Georgia Day’s Guide To Wearing Grown-Up Colour

Try A Cream Formula

Often, the fear of wearing bright eye colours is a result of how unforgiving they can be if they aren’t applied perfectly. Get round that by opting for cream formulas over powder ones, as they’re infinitely easier to wear. The act of tapping a bit of cream shadow onto lids somehow feels less daunting too, so I find it sets the tone for a less nervy approach. I rate the shades (a whopping 28) and formulations of Trinny London’s Eye2Eye range, although the standout for me is Fortitude. Described as a burnished crimson, it’s a gorgeously rich red that, worked over lids with a fluffy brush and paired with a bit of blusher and a nude lipstick, looks so chic – and not at all scary – on all skin tones.

Limit Yourself To Subtle Sparkle 

Glitter or full-on shimmer in a bold shade always feels a little bit too young, so my advice is to avoid it if you’re a colour novice. If you’re used to a bit of something sparkly with your neutral hues, look for a soft shimmer that will reflect the light but doesn’t overpower the shade itself. Bobbi Brown’s Longwear Cream Shadow Sticks combine just a touch of elegant sparkle with fool-proof application; try the summery orangey tones of Incandescent to brighten your eyes.

Stick To Simple Shading

If you do choose a powder, don’t try any fancy contouring, shaping or shading – especially if it’s your first foray into colour. Instead, keep it to a simple wash over the lids only. If it’s an especially vivid hue, experiment with a pastel version for more of a watercolour effect, then build up to something more opaque. Dior’s new 5 Couleurs Couture Velvet Edition palettes are a good place to start. The colourways aren’t just chic (no saccharine shades in sight), but each compact offers different intensities of similar shades so you can dial the look up or down as you like. The hues in the Blue Velvet edition have caught my eye. As well as an on-trend denim shade that will suit brown and green eyes, it has an elegant navy to complement blue eyes. The palette also contains a lavender shadow, which pros believe is the suits-all shade to try. If you’re sceptical, use it with soft peach blusher and lipstick.

Show Some Love For Liner

If you’re too nervous to commit to eyeshadow, colourful liner is a good alternative. Just keep it as a simple flick against the top lash line only; underneath can look a bit dated and if it’s a darker colour it can draw your eyes down and make them look heavy. Shade wise, go electric if you dare (try Dior On Stage Liner in Indigo) but otherwise glittering jewel tones are a great entry point – colours like deep emerald, rich ruby and bronze will add warmth to your complexion and won’t feel OTT. By Terry is always a good idea as its liner formulas stay put and don’t drag across fragile lids. I love the buttery bronze of Crayon Blackstar in Brown Stellar and Charlotte Tilbury’s Eye Colour Magic Liner Duo in Green Lights is also a winner.

Keep It Tonal

All-over colour might sound anything but grown up, but opting for the same shade on eyes, lips and cheeks is a flattering way to experiment. For spring, choose multipurpose make-up sticks in warmer shades that will instantly perk up your complexion. Sticks are also low maintenance as they can be chucked in your bag and require nothing more than your fingers to apply; they’re so fool proof you could even forgo the mirror. Westman Atelier’s Baby Cheeks in Minette is a cheery coral shade for lighter skin tones while REM Beauty’s Cheek & Lip Stick in Standing O is a deep burgundy that would look gorgeous on darker skin.

Live By These Lip Rules 

If you’re trying a bold lip colour like a red or an orange for the first time, balance it out with a little blusher on your cheeks (Nars’ Afterglow Cheek Palette is a great go-to). It’ll tie the colour into your face, making it easier to wear. Other than that, leave the rest of your face as bare as you dare; adorning one feature looks effortless and screams confidence. Pillar-box red lips with fresh glowing skin, brushed-up brows and a slick of mascara is one of my favourite looks of all time and really does work on everyone. I love L'Oréal Paris Color Riche Intense Volume Matte in Rouge Avant.

Bat For Brown

If a bright lipstick is a step too far, try a shade on the brown spectrum, of which there are many. The 90s trend has made a resurgence lately and with good reason; it looks chic without trying too hard. I’m obsessed with Rare Beauty’s Lip Souffle Matte Lip Cream in Brave, a stunning terracotta shade that offers more of a baby step towards bold colour but is nonetheless striking.

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