If you can’t get away anywhere exotic this summer, let the exotic come to you – via your make-up bag. Katie Wright explores the holiday-inspired collections
Morocco, Rio, the French Riviera… the words alone are enough to conjure images of endless beaches, sultry sunsets and the clink of cocktail glasses.
These are just some of the glamorous destinations that have inspired the latest wave of beauty launches, bringing sumptuous colours and equatorial sunshine to even the palest of complexions.
So even if you’re not leaving on a jet plane any time soon, turn your staycation into an exotic escape with the help of these globe-trotting goodies…
COLORADO COLOURS
Famous for its majestic sunsets, the mountainous Telluride resort in Colorado is one of Bobbi Brown’s favourite holiday destinations and the inspiration behind her summer collection. Echoing those sunset hues, the Limited Edition Shimmer Brick, £33, is a blend of tawny pinks and golden browns, while the Limited Edition Eye Palette, £39.50, features seven earthy tones, giving you a variety of smoky-eye options (available in Selfridges July 2, nationwide July 16; www.bobbibrown.co.uk).
MEDITERANIAN MOOD
Gabrielle ’Coco’ Chanel’s frequent trips to the French Riviera during the Roaring Twenties were the starting point for Chanel’s Collection Mediterranee. The blue skies and azure waters come to life with the Stylo Eyeshadow, £23 each (www.debenhams.com), a twist-up pencil that comes in five shades including turquoise, olive and violet, while the Limited Edition Lumiere D’Ete Illuminating Powder, £46 (www.selfridges.com), delivers a veil of St Tropez shimmer. For lips, colour is semi-sheer – try Chanel’s Rouge Coco Shine in Reveuse, £25 (www.debenhams.com), a dreamy dusky pink.
DESTINATION DESERT
The Saharienne range from Yves Saint Laurent is all about the sultry heat and spicy hues of Marrakech, the place Mr YSL himself so loved. Les Sahariennes Blur Bronzer, £31, is a major innovation, combining the blurring effect of a primer with the golden glow of a bronzing powder, and comes in seven shades. The newest Couture Palette, Mauresques; £42.50, brings together five eye colours inspired by a Moroccan sunrise (www.yslbeauty.co.uk).
CRUISE COLLECTION
Every summer, Givenchy’s Croisiere line (that’s French for cruise) delivers the brand’s new summer staples, which this year include Mister Radiant Made-to-Measure Glow, £28, a gel shot through with tiny bronzing bubbles that burst on contact with the skin, and PhenomenEyes Waterproof Mascara Croisiere Lagon, currently reduced to £14.10 from £23.50, a sea green shade that looks great applied to the tips of black lashes and paired with Le Vernis Nail Polish in Croisiere Aquatique, £16.50 (www.feelunique.com).
A TASTE OF SPAIN
Take a Spanish sojourn with Paul and Joe Beaute’s limited edition summer offering of juicy eye colours, lip glosses and nail polishes. The Eye Colour duo in Argentine Tango, £16, pairs Rioja red and sandy peach, while the Midnight Sangria Lip Gloss, £15, delivers dewy, wine-stained colour and moisture (www.beautybay.com).
TROPICAL TALONS
Give your nails the holiday treatment with a bright, punchy polish. Mary Kay’s Hawaii-inspired Paradise Calling collection is full of tropical hues, like the pinky-purple Nail Lacquer in Exotic Orchid, £9 (www.marykay.co.uk). If you’re into at-home gel manicures, add one of Red Carpet Manicure Life’s A Beach shades, £12.95 each, to your summer repertoire. Sand In My Stilettos is a lovely creamy coral (www.redcarpetmanicure.com).
FAR-FLUNG FRAGRANCES
Nothing evokes that holiday feeling quite like a summery scent, and a pair of new citrus-infused perfumes more than fit the bill. Blending mandarin orange, bergamot and jasmine over a woody base, Roberto Cavalli’s Paradiso, £49.50 for 50ml (www.theperfumeshop.com), is a lush, heady floral. The latest from the Michael Kors Sexy stable, Rio de Janeiro, currently £45.50 for 50ml, reduced from £57 (www.debenhams.com), takes mandarin and mango, adding rose and white florals and finishing on sandalwood and musky notes.