Ever bought an eyeshadow palette? Then you know exactly the colour I'm talking about - the bright, vivid one that's oh-so-pretty and vivid but you're just too afraid to use? Well, with the grey days of winter (possibly... dare we hope?) coming to a close and spring on the horizon, I’m daring you to go bold. From pretty pinks and corals to vibrant greens and blues bold colours feature big in this spring’s makeup looks. But while it’s a look we may admire on the runway or red carpet, some of us (and by “some of us” I mean me) lack the balls to try out those bold colours ourselves.

Enter Maybelline New York’s global makeup artist, Charlotte Willer, with some tips for getting over being timid.

If you are in the market for a little pre-spring pick me up, do I have just the ticket for you! From March 11th to early May, MAC Cosmetics is offering one of the most wearable bold colour collections that I have ever had the pleasure of seeing. Infused with popping pinks (my favourite product is the Petals & Peacock lipstick—so Malibu Barbie chic!), juicy corals and saturated purples and teals the Liberty of London collection strikes the perfect balance between the grit and glam of Londontown. See for yourself after the jump.

Spring may still be a distant dream, but there is no time like the present to start with the spring-cleaning of your makeup bag (or bags, if you are a beauty junkie like me). Out with the old and in with the new is my motto when it comes to spring’s new makeup lines. Sometimes, however, there are those products that are just too hard to part with—unless you have a guaranteed great replacement lined up! 

Back in November we saw the beginning of a new trend in bun placement happening. First there was Rachel Bilson, followed by Cameron Diaz (who personally inspired me to try the look) and then the lovely January Jones at the GQ Man of the Year awards, all moving their updos to the crowns of their heads. This past week, though, there has been a massive surge in super-high bun activity on the fashion scene—sometimes with awesome results and sometimes, well, not so much...

Whether you’re spending the night with your beau or going on the prowl with your lady friends to find Mr. Rightnow, you’re likely feeling the pressure to amp-up your regular look for Valentine’s Day weekend. At styleswept, we are equal opportunists when it comes to makeup. In fact, I bet I could form a strong debate on the merits of almost any beauty product on the market. My love and adoration for all things beauty, however, has left me unable to decide which is the sexier look this V-day: the smoky eye or the bold lip? It's the most epic battle of hotness to date. Give us your take after the jump.

Sometimes, simplicity is drop-dead sexy. This was most certainly the case with Anna Paquin's Brigitte Bardot inspired half up look at the recent Screen Actors Guild Awards. Of course, Paquin's plunging neckline didn't hurt her sex appeal at all, but it was her carefree coif that really caught my eye. I caught up with Vancouver hairstylist, Carolynne Collyer, to get the lowdown on recreating the look at home. With V-day just around the corner, this might be just the look to take your night from sweet to saucy—if you know what I mean? 

Last week I showed you Murale makeup artist, Emily Benson’s, method for creating the ultimate smoky eye, but in all honesty, it was a rather involved process. Thank goodness that two of my favourite cosmetic companies have come up with pretty and perfect packages that provide us with everything we need—including step-by-step instructions—to master the look on our own. Check out my picks for the best kits after the jump.

Creating a smoky eye is likely one of the most intimidating makeup missions a girl can tackle. The results of a successfully accomplishing the look, however, are undeniably sexy and well worth a bit of extra effort. According to Murale makeup artist, Emily Benson, the smoky look may seem daunting, but can easily be achieved with her simple tips and tricks. I recently visited Benson at one of Murale’s Calgary locations for a tutorial in smoky sex appeal. Check out the results and get a how-to lesson after the jump.

One of my grandmothers is not known for handing out compliments – much the opposite, in fact. She’s more likely to ask me when I’m getting a trim or what hairstyle I’m going to go for next (the day I’ve had my hair cut!) than to tell me my hair looks good – even when I know it does. Which is why when I recently met said grandmother for dinner and the first thing she said to me (after giving me the usual once-over) was that my hair looks “so nice and shiny,” I knew I had to blog about the reason – right after I finished choking on my Diet Coke from the surprise of it.

There are two products that recently crossed my desk and have made it into my hair-care repertoire to which I give all the credit.

I forgot to include it on my list of beauty resolutions, but I definitely have a new goal of mastering the liquid liner cat-eye look this winter. In no way am I saying this this a new look. In fact, the winged eye can probably be traced all the way back to the days of Cleopatra. It is a look, however, that takes a little (or seemingly, in my case, a lot) practice to master….