Who better to give your makeup a shake up than the woman responsible for some of the most memorable looks of the past 20 years? We drafted in Lisa Eldridge, pro makeup artist and Creative Director of Lancome Makeup, to create the looks that she thinks will lead the way when it comes to beauty trends this year. Whether you're brave enough to tackle a bold festival brow trend, or looking for something a little more subtle for daytime, you'll find something to suit. Plus, for each look, we tapped Lisa for the pro tips that'll help you to take your look to the next level. Keep reading, and get ready to ditch that tired old palette in favour of something a bit more exciting!
Ultra Magenta Lips
Ultra violet may be the Pantone colour of the year for 2018 [1], but when it comes to lips, a more magenta-hued purple will be more flattering on most skin tones. This bold pop of colour means you barely need any other makeup, and it really makes a statement. To create this look, Lisa lined the lips with a neutral lip pencil, then used Lancome Matte Shaker in Funchsia [2] (£20). The water-in-oil emulsion goes on like a gloss, but dries down to a matte finish that lasts. However, it's also hiding an extra secret . . .
Magenta Stain
. . . The volatile silicones in this liquid lipstick have a stain-like effect the lips, so even when the bulk of the product has been wiped or worn away, your lips keep their color. With Lancome Matte Shaker in Funchsia [3] (£20), the tint looks much pinker than the original lip colour, so you basically get two colours for the price of one!
Pro Tip: Makeup artists usually ditch built-in applicators in favour of their own tools, but the cushion sponge that comes with this product really is the best way to apply it. Lisa applied the look straight from the shaker. The colour is buildable, so layer it up to get the best and most long-lasting effect.
Overloaded Lashes
Forget false lashes, it's time to go back to basics and load your natural lashes with mascara instead. Mascara formulas are so advanced now that you can go big and bold without ending up with heavy, clumpy lashes. This is a wearable take on a runway look, and the aim is to get well-defined, loaded lashes with an emphasis on the lower lashes for a doll-eyed, '60s inspired look.
Lisa started with a lash primer, Lancome Cils Booster XL [4] (£24) to pump up the lashes, starting at the root and wiggling up to the tips as you would with mascara. Allow this to dry completely, then brush it through.
Next, apply Lancome Monsieur Big Mascara [5] (£21). To really coat each lash, especially in the corners, Lisa suggests holding the brush vertically, rather than horizontally. Allow the first coat to dry completely before going in for the second (Lisa suggests doing the rest of your makeup in between layers of mascara).
Pro tip: To avoid smudges, Lisa suggests starting under the eye first, moving up to the top when you've really loaded up the lower lashes. If you get any clumps during application, her trick is to gently pinch the lash to lift off the clump ("a quick pinch, and you're there!").
Tie-Dye Brows
We're no strangers to bold brow trends [6] at POPSUGAR, so we couldn't resist asking Lisa to create her own especially for us. She definitely delivered, with a festival-ready look that will definitely turn heads. The best part? All you need is blusher and face powder!
The trick to this look is the soft, powdery texture, so start off by powdering the entire brow area. This will ensure the colour cosmetics don't cling too much. Then go in with your chosen duo of blush colours, using a fan Brush for a soft finish and no hard lines. For this look, Lisa used two different shades of Lancome Blush Subtil [7] ($32), Rouge in Love and Rose Paradis.
To give the tie-dye look, more of the brighter colour was gently brushed into the corner of the eye (use the narrow end of the fan brush for this). This frames the eye and makes the colour pop. The look was finished by bringing a wash of soft pink down to the crease and lid.
Pro tip: For those who really want the full effect of this look, bleach the brows first [8], as Lisa did with our model. There are ways to do it at home, but as your eyebrows are such a prominent feature, we'd suggest getting a professional to do it the first time!
Angelic Lips
Love dewy, highlighted skin? Take the look to your lips, too! For makeup newbies this is so much easier to master than heavily highlighted skin, and it's much more wearable than those heavily strobed Instagram looks [9]. The fun part? It actually doesn't use any lip products!
This look allows you to do a bit of beauty DIY [10], creating your own shimmering lip color by mixing Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Custom Highlighting Drops [11] (£26) and Lancome Cushion Blush Subtil Cooling Cushion Blush [12] (£30). Use your fingers to dab the colour on, then go in with the neat highlighting drops on the Cupid's bow and centre of the bottom lip for extra light-reflecting shimmer. For a look similar to ours, you can try Sorbet Grenadine blush, and Champagne drops, but this also looks beautiful in shades of brown and gold for a beachy, bronzed look.
Pro Tip: For the ultimate long-lasting finish, Lisa suggests applying a thin layer of foundation to your lips first, then taking a big, clean kabuki brush to gently buff the lips. This will ensure you have the perfect base for your look and help the products to stay on the lips for as long as possible.
The Alternative Cat Eye
It's time to retire that black liquid liner and try something a little more unusual. The alternative cat eye is best when not combined with too much makeup elsewhere; just brushed-up brows and a sweep of mascara.
The joy of this trend is that it's easily adaptable. As well as altering the size of the flick, you can switch up the hue and choose any bold liner shade you like to complement your eye color. The yellow of Lancome Drama Liqui-Pencil in Soleil looks amazing against brown eyes and brings out the golden flecks, but you may prefer another combination; orange and bronze look gorgeous with blue eyes, pink or purple will contrast green eyes, and turquoise pops against hazel eyes.
The trick to a perfect cat eye is a steady hand, patience, and practice. Try resting your elbow on the table as you sweep along the lid to keep your hand steady. It can also help to stretch the skin out with your other hand to get a straight line across the top.
Pro Tip: To take this look to even more trend-led levels, try topping the liner with a gloss. What better way to make your Lancome Juicy Tube [13] (£20) do double duty? Make sure the liner is dry before you apply, as gloss can cause the product to move about. Dab it on with your ring finger in the centre of the lid, resisting the urge to spread it out. A little goes a long way.