Words: Emma Stoddart

London Fashion Week has been and gone, amid a bucket-load of glitter.

Backstage, we saw a capillary of eye-catching trends play out, from thick, almost grungy eyeliner forming fierce feline flicks, to manis that were custom-made to match each model’s skin tone.

We’ve picked out the hottest beauty looks from SS18 for you to re-create at home – along with tips from some of Fashion Week’s most in-demand makeup artists…

Scaled-down glitter

Forget the all-over festival sparkle.

The cool – and only – way to wear glitter for SS18 is to focus on one area only.

Apply glitter to lashes (as seen at Ryan Lo), along your lash line (Ralph & Russo) or onto your lids (Topshop) for a much more understated mono-glitter look.

As Topshop makeup artist Lynsey Alexander says, “Be playful and have fun with it. Just don’t go OTT.” 

Top tip: go for a gloss-glitter formula to stop any particles dropping.

Vinyl shine

First it was highlighting, then it was strobing and for SS18, it’s all about what the pros are hailing “cellophane” vinyl shine.

Think post-spin class sweaty skin, with a flushed healthy hint of colour in your cheeks.

According to make-up artist Val Garland, “spot lighting” is officially the new strobing.

You can get the look at home by applying MAC Mixing Medium on the high points of the face, as seen at Roksanda, Mary Katrantzou and Antonio Berardi.

Or go one step braver and try MAC Lipglass on your eye lids for that doughnut-glaze shine. More is definitely more.

Low up-do’s

When it comes to up-do’s, anything worn high on the crown is too school-girl.

The lower-maintenance, more on-point way to wear your hair is low on the nape of your neck.

Low buns were donned at Sophia Webster and Antonio Berardi, where the hair was secured with loose strands teased for added softness.

Hair stylist Tina Outen suggests applying salt spray for added hold.

Mannequin manis

Prepare to colour-match your nails as you do your foundation. Yes, really.

At Anya Hindmarch, manicurist Marian Newman colour-matched every single model’s nails, so that they were the same shade as their skin.

The result? Super-chic, elongated talons.

There was a 90s revival at Simone Rocha, where Newman used a white kohl pencil under the nails to whiten the tips.

Nude, healthy nails are clearly revving up for their big moment next season.

Fierce feline flicks

Graphic eyeliner was a big look backstage, and we’re talking blackest black.

Charlotte Tilbury went for a “lived-in rock n roll” look at Versus Versace, somewhere in-between Kate Moss and Amy Winehouse.

She combined her Rock n Kohl and Feline Flick to create a thick black line, which she dragged to the outer corners. 

MAC Black Paint and Shadow in Carbon Black were layered backstage at Tommy Hilfiger for a really dramatic eye.

Photos: Rex Features