Living colour

From rich reds to deep greens and royal purples, make-up creators have long looked to plants and flowers for colour inspiration. We've taken things a bit further for this issue's cover shoot by letting the flowers take a starring role.

To recreate these looks at home, our make-up artist Megumi Sekine has two words of advice: 'just play'.

'Go with whatever you feel on the day,' says Sekine. 'If you pop into the shop and feel like something orange, pick an orange lipstick and keep the rest of your face simple. It will really make your features pop and brighten up your whole look.' Besides orange, Sekine chose the latest in vibrant pinks, deep teal and bold red from brands such as Shiseido, Est?e Lauder, NARS and M.A.C to enhance the faces of models Anastasia and Iulia. Just as important as a pop of colour, she notes, is healthy and hydrated skin.

'Make sure you eat right, because too much junk food can really show in your face. And keep your skin clean. If you have oily skin, always have blotting papers on hand.'

The aim is to have naturally glowing skin, as if you just stepped out of a spa.

Another trick is to use highlighter on the highest part of the cheekbones and on the cupid's bow.