#CultBeautyTrendWatch: the AW18 beauty looks that work right now

Spring is 'round the corner (hall-e-lu-jah!) but in the fashion-sphere we're already pretending that the summer never happened and admiring the winter coat we *need* for next November (will it be Gucci or Chloé, or (more realistically) neither?). Still, if you know you can't stretch to a new Dior bakerboy, you can demonstrate that your fingers are firmly affixed to fashion's pulse with these chic, summer-friendly beauty trends...

The hyper-real glow...Yep... dewy, almost-glossy skin is still a major beauty trend, with Charlotte Tilbury's new {Hollywood Flawless Filter} relied on to achieve an A-List-worthy glow backstage at Temperley (J.Lo would most certainly approve). The emphasis was firmly on a healthy, lit-from-within look, with lightly flushed cheeks and foundation kept sheer to ensure every model could showcase their complexion's 'quirks' - real skin was enhanced (not disguised) with translucent, radiance-boosting pigments that lent light without covering freckles (at Shrimps, they were even drawn on using lip and brow pencils to boost the 'free-spirited' vibe).

It's bronzer but not as you know it...No longer confined to your cheeks, warm, terracotta-toned bronzer was used as eyeshadow at shows renowned for understatement such as Isabel (Marant) and Philosophy (di Alberta Ferretti). Washed over eyelids, the look was low-key and outdoorsy - especially when paired with 'polished' skin to grant a sexy clash of matte and dewy textures. Then at CHANEL, make up artist Tom Pecheux gave a subtle nod to '80s New Romanticism with golden-flecked bronzer applied in a sweep from brow bones to cheekbones for an artfully 'draped' (and surprisingly up-to-date) take on the ra-ra revival. Try Anastasia Beverly Hills' {Powder Bronzer} which comes in a spectrum of flattering, sunkissed shades, while BECCA's {Sunlit Bronzer} grants a glorious, shimmering sheen.

Draw the line...Graphic eyeliner is still (very definitely) a 'thing', with eyes framed with vibrant dots, dashes and squiggles at shows from Prada to Jeremy Scott. Switch your go-to black for something nearly-neon - Shiseido's {Kajal InkArtist} comes in an arresting rainbow - and don't feel confined to the lashline. Spots, stripes, stars... freestyle your flicks and go wild with your 'wings'. And if you feel you're somewhat bankrupt in the 'artistic' department, reach instead for a colour-pop wand to cloak lashes with purple, green, orange or shocking-pink pigment. Not for shrinking violets, this trend is guaranteed to get you noticed...

Blusher is BACK...Having taken a beauty-sphere backseat, blusher is back on the industry's radar. Few things look as healthy as a dewy, crème-to-powder flush of pink or coral (as seen at Prabal Gurung, Ralph Lauren, Lanvin and Mary Katrantzou (pictured)), so embrace the new swathe of emerging cheek tints to kiss post-winter skin with a freshly-pinched prettiness. BY TERRY's {Glow Expert} gives 'soft focus' colour and pearlescent shimmer, while Too Faced's collection of {fuzzy-peach} hues are ideal for creating an outdoorsy, girl-next-door glow.

Glitter isn't going anywhere...At Giambattista Valli, Val Garland doused her models' faces with full-coverage, purple-toned pailettes - transforming them into celestial beings (and no doubt creating a make up-removal nightmare), while at Preen, the artists took a (slightly) lighter-handed stance, applying golden giltter to the foreheads of their supermodel canvases. And, while we don't advocate a full face of sequins for your mid-week meetings, these looks are proof that the {glitter} train hasn't yet run out of steam. The more daring the better... just make sure you've got a great cleanser.SHOP ALL MAKE UP >>

Verity Douglas Writer and expert

Cult Beauty’s Content Editor and a Cult Beauty OG, Verity loves nothing more than the marriage of language and lip balm. A quintessential Libran, she’s a self-professed magpie for luxury ‘must-haves' and always pursuing the new and the niche — from the boujee-est skin care to cutting-edge tech. Balancing an urge to stop the clock with her desire to embrace the ageing process (and set a positive example for her daughter), Verity's a retinol obsessive and will gladly share her thoughts about the time-defying gadgets, masks and treatments worth the splurge...

#CultBeautyTrendWatch: the AW18 beauty looks that work right now

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