For many of us, makeup is as much a part of our morning routine as brushing one’s teeth. It’s a labour of love and our relationship with it is always changing. We bemoan the Monday morning applications and we rejoice at the sacred rituals of Saturday night readying.
When we were younger, makeup was for play. We dipped into technicolored pigments and applied generous swipings of fuchsia lipstick. But as we grew up, the novelty wore off, makeup became standard practice and the idea of blue eyeshadow haunts us in our sleep.
And yet, after the bleakness of Winter, it’s no wonder we’re seeing a step towards mood-boosting makeup looks - blue toned bad dreams, be gone. Brands are looking to put a Spring in our step (pun intended) with forays into vibrantly-hued palettes, embracing the colours of the changing seasons.
In the run-up to the Autumn/Winter 2024 show season, we took a look into the minds and makeup bags of some of the professionals and Japanese beauty brand SUQQU proved to be a standout. Inspired by the vivid tones of flower markets, SUQQU's latest collection, Blossom Beat, takes the fashion trope of florals for spring and translates it into the beauty sphere. Two quad eyeshadow palettes pay homage to the whimsy of wildflowers with IROTABANE allowing you to create the perfect posey-toned eye look and HANAMATOME featuring pretty violet and lavender shades. The Bloom Eye Sticks have been formulated in two new colours, with Powder Lilac mimicking the gentleness of petals and Lime Green inspired by the verdant leaves of spring
From left to right: Molly Goddard AW24 and JW Anderson AW24
On the runway, it seems that designers were eager to keep these good vibes going, with beauty looks taking a rather colourful turn this season. At London Fashion Week, JW Anderson’s playful collection was accompanied by an equally playful lip look, with Merit Beauty’s Vermillion matte lipstick adding a pop of colour. Vibrancy reigned supreme at Molly Goddard, with her signature reems of rainbow tulle complemented by sumptuous scarlet and magenta lips by Lisa Eldridge.
From left to right: Etro AW24 and CHANEL AW24
While in Milan, makeup artist Luciano Chiarello helped the colours at Etro’s Autumn/Winter 2024 collection sing. Smudging neon green eyeshadow under the model’s eyes, and outlining a deep wine-red lip with a brilliant tomato shade, the beauty looks accented the jewel tones of the clothes. Finishing off in Paris, the City of Light, Chanel dipped its toes into pastel pigments and peachy lips. Makeup artist Lisa Butler dabbed summery shades on the lids and leaned into Pantone’s colour of the year with a satin peach fuzz on the lips.
If you too are bored of the dark and dingy dregs of winter, shop our selection of Vitamin D boosting beauty below…
By Olivia Barrett
