your brow bone, or mixed in with your moisturiser for a subtle all over body glimmer. There is a multitude of ways that just a little sprinkle of gold dust can give you a goddess-inspired glow.

The jane iredale 24-Karat Gold Dust is so versatile, you can even use it to add shine to your lip color, or to add an even more glamorous edge to a night time look, dust a little through your hair.

After a week of sniffling and sneezing, I was finally feeling like myself again. In fact, I was feeling good. That was until my 7-year-old son asked me why my nose looked so “splotchy” and a colleague told me I looked “really, really tired.” (Did she have to add that extra “really”??) When I shared my dismay with a friend, she said she always feels unattractive for at least a week post-cold or flu.  So I asked celebrity makeup artist Amy Oresman how you can look pretty when a cold or flu has made you look, well, like hell. Here are her top tips.

Problem: Your nose is red ‘n ruddy and/or dry ‘n flakey from all that nose blowing.

Constantly blowing your nose with tissues can be harsh on skin, drying it out and leaving it chapped. Soothe skin with a gentle moisturizer. “Look for one that is lightweight enough to go under makeup and one that has SPF,” says Oresman.  Give it enough time to soak in before applying makeup. Then? “To mask redness I recommend a full coverage foundation,” suggests Oresman. And next time a cold strikes, use the gentlest tissues you can find to blow your nose. (i.e. skip the toilet paper and spring for the real deal!)

Problem: Your weary peepers are a roadmap of tiny, red squiggles.

And those squiggles just aren’t pretty!  “Bloodshot eyes can be a result of lack of sleep so try and rest as much as you can,” suggests Oresman. Besides that, your best bet for a quick fix is to use eye drops like Visine to treat dry and tired eyes. There are several varieties. “Plus, the bottles are so small you can just pop them in your bag or take them as you travel,” adds Oresman.

Problem: Tossing and turning because you can’t breathe, and thus can’t sleep leads to dark circles.

Remedy dark circles that are playing ring around the rosy around your eyes with a concealer that lightens the area while providing enough coverage. Oresman says her sick-day lifesaver is Neutrogena Healthy Skin Brightening Eye Perfector. “This do it all for you product brightens and conceals the signs of fatigue, puffiness and dark circles. I’m obsessed!,” she says.  “It’s the equivalent to an expensive prestige illuminator but at drugstore prices.”

Problem: Sick day skin looks oh-so pale and pasty.

“Looking your best when you feel awful can be difficult, but with a few simple steps you can look better instantly,” says Oresman. To make skin glow with flawless, dewy coverage, spread on a lightweight liquid foundation or tinted moisturizer, like Lancome Imanance. Next, warm up your complexion with a little flush of color by sweeping blush or bronzer over the apples of your cheeks. “Then wake up your look and make eyes pop with a wash of mascara,” says Oresman.

Problem: Your lips are chapped and painful.

When you’re sick, it’s so important that you continue to hydrate, hydrate and hydrate some more because dehydration can show on your skin—especially on your lips. “Avoid chapped lips by drinking tons of water and applying moisturizing balms,” says Oresman.   For lips that look healthy, hydrated and pretty, look for a balm that’s nourishing, moisturizing and contains the sheerest amount of color.

What do a last minute lunch meeting and an impromptu date have in common? They both require you to look pretty and polished…FAST. Achieve a universally flattering, versatile look when you’re racing against the clock with this minute-by-minute breakdown from Charlotte Willer, Maybelline‘s Global Makeup Artist and fashion week staple.

Set-up: “Start by getting your foundation, powder, mascara, eyeshadow, blush and lipstick ready,” Willer advises. “Set products out so they’re at an arm’s reach. You’d be surprised how much time is wasted looking for things in a bottomless makeup bag!”

    * Minute 1: “Apply your foundation with your fingertips, the same way you would apply your moisturizer. Blend well. Next, use a big brush to dust powder over your face. This will set your makeup.”

    * Minute 2: “Use a deep shade of eyeshadow to contour the outer corners of your eyes. Blend it outward along the lash line with your fingers so the eyes look soft and elegant.”

    * Minute 3: “Apply mascara. Instead of finishing one eye completely—waiting for coats to dry in between—and then moving on to the second, go back and forth from one eye to the other until you’ve applied the necessary amount of product.”

    * Minute 4: “Apply blush to the apples of the cheeks. Apply a touch of lipstick directly from the bullet. Most lipsticks have a pointed tip which allows for precise application.”

    * Minute 5: “Use the last minute to go over everything you’ve just done. Touch-up any imperfections and most importantly, make sure everything is blended.”

By popular demand, I did a mini tutorial on how to achieve a bold red lip. It may sound silly to have a tutorial on how to apply lipstick – but when it comes to dark, bright or opaque colors, applying straight from the tube is not the best option. That is, unless you a) are fine with looking like a clown or b) have amazing precision. Both of those are entirely possible but for the rest of us, it takes a few more steps to achieve a perfect red lip. For step by step instructions, continue reading after the jump.

What I used:
CO Bigelow Rose Salve (to moisturize before application)
Sephora red nano lip pencil
E.L.F. lip brush
MAC Russian Red lipstick
E.L.F. small concealer brush
concealer

Like most girls, I love putting ON my makeup: erasing dark circles with concealer, getting a glow with blush, swiping on lip color and—my favorite part—wiggling that mascara wand up and down my lashes. But taking my makeup OFF? Not so fun—especially when I just want to flop into bed. That was until I surveyed my favorite experts and got these unique and easy tips for removing makeup in a flash.

#1 Got a face loaded with makeup?

“Put a dollop of a granular cleanser on an electronic cleansing brush,” suggests Francesca Fusco, M.D., an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. “It will penetrate deeply and remove makeup better than just using your hands.”

#2 If you have dry skin, use a creamy, soap-free cleanser.

“Apply generously and wipe off with a soft, wet washcloth by massaging in a circular manner,” suggests Fusco. This way you don’t strip away your skin’s natural oils along with your makeup and it leaves skin smoother.

#3 Travel with makeup wipes.

“Some places have different water than your skin is used to which can cause skin to be sticky or dry out,” explains Fusco. Keep your complexion clear when you’re out of town by using disposable makeup removing wipes and then rinsing skin with bottled water.

#4 Melt away makeup

Soak a washcloth in warm water and then press it onto the eyes for 20 seconds—they is especially helpful with stubborn mascara. “Mascara can be so hard to remove and I find this to be the most effective,” suggests makeup artist Raychel Wade, owner of Cheek to Chic.

#5 Clean your face fast with citrus

“Squeeze a little fresh lemon juice on a damp cloth or cotton pad and gently run it over your face,” suggest Wade. “This acts as an astringent and removes grime while giving your skin a dose of vitamin C.”

#6 If you’ve got sensitive or dry skin, use olive oil to remove your eye makeup

Simply dab some on a cotton pad, swipe over your lids and voila, your shadow, liner and non-waterproof mascara are gone and skin is left hydrated. “Warm the olive oil in the microwave for five seconds and it works even better,” adds Fusco.

#7 Forgot the makeup remover? Don’t fret

“In a pinch, you can use sensitive skin moisturizer on a Q-tip to remove eye makeup,” says Emily Kate Warren, a makeup artist who works in film and television and at fashion shows. The same goes for your face. Simply spread moisturizer thickly onto skin and then wipe it off with a damp cloth, adds Fusco.

 #8 Don’t stress if you DON’T scrub up

“Yes, it’s actually OKAY if you fall asleep with your makeup on once in a blue moon,” says Fusco. Just don’t make it a habit!

Chill out

“One way we pay for late nights is with swollen lids and undereye puffiness,” says Christina Zilber, Founder and Creative Director of Jouer Cosmetics. When you wake up, soak a washcloth in icy cold water and rest it over your eyes for a few minutes. “The chill will reduce any inflammation,” Ziber says.

Use a dream cream

Using the tip of your ring finger, gently pat a rich eye cream all around the orbital area. This will minimize the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines (“Without irritating or causing more redness,” Ziber says), and provide a smoother canvas for concealer. Try L’Oréal Age Perfect Eye Ultra-Hydrating Cream.

Turn on the lights

To combat dark undereye circles, “Layer your daily concealer with a light-reflective product,” says Kate McCarthy, a makeup artist for glōminerals. “I prefer a pink or peach tone for the most natural effect.” Try Anastasia Beverly Hills Cooling Eye Brightener, $21, sephora.com.

Reduce redness

Neutralize redness with a thin layer of concealer on your upper lids. “A red eyelid can be a late-night giveaway,” Ziber says. Follow with a sheer layer of shimmery cream shadow in a natural hue to hydrate eyes while making them seem more alert. We like Shiseido Shimmering Cream Eye Shadow in Sable.

Get in line

For an instant waker-upper, line the inner rims of your upper and lower lashlines with a peach or nude pencil (We like Nars Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner in Rue Bonaparte). “This will really bring out the whites of your eyes,” McCarthy says.

Highlight strategically

A favorite makeup artist trick used on everyone from runway models to Hollywood startlet is to dab a shimmery white eyeshadow on the inner corners of your eyes and just under the browbone with your pinky finger or a small soft-bristled brush. “It instantly makes you seem refreshed,” McCarthy says. (Try: Jouer Camellia Highlighter.)

Lash out

“Nothing wakes up your eyes more than long, curled lashes!” Slightly warm up your curler with hot air from your hair dryer, then press and hold lashes for about 30 seconds. Finish with a coat of dark black mascara.

Concealer Clue #1: Get your beauty sleep. “The biggest compliment someone can give is to tell you that you look well rested,” says Doris Day, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the New York University Langone Medical Center. Even better, sleep is one of the few beauty “products” that don’t cost you a penny! Aim for at eight hours a night.

Concealer Clue #2: For imperfections like breakouts, scars and sunspots, look for a cream concealer in an exact skin match. Try MAC Studio Finish, which comes in a wide shade range, ideal for the lightest to darkest skin tones.

Concealer Clue #3: When using cream concealer for maximum coverage, don’t use your fingers, which will deposit natural oils and thin out the coverage. Instead, pat product on skin with a synthetic-bristle concealer brush then blend away any visible edges.

Concealer Clue #4: To camouflage redness often caused by rosacea or acne, use a green corrective concealer. To cover blue or purple under the eyes or over veins, use a peach corrective concealer.

Concealer Clue #5: If you use a liquid or cream foundation, apply concealer after so it doesn’t get moved around or sheered out. If you use a powder foundation, apply concealer first so it sets in place.

Concealer Clue #6: As we age, our lips get thinner. Add fullness in seconds by choosing a lipliner that’s an exact match to your natural lip color. “Then you can slightly overdraw your lip line, creating a bigger, more defined mouth,” says Almodovar. Follow with lipstick and a dab of gloss in the center of the mouth.  Try Hourglass Trace Lip Liner.
Concealer Clue #7: If you’re looking to get the biggest bang for your buck, you can also apply cream concealer to lids as an eye base and to lips to neutralize the natural liptone before applying color to get a true shade payoff.

In beauty, the grass always seems a bit greener on the other side. Women with straight hair wish for curly cues and those with a head full of spirals want just the opposite. What’s a girl with fine, flat hair to do? Wish for a thicker mane? Maybe. Or she can embrace her locks and follow these simple tricks from Celebrity Stylist, Tippi Shorter, on how to fake the fluff.

Start in the shower

“I believe in building your foundation in the shower,” Shorter states. Thickening and volumizing shampoos and conditioners boost fine hair by expanding the diameter of each strand. Bottom line: While some work better than others, if it’s vavava volume you’re after, it’s important to make sure you’re not using a shampoo or conditioner that will weigh your hair down. Our picks: Nioxin Cleanser for Fine Hair and Redken Body Full Shampoo and Conditioner.

Get a mousse boost

A little spritz of root volumizer and a dollop of mousse goes a long way. After towel drying your hair, spray a root lifter like Living Proof Full Root Lifting Spray right onto your roots and massage the formula into your scalp with your fingers. Then, Shorter suggests applying “a golf ball sized amount” of a lightweight mousse like L’Oreal Paris Studio Body Builder Mousse to the left and right side of your head from roots to ends.

Make gravity your BFF

Flip your head upside down and rough dry your hair (quickly move the blowdryer back and forth throughout your strands) to allow for any excess moisture to escape. “You want gravity to help start the fullness,” explains Shorter. Finish by flipping your head right-side-up and using a large round brush to smooth ends and add maximum fullness.

Stick with velcro rollers

Once dry, add a few Velcro rollers to the top section of your hair in one-inch sections for an added boost (four or five should do the trick). Leave them in while you do your makeup.  Take them out just before you’re ready to walk out the door, and give your strands a quick shake.