Into the Wild

A color palette inspired by the wilder side of nature

Though the hues of nature's flora and fauna have long inspired artists—those with paintbrushes and makeup brushes—striving for “earth tones” in your makeup routine sounds about as thrilling as beige walls.

It's time to reinvent this neutral palette by spicing it up! Consider these tips paramount to nixing the nature walk and signing up for a safari instead.

“Earth tones are one of those palettes that's flattering on everybody,” says celebrity makeup artist Victoria Duke, owner of The Academy of Glam. “By using a color that lives in you, you can make your face pop by just adding some light and dimension.”

A key to makeup mastery, says Duke, is to remember that the absence of color is more important than the presence of color. “Remember the architecture of the face, and don't take away from that.”

Play with Shimmer and Texture
So how do you make neutrals like brown and beige not boring?

One idea: Add some shimmer. With the Pop Beauty Lid Bronzer palette, you can accentuate your lids with any of the six bronze-toned shades included, all of which contain a bit of shimmery pizzazz without going overboard into glitter-land (think: office-appropriate). The instructional how-to guide inside the palette is also helpful.

“Shimmer absolutely makes a difference,” says Duke, who adds that you can also create interest by playing with texture. “Wet your eye shadow and the color will become electric.”

Put Your Paws Up
Dark nails are always a do, even in summer. But instead of reaching for your usual black, try a deep, chocolaty brown instead, like Butter London Nail Lacquer in La Moss. It's a surprisingly rich color (best seen after at least two coats).

“With a subtle tan, a rich brown color on the nails is beautiful,” says Duke.

Here Kitty, Kitty
Of course, if you really want to take a walk on the wild side, Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips comes in “Kitty, Kitty,” a leopard-print pattern nail polish appliqué that goes on effortlessly and lasts up to 10 days. Just make sure you don't pair this with any other leopard-print accessory or you'll look more costume-y than trendy.

Wild Accessories
Once you've adopted this new wild side, you'll want your accessories to reflect this. A black makeup bag is boring, but the Celebrity Black Croc Travel Organizer, accentuated with a subtle crocodile pattern, isn't.

For that matter, neither is the Hot Tools Cheetah 1-Inch Flat Iron. Tame wild hair with its NanoCeramic styling plates that create super-smooth styles and reach 430 degrees. (Psst: There's a matching blow-dryer, too.)