THE spring/summer nail polish collections have hit the beauty counters and one thing's for sure – it's all about colour.
Forget last season's nudes and noirs, right now punchy hues and sugary pastels are the perfect partners for the catwalk trends that are making waves on the high street too.
Loving Cuban ruffles and tropical frocks? You'll want a juicy yellow to set them off.
Rocking the deconstructed shirting look? An ivory shade is what you're after.
And the colour of the season, pink, is represented on both sides of the spectrum, from raspberry to sugared almond.
From pale to eye-popping, these are our top polish picks...
PASTEL POWER
:: Mavala Lilac Orchid Nail Polish, £4.95 (NailPolishDirect.co.uk)
:: Iz Beauty Wild Sage Gel Effect Nail Polish, £6 (www.izbeauty.co.uk)
:: Essie Gel Couture Bridal Collection 'Lace to the Alter' by Monique Lhuillier, £9.99 Boots (www.boots.com)
:: Ciate Gelology Part Time Mermaid, £12 (available May; www.ciatelondon.com)
:: Orly 'Head in the Clouds' Nail Lacquer, £7.95 (NailPolishDirect.co.uk)
BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL
:: Leighton Denny 'Nothing But Sand', £12 (www.leightondennyexpertnails.com)
:: Diego Dalla Palma Bleu Canard Nail Polish, £10, Marks and Spencer (available May; www.marksandspencer.com)
:: Rimmel Super Gel Nail Polish Coral Queen, £5.99, Superdrug (available later this month; www.superdrug.com)
:: Morgan Taylor Nail Lacquer 'One Tough Princess', £10.99 (SallyExpress.com)
:: House of Holland by Elegant Touch Foil Fade Nails, £8.99 (Asos.com)
TRIED AND TESTED
:: Can a laser-emitting gadget zap away your crow's feet? Laura Wurzal puts Tria's new device to the test...
"Specifically designed for wrinkles and lines around the eyes, Tria's latest handheld laser device delivers thousands of microscopic laser lights when it comes in contact with the skin, to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin – the stuff that keeps you looking youthful! – so it's important your skin is properly cleansed before use. Once ready, I started the treatment by gliding the tip of the laser in small circular motions, as advised, around my eye sockets, starting underneath the eyes and moving up to my temples. It was a tad painful at first – a stingy, pinprick sensation – and it took me a few days before I could tolerate using it for a full minute per eye. The treated area was noticeably red afterwards, but it calmed down overnight, so I carried on zapping away every night for eight weeks as recommended. And it was totally worth it! From the second week, my crow's feet looked less defined and the skin around my eyes looked smooth and firm. Friends even noticed and asked if I had changed my eye cream or tried a new spa treatment. Now that's what I call a result!"
:: Tria Age-Defying Eye Wrinkle Correcting Laser, £299 (www.triabeauty.co.uk)
BUY IT NOW
Lift your spring make-up look with Zoeva's new Sweet Glamour palette. The 10-piece eyeshadow collection mixes subtle peachy hues with sugary pastels and shimmering textures, offering a multitude of eye-opening possibilities.
:: Zoeva Sweet Glamour Eyeshadow Palette, £18 (available April 10; BeautyBay.com)
BEAUTY BULLETIN
:: SCENTS OF SUCCESS
As The Perfume Shop celebrates 25 years on the high street, the brand is looking back on the rise of celebrity fragrances, a market that's worth £1.25bn today. Britney Spears has been the retailer's top-seller for the last seven years, with one bottle of Fantasy, originally launched in 2005, selling every 30 seconds. But Ms Spears is currently lagging behind in the 2017 chart, with SJP taking the top spot:
1. Sarah Jessica Parker - Lovely
2. Ariana Grande - Ari Sweet Like Candy
3. Britney Spears - Fantasy
4. Beyonce - Heat
5. Rihanna - Nude
STEAL OF THE WEEK
Originally developed by clinical scientists to target burns and scars, My Trusty is the first ever skincare range from the NHS, and has been shown to be beneficial for people suffering with acne, eczema, psoriasis and rosacea. The body lotions, oils and hand creams are all priced under £8 and profits from every sale go straight back to the NHS.
:: My Trusty Sunflower Face & Body Oil Moisturiser, currently reduced to £5.25 from £7.99, Superdrug (www.superdrug.com)
