Beauty spot

Accentuate any outfit this season by painting your nails a vibrant colour. Bright hues and metallics are hotter than hot and spearhead the fashion stakes as we head into summer. Eye-catching tones of cobalt, indigo and majestic green make an impression alongside shimmering violet, fuchsia and pearl jade. Beauty experts say those who nail it will be right on trend for 2012.

L'Oreal Paris New Zealand makeup director Lisa Matson shares her top tips for nails:

For precision application place brush in the middle of nail just below the cuticle and press down lightly to spread brush; next push brush forward into cuticle, then sweep down to nail tip.

Le Vernis nail polish dries quickly, so try to apply each coat in one or two strokes.

For optimal colour intensity, apply two to three coats.

To help prevent chipping, take the polish over the tip and slightly under the nail.

Clean up any mishaps with a small liner or lip brush dipped in nail polish remover.

Before replacing the brush ensure the neck of the bottle is clean to avoid problems reopening it.