It’s not just the weather that’s hotting up right now - make-up counters, too, are positively sizzling with holiday-hot hues for eyes, lips and nails. On this season’s catwalks, some of the shades flashed on models’ eyes, lips and nails would rival your child’s brightest crayons, but the trend can be easily be translated for real life. Here’s how to give your make-up bag a sunny (but wearable, we promise!) update ...

Prime time ...

Before applying colour, create a fresh, luminous-looking ‘canvas’ with a quick application of tinted moisturiser. We’ve said it before on these pages, but it’s a message worth repeating: skin should be protected with an SPF of at least 15 all year round, but especially during the summer months. All too often, we’re so busy ensuring our children are well covered - usually easier said than done! - that we forget about ourselves. One of our latest discoveries, the Hissyfit skincare range from Australia provides outstanding sun protection, whilst pampering skin with naturally nourishing ingredients and giving skin a lovely glow. We love the Hissyfit Saving Face Anti Ageing Foundation (£23), which boasts a broad spectrum SPF 50. Another Beauty Blog favourite, Bobbi Brown’s EXTRA SPF 25 Tinted Moisturizing Balm (£32) is ideal for summer, or try No 7’s Dual Protection Tinted Moisturiser SPF 15 (£11.50). If you’re off on hols or out and about in the sun for long periods, choose use a facial sun formula, such as Nivea’s DNAge Cell Protection Anti-Ageing Sun Cream SPF 30 (£14.80).

Bright eyes

Whilst only the brave and truly trendy will be recreating the bright yellow (yes) eye make-up seen on several spring/summer catwalks - especially if they remember wearing it the first time around, in the Eighties! - other made-for-summer shades such as shimmering blues (think cloudless skies, swimming pools and exotic seas!), greens, acquamarines and more can look gorgeous when applied in a fresh, modern way. Try a sweep of sheer, glimmering eyeshadow on lids, softly blended into the sockets and up towards the browbones, or swap your usual black or brown eyeliner for a flash of something more exotic. For the most wearable look, stick to a single, bold colour and ‘dilute’ by blending until you achieve an intensity you’re comfortable with. The latest, super-blendable eyeshadow formulas allow you to layer colour until you create the desired effect, such as the new L’Oréal Paris Infallible Eye Shadows (£6.99 each). We love the clever cream-to-powder texture - try Permanent Khaki or Purple Passion. Look out, too, for soft, colourful eyeliners, too, such as Clarins’ Double Wear Stay-in-Place Eye Pencil (£13.79) in Midnight Blue or Bourjois’ Khol & Contour (£4.99) in Vert Inspire. A good make-up artist’s trick: try mixing a little Vaseline with a stronger eyeshadow, to make it more sheer and give it a dewy finish.

Luscious lips

Again, while there were some super-bold pouts seen on the catwalks - strong reds and bright fuchsias were big news - unless you’re used to wearing bright lipstick, a ‘pop’ of juicy-coloured gloss offers a much more wearable alternative. A new gloss on the block, Soap & Glory’s Mighty Mouth Lip Balm (£7) in Naked Pink conditions summer lips as it adds shine and a wash of subtle colour. Or try L’Oréal Paris’ Glam Shine Reflexion (£7.19) in the slightly sparkly Sheer Pink, or irresistably summery-sounding Sheer Watermelon, Frambroise, Grenadine, Peach or Cassis (we love the angled applicator wand, too). Look out, too, for Lancome’s Classic Juicy Tubes (£14.50) - that non-sticky, busy mum’s beauty staple that can be snuck into your jeans or jacket pocket, for gloss-to-go! - in Strawberry Funk, Melon or Fraise (yum!). If you do go for a bold lipstick, however - such as Collection 2000’s new Lasting Colour in Pink Shock (£2.99) or Yves Saint Laurent’s Rouge Allure (£22.98) in Insolent - apply a lipliner first, in a complementary shade, for a clean, pro-looking and longer-lasting finish.

A show of hands ...

Put this season’s must-have brights at your fingertips! For a long time viewed as a beauty ‘no no’, matching lips and nails are suddenly the height of fashion again (as they say, what goes around, comes around ...).  Equally, if you’re not convinced about wearing brights on your face, dipping into an ice lolly-bright nail polish is a fun way to enjoy a shot of colour. We love Barbara Daly’s Make Up Fashion Mini Nails (£3 each, at Tesco) in new Think Pink, Tango and Zest, and Mavala’s Mini Nail Colour (£3.95) in Nice (a gorgeous tangerine) or Estée Lauder’s new Pure Color Nail Lacquer (£14) in Pink Thrill, Tempting Melon or Sweet Pea. On a practical note, chip-free nail colour and being a busy mum don’t realistically go hand in hand (sorry). A great solution is to go naturally clear or buffed on your hands, and save the sizzlers for your toes, where the colour should last a little longer. If time and budget allow for a treat, consider trying the new, professional Jessica GELeration pedicure, during which non-smudge gel “overlays” are applied to the natural nail and colour can last for up to 3-4 weeks (prices vary according to salons, to locate your nearest, tel: 0845 2171360). What could be better for a flat-out mama, or for a summer holiday splash-out?

Flower power

If you’re going to San Francisco ... or even if you’re not, wearing flowers in your hair is another great way to instantly update your style for the long, hot days ahead (here’s hoping!). And don’t just save ‘statement’ flowers for weddings and parties - securing a school run ponytail or casual chignon with a big, blousey bloom looks great and fantastically summery. Check out the lovely new range of flower clips at Monsoon and Accessorize - some of which can also be worn as a corsage and pinned to bags and accessories - and scour department stores, too, for different styles. Meanwhile, when you’re between shampoos and need to give your tresses some instant va-va-voom, try John Frieda’s new Luxurious Volume Anytime Volume Refresher (£5.49). Designed to give instant root lift and absorb excess oil, it could have been made for busy mamas!

See Jenni’s blog and beauty videos at nonstopmama.com.