This is the moment of vamp, but winter fresh and retro beauty also found their way onto runways this season.

Wine Lips

Vampy is the buzzword of the season, so get ready for very deep wine coloured lips. Seen at Gucci (pictured), YSL, Etro, and dozens of other shows, this dark shade requires some bravery, but once you try, you won’t stop. Editor’s Pick: Ilia Lipstick in Femme Fatale, $24 at ILIA.com and Kiss & Makeup, H5-925 Main St., West Vancouver, 604-922-6292, www.kissandmakeupstore.com

Burgundy Tips

With vampy lips come vampy nails. Intense brights and complex nail art is put on the sidelines in lieu of the classic Hollywood burgundy, as seen at Catherine Malandrino (pictured) and Jenny Packham. Editor’s Pick: Essie nail polish in Skirting the Issue, $11 at Kiss & Makeup, H5-925 Main St., West Vancouver, 604-922-6292, www.kissandmakeupstore.com

Emerald Notes

Green shadows are making their biggest return since the ’80s. Avoid looking like the Jersey clan from Working Girl and opt for a shadow that’s easy on the glitter and with a slightly pearly finish, as seen at Jason Wu’s presentation. Editor’s Pick: Stila Eye Shadow in Jade, $24 at Beautymark, 1268 Pacific Blvd., Vancouver, 604-642-2294, www.beautymark.ca 

Blushed

Winter fresh is the best way to describe this flushed cheek seen at Michael Kors, Preen and Issa. Keep it looking youthful by keeping the rest of the face clean and opting for a dewy cream blush. Editor’s Pick: Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Blush in Truth and Dare, $30 at Sephora. 

Poof and Band

Channeling Brigitte Bardot and a current It Girl Lana Del Rey, bouffants are the up-dos of the season, seen in the ladylike collections of Oscar de la Renta and Carolina Herrera (pictured). What you need is a lot of hairspray, some backcombing action, and a headband to top it off. With a sultry ‘60s poof, this is not a schoolgirl look. Editor’s Pick: Goody Iconoclass Satin Headbands (2 pack), $5.99 at London Drugs.

—Anya Georgijevic

With major fashion houses dabbling in make-up, sampling spring trends is as simple as buying a bottle (or two) of nail polish.

Dior’s Garden Party collection includes fresh minty Waterlily as well as a vibrant lilac named Forget-Me-Not. Both the purple and green lacquers mask the usual chemical scent with a flowery rose aroma. $24 at The Bay, www.thebay.com

Chanel’s appropriately named April, May and June nail colours are the epitome of the upcoming seasons biggest trend that will have us all wearing vibrant pinks and tangerines. Start with the darkest shade in April and work your way to pretty peach for June. $27 at Holt Renfew, www.holtrenfrew.com

Yves Saint Laurent is sticking with colour blocking with its duo manicure set. Choose a colour pair — brown and mint or pink and orange — use one as the base coat and one for your tips. $32 for each pair at Holt Renfrew, www.holtrenfrew.com

We’re pointing our fingers toward spring trends. —Jaelyn Molyneux

Yes we reduce, reuse and recycle—but sometimes loading up can be green, too.

Riva’s Eco Store new Inglewood space has fabulous collections, like adorable pillows by K Studio and mini speakers by OrigAudio ($19.99). And we’ve already stocked up on water-based nail polish by Acquarelle ($18, pictured) and pretty tops by Stewart and Brown.

Too much of a green thing? Never.

Riva’s Eco Store, 1237 Ninth Ave. SE, Calgary, 403-452-1001, www.rivasecostore.com

The newest Tim Burton spectacle is just weeks away and in conjunction with the highly anticipated Lewis Carroll classic starring Mr. Depp, OPI has released an Alice in Wonderland collection.


The four nail polish hues include a royal blue glitter called Absolutely Alice, an opaque cream red appropriately titled Off with Her Red, a berry metallic shimmer named Thanks so Muchness, and our favourite, the colourful confetti-like sparkly Mad as a Hatter.


Dabble in all four with the mini bottle set ($18.95) but we suggest staying clear of attempting the Red Queen’s makeup at home.


At Oasis Wellness Centre and Spa, 880 16th Ave. SW, Calgary, 403-216-2747, www.experienceoasis.ca

Sparkle and shine is our finish of choice but when it comes to nails, we can’t resist a matte look.

And with the Knock Out Cosmetics nail polish collection, dull never looked so chic. Created by New York City make-up artist Mike Potter, the line launched with the popular Flatte Black hue and a Powder White (think white-out on nails) earlier this year.

But lucky for matte lovers, the line has expanded to include six more chip-resistant shades ($21 each). Our picks for fall are the light grey shade appropriately called Concrete and the pale green hue, Liberty (pictured).

Sometimes, lacking lustre isn’t so bad.

At Aritzia.

Giving up our polished toes is out of the question, but dark shades can wreak havoc on our nails, stripping them of moisture and leaving them dry and brittle.

But if you’re not about to don your gladiators with bare toes, in between pedis put on a coat of No Miss nail polish ($11.99). Free of formaldehyde, toluene and dibutyl phthalate, the polishes are made from as many natural ingredients as possible (like colours derived from the earth), are long lasting and contain UV ray inhibitors. The collection includes over 150 colours like Miami Red, our pick for toes, and the Cudjoe Camel for delicately polished fingernails.

Pedis beware.

At Community Natural Foods, 1304 10th Ave. SW, 403-229-2383.

Ever since we saw photos of Ms. Paltrow at the London premiere of Two Lovers at Leicester Square, we’ve coveted her look. Not just her incredible leather-sleeved ensemble (loving what she’s wearing is nothing new) but her nails, a perfect shade of matte grey.

Digging through our stash of colours for the perfect dirty hue, we came upon the "Recycle" shade from The Ecollection by China Glaze, and three coats later, we had the perfect dove grey for a winter outing.

And yes, it’s DBP, toluene and formaldehyde-free, so we’re sure Gwynnie would approve.

Manicures using China Glaze shades are $45 at Swirl Spa, (upstairs) 524, 11th Ave. SW, Calgary, 403-228-3046, www.swirlspa.com