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How to nail the growing Barbiecore trend after release of new Barbie film

Bright, hot, pale or dusky, let the pink buzz around the movie inspire your make-up bag this summer

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As a beauty writer, I normally raise an eyebrow at the so-called trends that land in my inbox (“sparkle like a Markle” anyone?).

But Barbiecore, or pink beauty, is one trend I’m definitely jumping on.

I’ve yet to see the film, but to me Barbie is something that brings an instant sugar hit of happiness not least where beauty products are concerned. To misquote Lenny Bruce, few things are more goyish than Barbie, but I love her nonetheless.

That smiling plastic princess, with permanently arched feet and lobster-claw hands lived in a shoebox under my bed with her sisters Skipper and Stacie as well as good old Ken.

Although Ken was more of a shopping buddy than a beau to my Barbie, who preferred the brooding enigma that was Action Man (he was a great deal smaller in stature, yet the height difference was no barrier to their love).

That famous Mattel pink Barbie logo represented a fun distraction from the dreariness of green school tunics, dismal grey weather and grubby exercise books full of shaky blue handwriting.

In beauty terms, it’s a colour that instantly transforms a drab complexion, be it in lipstick, blusher or nail polish form.

And in terms of packaging, a few pink bottles brighten up a bedside table like nothing else.

Currently adorning my own bedside table is Ellis Brooklyn’s Florist perfume (£110), in a vibrant pink bottle befitting Barbara Millicent Roberts herself (Barbie’s full name, if you please).

Although it’s called Florist, granny’s eau de toilette this ain’t. The punchy bouquet contains a sharp bite of citrus on a bed of creamy white florals (think “expensive-smelling”) and a fuzzy warm base of upcycled cedarwood, making it the perfect fragrant backdrop for summer days cruising around in the jeep with Ken.

My current blusher crush comes courtesy of Westman Atelier, founded by celebrity makeup artist Gucci Westman — namely, the Baby Cheeks Blush Stick in “Poppet” (£44).

It boasts a gorgeous velvety texture, chic packaging and the “Poppet” shade is fittingly doll-like — a pink designed for the apples of the cheeks à la Truly Scrumptious in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Sugary pink lipsticks may sound fun in theory, but be warned — they can make your teeth look yellower (I learned this the hard way).

If you’re willing to take the gamble, then MAC’s Matte Lipstick in Candy Yum-Yum (£20) should be your weapon of choice. But if sporting bright pink on the face isn’t your bag, then your nails are the next best thing.

There’s Leighton Denny’s wonderfully named Three Times A Lady polish for a dusky pink hue, or his Plush Pink shade if you’re fond of a fierce fuchsia, (£12.50 each).

And if you’re feeling really brave, you could opt for the ultimate hair transformation with Fudge’s Paint Box Hair Colourant in Pink Riot (£9.31) — a semi-permanent flamingo hue, for tresses that look like a pink-tinted dream.

So go ahead, embrace the power of pink and let Barbiecore brighten up your world.

Ken would certainly approve.

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