It hasn't exactly been a harsh, grey winter but if you want to brighten up your life, you can start by experimenting with new cosmetic colours for spring, which are already being released by beauty houses. Although this spring's favourite colours are pink and lilac - everything from pale shell to vibrant violet - palettes are diverse, ranging from barely there nudes to warm shades of peach and red to metallic silver and gold. Some houses have looked back to the 1970s for bold inspiration, others have gone ultra-feminine with delicate colours for eyes, lips and cheeks. Trends across the board include limited-edition products, nude lips, iridescent ingredients that give different shimmer effects, and multifunctional make-up, such as blusher that can be used on both face and body, and shadows for lips, cheeks and eyes. Inspired by the pop art movement, Estee Lauder has put pink at the heart of its collection, complemented by shades of mauve and skin tones with bold splashes of red. There are six new lipstick shades, two eye compacts and an array of nail polishes, but one of the best products is the Floating Color All-Over Face and Body Powder ($230). The sheer pink pressed powder should be dusted lightly over face, shoulders and decolletage for a healthy, rosy glow. Available from Estee Lauder counters in Seibu and Lane Crawford. The prize for the prettiest packaging goes to Stila, which has encased its eyeshadow quartets ($240), blushers ($265) and lipsticks ($135) in blue and white toile de jouy print. Taking high tea as the theme, the colours, which are named after different flavours of tea, are nude for lips and pastels for eyes, with each eyeshadow compact containing four complementary shades of blue, green or lilac. For a natural daytime look, apply the lightest colour over the entire lid and use the next lightest shade on the upper lid. If you want a more dramatic effect, add a crescent of the second darkest colour around the outer corner of the eye and use the darkest tone to line the upper and lower lids. From Joyce Beauty, Pacific Place, Admiralty. Chanel has gone down Mexico way for its spring 2002 theme. Colours are warm and upbeat, offering subtle radiance with such products as peach/coral Hydrabase lipsticks Tango and Eldorado ($130 each) and pre-summer glow with Bronze Universal Complexion Enhancing Base ($210). Each year, the cosmetic house releases a limited-edition 'Star Product' and in this year's spotlight is Lumiere Polychromes ($285), a four-colour compact for eyes and cheeks. Containing multi-reflective pigments, the colours change according to the light and whether they are viewed head on or obliquely - a sort of shot-silk effect. Use the product dry for a more natural effect or mix with water to give metallic intensity. The compact comes with two applicators: a foam one for applying shadow to eyelids and cheeks and a fine brush that is ideal for eye lining. Available from Chanel Beauty, Prince's Building, Central, and the more upmarket department stores. Disco divas will love Nars' new liquid eyeliners in shimmery lilac and bold blue-violet ($260), which should be worn with the brand's new gold-flecked plum eyeshadow Ondine ($165) and at least two coats of mascara to make your eyes the sultry focus of your face. But if you're a make-up minimalist at heart, opt for the brand's new Multiple cream stick in Maui ($320), a three-in-one product that can be used on lips, cheeks and eyes. It looks particularly good as blusher - smile into the mirror and apply to the apple of the cheeks, blending back towards the ears; then dull the edges with a clean brush dipped in translucent powder. It is suitable for all kinds of skin tones from fair to olive. From Joyce Beauty, Pacific Place. With colours such as Yellow Brick Road and Emerald City, Lancome has gone for glorious Technicolour in its new Oz collection. Eyes shimmer in lollipop-bright colours that change according to the light, while lips are bare but super slick - the new Juicy Tubes of Ultra Shiny Gloss ($135), for example, come in different colours and fruity flavours, and give long-lasting, lip-smacking shine. Available from Seibu, Pacific Place.