LG Fashion Week in Toronto just wrapped up, and besides showcasing some incredible collections for next season, the shows gave us a chance to check out some of the hottest looks in makeup and hair for Spring 2012 with the team from L’Oreal Paris.
Matte Lips
The matte look is hot this winter, and it’s still big for spring, says Eddie Malter, official makeup artist for L’Oreal Paris. So it's all about eliminating shine and sheen on your face, eyes and lips. Blot and apply a bit of translucent powder to your lipstick to give it more staying power and to tone down any shimmer. Or do as Malter did for the David Dixon show -- apply a soft, non-glisteney eyeshadow shade for a powdery, ultra-matte effect. If you’re really into lip gloss, that's fine as well -- just stick to translucent, honey-tones (warmer lip shades are hot for 2012, says Malter).
Natural, Undone-Looking Hair
At many of the shows, hair was surprisingly simple, with very little product used other than a bit of hairspray. Hair is undone and is easy-going for spring, says Eric Del Monaco, official hair stylist and colourist for L’Oreal Paris. The airy side-gathered hair at Denis Gagnon, for example, took a minute to complete. If you find your hair needs a bit of roughing up, Del Monaco suggests applying a bit of wax into the palms of your hands, rubbing them together to emulsify the product and then sweeping it through your hair.
Story Continues Below: Check out these spring beauty trends from Toronto Fashion Week 2011.
Bare, Natural Face
Healthy, natural skin is something we’re seeing a lot of for spring, says Malter. And while this may sound simple (just skip makeup altogether?) it can actually be hard to achieve -- especially if you have any flaws or imperfections you want to minimize. The key is to remember that less makeup is always better, he adds. If you have a breakout, for example, resist the temptation to pile on foundation, concealer and powder -- you’ll only create highlights and shadows that will make problem areas more apparent.
A Classic Bun
“We did a lot of buns this week,” says Del Monaco, noting that with the weather warming up in the spring, we often want to sweep our hair back and away from our face. If your hair is super clean and too slick, you can rough it up a bit with some wax before pulling it into a bun. Control flyaways with a bit of hairspray.
A Single Burst Of Colour On The Eyes
On a really bare face, you can play up the eyes and make them the focus by applying eyeshadow to just one area of the eyelid -- just under the brow or in the contour, for example, “so you can really see detail,” says Malter. It’s very easy to wear this monochromatic look, he adds, and while he mostly used this effect with neutral tones during LG Fashion Week, Malter says this is an easy way to play with colour on the eyes, such as a bright green eyeshadow, for example.