Spring 2012 Nail Polish Trends

It may not quite be Spring yet, but all the Spring clothing and beauty collections are popping up which means fun new colors and trends to immerse ourselves in! I particularly love following nail polish trends because it is such an affordable way to be "in" every season. But even if you don't like following trends, new nail polish colors are always fun regardless! Here are some of the main colors you will be seeing on nails this Spring. 

Nudes & neutrals: Think light beige shades that are similar to the color of your skin tone, creamy whites, super light grays, and pale pinks.

(OPI Samoan Sand, Deborah Lippmann Amazing Grace, Essie Chinchilly, Sephora by OPI The Way Tutu His Heart)

 

Creamy neons: The new neons have white added to them which makes them appear much more creamy than the typical neons you might be used to.

 (Essie Orange, It's Obvious, OPI Did It On 'Em, China Glaze Fuchsia Fanatic, American Apparel Neon Blue) 

Glitter: While glitter isn't exactly a new trend, it's now showing up in tons of fun new colors and shapes and sizes.

 (Essie A Cut Above, American Apparel Supernova, OPI Save Me, China Glaze Techno) 

Pastels: Pastels are always a Spring staple and the "it" pastel this year is definitely pistachio green. You'll also be seeing light, buttery yellows and pretty lavenders.

 (Essie Navigate Her, RGB Vellum, Essie To Buy Or Not To Buy) 

Reds: Reds ranging from burgundy to true red to fire engine red are hot and are even hotter when you match them with your red lipstick!

 (Chanel April, Butter London Come To Bed Red, Essie Ole Caliente) 

How to apply red lipstick

Polyvore

For the longest time I wasn't sure if the washed-out nude and pale pink lipstick trends were ever going to die down (thanks Kim Kardashian and Nicki Minaj!). However, it seems that bright lip colors are making a comeback and finally we can all look glowy and alive again! I'm loving pinks and corals but my favorite lip color right now is bright red look-at-me lips. Is it daring? Yes. Is it impossible to pull off? Definitely not! Once you find the perfect shade of red and apply it ever so precisely, you are going to look in the mirror, see how lit up your face looks and wonder why you waited so long to try out red lipstick! Here are a few helpful steps to achieve perfect red lips.

-Step 1: Select your perfect red lipstick in a shade that flatters your skin tone based on the undertones of your skin. If you have warm undertones, then warm red shades such as an orangey red will suit your warm skin. If you have cool undertones, a blue toned red will flatter your complexion the best.

-Step 2: Moisturize your lips by applying a lip balm and give it time to sink into your lips. When you are ready to apply your lipstick, blot away any excess balm with a tissue.

-Step 3: Neutralize your natural lip color by applying a light layer of concealer or foundation onto your lips. Blot and top that off with a super thin layer of translucent powder. This step will not only make the color of the red lipstick pop, but will also prevent the red lipstick from bleeding into the fine lines around your mouth.

-Step 4: Define your lip shape by lining your lips with a red lipliner. Start from the middle of your lips and line outwards along your natural lip line. Keep the line thin and precise. Then fill in the rest of your lips with the lipliner which will act as a base for the lipstick and make it last longer.

-Step 5: Apply your red lipstick! Use a lip brush for an exact application and take your time. Remember that with red lipstick, precision is key!

-Step 6: Clean up the edges of your lips with a q-tip and blot your lips with a tissue.

-Step 7 (Optional): Line the outside of your lips with reverse lipliner (which is essentially a skin-toned concealer pencil). If you don’t have a reverse lipliner, you can take a small amount of foundation or concealer and carefully apply a thin layer around your lips to fix any mistakes and highlight the shape of your lips. Blend well so you don't see any harsh foundation or concealer lines.

-Step 8 (Optional): Layer on some red or clear lipgloss for a modern touch.

Bonus Tips! 

• Keep your eye makeup simple since you are playing up your lips.
• Deep, dark shades of red will make your lips look smaller than bright reds. 
• Cool toned reds will make your teeth appear whiter. 
• If red lipstick intimidates you, try wearing it around your house first. Once you get used to seeing yourself with it on, it won't be so scary to wear it out in public!