Hot new makeup for summer

We road-test new summer products from Revlon, Sally Hansen, Rimmel and Maybelline for hot looks to kick start your summer season with looks to break hearts, all at prices that won’t break the bank. We look at nail polishes and mascaras…

We road-test new summer products from Revlon, Sally Hansen, Rimmel and Maybelline for hot looks to kick start your summer season with looks to break hearts, all at prices that won’t break the bank…

Revlon’s Summer 2010/11 collection Summer Safari is inspired by the earthy tones of summer as shown on the gorgeous Jessica Alba pictured left in their latest campaign. This summer at Revlon it’s all about "a carefree woman who is fun and energetic", with nails ranging from black to reds, and lips from neutrals and brown to pinks.

Revlon nail enamel in Cranberry $16

"This colour is smokin’ hot for summer! With one coat it looks ruby red, with two coats it transforms your nails into deep ruby pools, with a beautiful shine I liked as it gives that shiny wet look to your toes and fingers. I tried this colour out on my toes and it looked great and wore really well. It’s also a fab colour if you want to go dark on your hands without going completely black and emo; it’s a more sophisticated emo- perfect for work and play" said our tester, Lucy.

Revlon nail enamel in Silver $16

Megan tried out new seasonal shade, Silver, and really liked the matte creme grey nail polish, pictured below. This is the coverage with two coats of colour and it lasted for about three days before chipping, without any top coat.

Revlon nail enamel in Black $16

Anya tested the black shade. "I painted them last night for my friend’s 50th birthday party- and they dried really fast – and covered well – and haven’t chipped today. I have been trying to wreck them – but no luck so far!"

Sally Hansen – Insta Dry Nail Polish

"Sally Hansen has bought out a great range of colours for summer. They are in these cute little bottles that you can easily keep in your handbag for touch-ups for those who hate the chipped colour look. I tried the pink and the yellow, for something different.

I received compliments on my summer shade when I wore pink nails around the office, and it looked great on the beach but the yellow made me feel ill!

The great thing about this range is that it dries SUPER fast, no waiting around for ages before putting on shoes or contemplating wetting your panties cause you couldn’t possibly ruin your nails taking off your jeans! So for hot shades this summer I would differently give these a go and be adventurous in your colours – the catwalks have been full of it this season, and so can your tips!" says Lucy.

ORLY Nailtrition ($11.99)

To nourish nails especially if yours are brittle or damaged by acrylics, apply 1 -2 coats of Orly’s Nailtrition daily for a week. The following week, repeat then give them a rest for a week before starting again daily. It is packed with collagen. wheat protein keratin and bamboo extract.

Follow with Orly Cuticle Oil + to condition nails and cuticles using orange blossom and wild cherry extracts. And it smells divine.

Rimmel Max Bold Curves Mascara

"WOW. "I love this product. "I know I am not meant to gush but for a girl who LOVES a good mascara and is ALWAYS on the lookout for improvement this is GREAT! The curved brush means you can get to both sides of your eye without much fear of a smudge while driving 100kms down the motorway (joking.) Not sure how they measure their claim of 14x the volume or 70% lash lift and Lily Cole in the campaugn looks as if toilet brushes have been Photoshopped onto her face, BUT the mascara goes on smooth and thick but without getting clumpy and it wears really well" Lucy says.

"I have compared it to my usual mascara, and it wins hands down for not breaking down during the day and flaking like some mascaras do. So my verdict: Curves are so hot right now!" says Lucy.

Maybelline New York Lash Stiletto Voluptuous mascara ($24.99)

With a sophisticated and sexy campaign on model Julia, Maybelline New York are aiming to bring back the glamour of old-Hollywood. Va va voom, baby. The Voluptuous Mascara by Last Stiletto has a ‘plump & stretch brush’ to both lengthen and volumise and its S-shape provides two reservoirs, the first to lift and lengthen and the second to add fullness. The bristles are criss-crossed to give more length and more volume.