I don’t know about you but summer is one of my favourite times of the year, well apart from Christmas that is! Not only do you get your daily dose of Vitamin D, but the sun has an amazing ability to bring out the summer goddess in me. There is a new spring in my step and I instantly feel compelled to experiment with bold lipstick, bright eye shadows and vivid colours. It’s as if my alter ego is unleashed and the shy woman who normally sticks to the same old colours and routine, suddenly wants to stop traffic and add a little sex appeal to her look.

What I enjoy most about summer are the long summer evenings, BBQ’s with family and summer parties with friends. Weather permitting, (because realistically this is Britain after all) summer is the perfect excuse to try out a new look, but also to celebrate looking and feeling gorgeous. Luckily for us ladies who are blessed with a darker skin tone, it means we are able to pull off bright colours without looking like we just stepped out of clown school.

Here are two of my favourite summer trends, hot off the press for 2011. So why not try ones of these great looks at that BBQ you’ve been invited to, or on that hot date you have lined up and reveal your inner goddess…go on, you know you want to!

The Statement Lip

Make a statement that says ‘look at me now’ and try a bold colour on the lips. This look was all over the catwalks from Fendi to Gucci and is a sure fire hit on darker skin tones. Choose colours such as coral, orange and hot pink to have maximum impact and attract attention to your lip area. Keep the rest of your makeup minimal with just foundation and black mascara on the lashes. Make sure your lips are well exfoliated and moisturised and use a primer to prep the lips before applying the lipstick with a lip brush for precision.

So Take a Look at Me Now

Gold and bronze are on trend this season especially in metallic eye shadow. The richness of these colours looks amazing on the eyes and really gives you that Wow factor for that special evening event. You can either use one shade by itself, or two shades which compliment each other. Again the emphasis is on the eyes, so keep the rest of your makeup simple. Apply a primer to the eyelids first, so that the eye shadow is able to stay on for longer. Then apply the eye shadow to the lids without going above the crease line. Finish with lashings of black mascara on the lashes and bronzer to the areas of the face that the sun will hit, such as the cheekbones.

Finally, Celebrate Being Beautiful

There are many looks on trend this season and some are bolder and more daring than the ones I have mentioned, but confidence is key. What I Love most about make-up is the fact that it is a form of self expression and a way of celebrating the way you look and feel. I love that feeling you get when you try out a new look and you instantly feel lifted, or when you wear your favourite lipstick and your confidence is boosted. What I really wanted to share with you is the way that we as females can utilise make-up to boost confidence, but most importantly to celebrate being fun, fearless females.