The model faces of tomorrow meet the beauty trends of today, here, every week

It’s around this time of year, sort of mid-August-ish, that beauty can prove a bit tricky. You see, the September issues have come out, it’s all talk of autumn/winter trends, and well, it’s still all summery outside. And while you might be yearning for that new season Stella McCartney polo neck, you wouldn’t want to wear it at this very moment (well maybe for that evening chill, maybe). It’s sort of the same with the new beauty trends, which are quite literally EVERYWHERE. Every ad campaign and new season editorial is saying, ‘Hey you, look at me. I’m a new season trend that you really ought to be trying, like, NOW,’ but you just can’t fully commit quite yet.

Talking of new season trends, one of the greatest to note is lipsticks. In all shapes and sizes. Lips got the kind of the attention this season that nails received last season; there was hardly a show that went without. From the matte plum shade at Antonio Marras to the shiny red at Antonio Beradi (thank you, Gucci Westman), mouths were properly dressed to the nines everywhere you looked. Wanting to make a polite nod to this, but finding it hard to part with summer’s romantic ways, Laura Mercier Rouge Nouveau Weightless Lip Colours take their position. Light as air, nourishing but punchy too, they give a hint of colour while being utterly sheer and breathable – two things that are essential in this balmy-not-autumn-yet weather.

Road testing these for us was new face model Sasha, originally from Birmingham, who turned up in the staple summer uniform of hot pants and string top. Her lips were practically made for these lipsticks, being part Angelina Jolie, part bee-stung lipped Rosie H-W. As the colours were applied, Sasha had the team enraptured about a recent modelling job involving a bareback horse, Richmond Park and trunk loads of Chanel couture, which set hearts racing. And in quick succession, we saw the weightless colour of Mod (a true red), Shy (a pale pink) and Sin (a dark rouge) work their magic. With which came the epiphany moment of realising that it is possible to try autumn’s beauty trends now, with summer still in mind as well. That’s handy.

Laura Mercier Rouge Nouveau Weightless Lip Colours, £20 each at Space NK

Photography: Hugo Yangüela
Model: Sasha at Select Models 
Make-up: Trevor O’Keefe for Laura Mercier