We’re not trying to pressurise you – but we thought you might be interested to know what to expect for the spring/summer of 2012/13 – fresh from the catwalks of London. It’s always good to know what to expect in advance!

Get a head start on the top beauty trends for next spring. Lisa Haynes ventures backstage at London Fashion Week for the inside beauty scoop on traffic-stopping looks to get you noticed.
Cast your eye over the catwalks and you're never far away from a jaw-dropping crazy look. London Fashion Week's front row witnessed gold leaf hair at Topshop Unique, metallic green lips at Mary Katrantzou and “neon nymph tricolour eyes at Vivienne Westwood.
But there were also, thankfully, the beauty trends that turn heads for their copycat factor; the glossy looks we can actually incorporate into our everyday makeovers.
This season, more than ever, has been acclaimed not only for its creativity but the showcasing of enviable and wearable looks. And the same is true of beauty.
Pick the 2012 upcoming trend that pleases your eye and add catwalk finesse to your mirror-routine.

SUNSET EYES

Given that spring/summer is usually about colour, colour and more colour, bright and beautiful eyes were a backstage rarity. The only major paintbox-style shades that did grace models' eyelids were reminiscent of a sunset afterglow; all apricots, oranges and pinks.
Backstage at House of Holland, MAC's Lucia Pica mixed red and dusty peach on lids for a see-through effect, contrasted with bold black eyeliner, to add toughness for the Pastel Punks theme.
Make-up artist Hannah Murray created a “sunset wave of colour” at Jaeger London using matte coral eye shadow all over the eye, and the shimmer of Ashish's floral sequin collection was echoed in the make-up, with a pink glitter wash over the eyes.

PONYTAIL PARADE

Making a swinging impact on the runways, ponytails proved to be a backstage hair hit once again.
There was the polished and preened, such as Fekkai's Paul Hanlon who created a “slightly uptight, austere” low ponytail for Jonathan Saunders, and Nicole Farhi's sleek and sporty high pony by Sam McKnight, who declared ponytails “the staple for spring/summer”.
And then there was the fresh-out-of-bed relaxed. At Mary Katrantzou, McKnight wanted freshly washed hair to create an Urban Flowerchild look that featured a fine veil of loose hair around the hairline, for tresses that floated down the runway.

PASTEL TAN

Catwalks were awash with ice cream pastel shades and the trend translated onto limbs too.
St Tropez unveiled custom-made Skin Illuminators in silver-rose and blue, applied by Nichola Joss backstage “to compliment pale pastel colours in the collections”.
After prepping with a wash-off Instant Glow for a base colour, the Illuminators created a 3D-effect glow on models' skin.
Joss used a silver-rose sheen at House of Holland for “naturally sun-kissed English Roses”, while plumping for a true blue sheen at Erdem to marry with the Wedgwood hues in the clothes “for a ladylike and grown-up feel”.

HEAVY METAL

Metallics were enjoying a spring/summer shimmer moment both in collections and backstage.
Topshop Unique went top-to-toe, quite literally, with Egyptian-inspired gold locks but the looks were fresher on faces with a metallicised play on neutral make-up.
There were glam rock-inspired bronzed eyes at Sass & Bide, silver and gold dusted over eyelids at Louise Gray and metallic crystal nails at Antipodium.
But the way to wear your metallics for S/S12 is via highlighting.
Georgina Graham at Felder Felder raved over upcoming MAC product Metal X Cream Shadows, which she buffed over cheekbones and temples for a “quick and easy way to get a sheer, classy look”.

SIDE CHIC

Things are slightly askew on the hair front next spring...
From partings, to ponytails and plaits, hair was frequently flicked to one side for an off-kilter edge that doesn't look too considered or ‘done'.
The execution is key. Anthony Turner for TIGI created a low side-parting bun at Christopher Kane that was combed over with fingers rather than a brush “so it looked more home-made”.
It was all about shoulder chic elsewhere with a loose side plait at Ashish, and low glossy ponytails at Jaeger London that nonchalantly draped over one shoulder.

BROW BRIGADE

Ditch the tweezers and cancel that threading appointment because big brows are ‘the' way to define your face for S/S12.
Whatever the look, it was all about brows being defined, bold and ‘brushed-up' with a slight nod to the androgyny trend.
MAC's Gemma Smith-Edhouse created purposefully brushed-up eyebrows at Danielle Scutt, which she described as “healthy and glossy, with no hint of lines or shaping”. Director of Artistry Terry Barber also praised the big brow at Sass & Bide, adding: “Avoid the threading – it looks too perfect!”
Burberry completed its uber-natural look with a parade of models sporting bushy, healthy brows.

Watch this space closer to the time to see how BeautySouthAfrica.com helps you translate the runway looks into practical and pretty.

This article originally appeared in the Belfast Telegraph