AS the days are getting a little lighter, so too should your make-up bag. Leave those dark, wintry palettes behind and embrace this season’s fresh beauty vibe, inspired by summer meadows, Miami sunrises and seaside shades. Ignore any frost and ice outside and channel these sunny looks instead.

CANDY COLOURS
Goodbye smoky eyes, hello sugar chic. Colour is back with inspirations such as candied fruit, sorbet and macaroons for those with sweet tooth tendencies.

The mood is bolder than wishy-washy pastels but more muted than brights or neons – look to the sugary jars of a sweet shop for inspiration.

YSL even christened their latest spring/summer collection Candy Face. Creative director of make-up Lloyd Simmonds said: “Her smile is as bright as shining sugared drops and syrups: shocking cherry, tangerine, grape and pomegranate, crystallised rose petals and mint.”

GET THE LOOK:
It’s all about the ‘eyes-cream’. Choose your favourite sorbet hue and make sure it contrasts with your eye colour. For a more subtle effect, try a candy-coloured eye pencil and smudge.

GIRLY GLOW
A youthful, fresh-faced complexion is this spring’s skin must-have.

The ultra-feminine look is achievable at any age with a baby doll palette of pinks, mauves and browns. A combination of the tones on eyes, cheeks and lips make for a soft, romantic look.

Bourjois chief make-up artist Cassie Lomas said: “Keep it interesting by mixing up textures – matte on lips with a hint of shimmer on eyes and cheeks or vice-versa.

“The baby doll look requires fluttering eyelashes to complete it.”

GET THE LOOK:
Achieve a fresh and girly look with a flush of apricot, peach or pink on the apples of the cheeks to instantly brighten the skin.

SUMMER METAL
If a dark desert tan is a no-go, warm up your complexion with spring’s hot metallics.

Use tan-like shades to accentuate the cheeks and eyes rather than an obvious all-over glow. Depending on your complexion, work with a palette of creamy copper, rust, terracotta and peach and ditch anything flat, matte and brown-based.

“Tan shades with a metallic edge have a preciousness and sophistication,” said MAC’s director of make-up artistry, Lyne Desnoyers.

“Their inherent light-reflective nature ensures they never draw lines on the face in the same way as flat colour, making them appear immediately more chic and flattering.”

GET THE LOOK:
Catch Olympics fever by creating the impression of an athletic bone structure with metallic highlights on the cheekbones.

MODERN VINTAGE
Grab your flapper dress and pearls, the forthcoming Great Gatsby remake has prompted a retro revival in fashion and beauty – with a contemporary 2012 twist.

“The idea of Modern Vintage is much more desirable,” said Pat McGrath, global creative design director for Max Factor.

She has modernised beauty cues from bygone eras, including the Twenties silent movie years to Fifties Parisian chic.

Bring lips and eyes bang up to date with an unexpected edge for fresh appeal. For instance, give a traditional Forties matte red lip a spin using a creamy texture.

GET THE LOOK:
For a retro beauty flashback in 30 seconds flat, try a chic beauty spot as a finishing touch near the eyes or lips using a dark brown eye pencil.