There's something about summertime that allows for a more casual approach to dress; rising temperatures call for rising hemlines and breezy fabrics. Over in the beauty department, similar rules apply and the inevitable return of beach-y, tousled hair and lighter makeup marks the start of the season. Although makeup in summer months calls for a lighter touch, there is no better time to experiment with new colour palettes and textures until Labour Day. Cult classics and brand-new favourites alike complement each other to make up the must haves of beauty products for summer 2010.

Eyes
Come summer, it's time to let the eyes lighten up a bit. This is the best time to play around with colour and bold and bright shades look right when the sun is shining. NARS duo cream eyeshadow in “Burn It Blue” combines right-on-trend iridescent ocean blue and a deeper turquoise shade that packs a serious colour punch. Fear not: the dream-like creamy formula is sheer and glides on seamlessly with more staying power than your summer fling. Use the lighter shade on the lid and the darker one as a liner or smudged along the lower lash line. Colour-phobic? Ease your way into a summer shadow with metallics; they whisper, not scream, for attention and blend more easily into the skin. Dior never disappoints with their 5-shadow palette and this season is no let down: the “Incognito” palette combines shimmering shades of peach, taupe and bronze to let you shine in all kinds of ways. If you're planning to spend the day outside sweating or dancing the night away, priming the lid with Too Faced Shadow Insurance will guarantee your eyeshadow will be able to keep up with your summer fun.

Lips
As with the eyes, lips can get away with serious colour come summer, and bold, bright lips looks right with a summer tan. Creamy, juicy, shimmery or matte lips all work well in summer heat, as long as the right formula is chosen for the right occasion. Rich lipsticks work best during daytime or evening as they impart a slight sheen and great colour coverage. Yves Saint Laurent's Gloss Volupté Sheer Radiant Lipstick in Extreme Coral is a punchy bold coral that is equal parts peach and pink to flatter everyone's summer tan. The SPF 15 is a bonus and helps protect your kisser from harmful UV rays. Lancôme's Juicy tubes have long since been a favourite of makeup artists and everyday women alike; its super shiny formula looks, well, juicy, but never sticky. This season, to celebrate its tenth anniversary, a 100% natural formula has been launched. “Rose Pretty” is a soft yet bright sheer gloss that looks as gorgeous on as it does in the tube. As for gloss-addicts, nothing beats Chanel Lèvres Scintillantes in “Seashell,” a barely there gloss. For seriously long lasting colour, it's best to go with a lip stain. Joe Fresh makes these marker-like stains in an array of fun colours, like “Watermelon.” Your lips will have a flush of colour, like you've just had a popsicle or slushie. Now that's the colour of summer.

Face
Sun + sweat = melted makeup. The single most important thing about summer makeup is foundation. While a heavier, full coverage formula is fine for colder months, summer calls for a more sheer look. Always a backstage favourite and winner of countless beauty awards, Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 has been a best seller since it hit shelves. With 10 versatile shades, there is no room for error and the lightweight formula (also available in oil-free and illuminating) melts right into the skin seamlessly. Bronzer is another summertime must and a good bronzer highlights and brightens the face and enhances your summer glow. Guerlain Terracotta Light Sheer Bronzing Powder blends 5 colours into a mosaic of bronzing perfection in three different palettes for blondes, brunettes and darker-hued gals. If your summer makeup routine only requires one go-to product, then NARS The Multiple is the all-in-one stick for you. The sheer, creamy formula can be used as a highlighter, a blush, on lips or the body. Classic colours like Copacabana and Orgasm are still staples, but the new Multiple Tint collection is also divine.

Body
We all know summer is skin season, so products for the body also important. If you're craving that golden glow but are sun-wary, there's no better way to score a natural looking tan (minus the UV damage!) than St. Tropez's Self Tanning Bronzing Spray. With a gorgeous tropical smell and a natural, bronzed result without any parabens, preservatives or additives, it's impossible to tell your tan only came from a bottle that says St.Tropez and not a yacht in the sun-soaked French city. Scoring a real tan? Don't even think about skipping the SPF. Juice Beauty SPF 30 Mineral Sheer Moisturizer is an all natural sunscreen that sinks into skin immediately without the sticky, icky sunscreen smell or texture and has white grape and pomegranate juices for an added antioxidant punch. Rich but light body lotion is a must for summer moisturization, and the fast-absorbing and super light Lait Corporel Anti-Dessechant Body Milk by Biotherm has citrus extracts to soothe and moisturize. Craving a little summer shimmer? Nuxe's Huile Prodigieuse Golden Shimmer Dry Oil combines 6 precious plant oils and glides gorgeously onto skin for a seamless and perfected complexion.

Regardless of your summer beauty routine, remember to have fun with new looks, don't be afraid of colour, and most importantly, practice safe sunning and always use SPF!