The fuchsia’s bright
Spring arrives with the girliest of glows as pink in all its shades – from baby to shocking – is season’s make-up must-have
“THINK Pink!” – as sung in the classic Audrey Hepburn musical Funny Face – has to be the mantra for beauty buying this spring.
The colour is everywhere this season, in every possible shade from delicate ballerina pink through to the most out-there of shocking pinks.
It’s the most feminine of colours, and the most romantic but also the one which can most often produce a love-it-or-loathe-it reaction due to its overuse on children’s clothes and toys and its association with all that’s sweet and sickly.
If you used to avoid pink like the plague – apart from when it came to wine – think again.
Certain shades of pink (blush in particular) are extremely flattering to ageing skin. Ironically, however, pink as the ultimate girly colour is still a relatively new idea.
Even as recently as the early 20th century, pink (a pale version of red, the colour worn by soldiers) was linked with boys and blue with girls – completely the opposite from today.
Now, lucky devotees of pink in Glasgow will even get a chance to make pink purchases in aid of good causes when Benefit Cosmetics open their #RaiseABrow pop-up shop in the St Enoch Centre tomorrow.
Not only will this glamorous charity boutique be decked out in pink, it will sell only pink items – from clothes to candles, furniture to fragrance, bags to blooms.
And 100 per cent of the sales will be donated to two UK charity organisations, Refuge and Look Good Feel Better, who support women and girls across the country.
But why pink? Kyra White, head of brand activation at Benefit, said: “The colour pink has always been synonymous with the Benefit brand and what better way to stand out from the crowd than to create the first all pink pop up charity shop?
“Asking other brands and friends of Benefit to donate pink-only items showed how much people love pink as we were overwhelmed by the volume of donations.
“Conveniently pink is also bang on trend this season.”
Which pink do you plan to sport this spring? And where can you find it? Here’s our guide to the perfect pinks for 2017. BALLERINAS & BLUSHES For a youthful, radiant look, pale pinks and warm, peachy roses are perfect – especially when used as highlighters, such as facebrightening powder Benefit HOT PINKS Fuchsia is thought to be the sexiest, most seductive, shade of pink – and it’s certainly the hottest pink in the beauty world this year. It may look scary but it’s more versatile than you think.
A little of it on the cheeks – Sisley Phyto-Blush Twist in Fuchsia, or L’Oreal Infallible Blush Paint Chubby, for example – can add freshness and if you want your eyes to make an impact, a line of pink eyeliner is modern and very bold. Try Lancome Gradiose Liner in Fuchsia Mat,
Fuchsia lips are so 2017 – and there are plenty to choose from – among them Bobbi Brown Art Stick Liquid Lip in Azalea,
Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Ole Flamingo, and Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick in Punch Drunk Matte,
Fuchsia is not for the faint-hearted – if you are that way inclined, wear it on nails. Bourjois La Laque Gel in Fuchsiao Bella, is the perfect choice. Dandelion, £24.50, or Benefit High Beam, £21.50, an ice-pink coloured liquid highlighter.
French beauty brands have always been ahead of the rest when it comes to appreciating that a hint of a luminous rose shade can lift a tired or older complexion.
Guerlain got in there first with their classic Meteorites, £41.50, which always include pale pink. Now L’Oreal Paris have flattering variations on rose for the eyes with their Palette Nude Rose, £12.99.
Subtle pink nails are also tres chic. Look no further than Chanel Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour in Ballerina Pink, £20. ● Benefit’s #RaiseABrow pop-up is in the St Enoch Centre from tomorrow until Sunday.