Purple eyes and bright orange pouts rule the spring 2011 runways

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Forget dewy, fresh-faced and sheer for spring. Judging by the latest runway collections, it’s all about making a statement with color on either the eyes or lips.

Purple reigned at Victoria Beckham and Chris Benz, where a wash of violet was swept over model’s lids. The makeup artist for Benz’s show, Daniel Martin, went with the designer’s youthful, Parisian theme, looking to 1960s French pop singer Frances Gall for inspiration. He swept Cool Lavande eye shadow from Lancome’s new spring collection along the lid and up to the crease. Liquid black eyeliner was used from the inner corner to the end of the lash line. Tiny dots of liquid liner were applied on the bottom lash line for what Martin said gave a feeling of “French whimsy.”

Shades of purple popped up on nails, cheeks and lips as well. Lancome’s Violet Groove nail polish was used on fingers; Blush Subtil in Mauve Coquette and L’Absolu lipstick in Lily Rose complimented the purple theme.

Purple was seen in a much more extreme manner at Victoria Beckham, which is no surprise from the designer who loves the look of high drama.

Makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury was inspired by the colorful Andy Warhol portraits of Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor. Tilbury layered two purple shades from Lancome – Trendy and Drama – on the entire eyelid. Black liquid liner was applied to the top lash line with a ‘60s “flick” at the end.

Orange lips were seen at Marc Jacobs, Ohne Titel, Karen Walker and Marc by Marc Jacobs. The most extreme version was on the Ohne Titel runway, where Gucci Westman, makeup artist and global artistic director for Revlon, gave models a lip so bright it glowed.

“The look is about an effortless, chic but sporty girl,” Westman said. “She’s very athletic, but still feminine. I did more neutral makeup on the eyes and focused on a strong brow and bright, just-bitten lips.”

To get the fluorescent mouth, Westman used Revlon Super Lustrous lipstick in Siren (available Nov. 1) and Just Bitten lip stain in Passion.

Watch out for bold lips and color-blocked eyes come spring; better start practicing how to properly apply now.

-- Melissa Magsaysay

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