2013’s most-wanted makeup colors

Red lipstick is sexy for sure. But lipstick that's a bold poppy shade with a matte finish? Look out. "It's passionate and strong," said makeup artist Pat McGrath backstage at Prada, where she chose the color to complement spring's bold prints. (Try CoverGirl Lip Perfection Lipstick in Hot). Pair strong lips with a shimmery neutral shadow and highlighter on the cheekbones (choose pearly shadows and highlighter for fair skin and gold ones for darker complexions).

Put your played-out gold or silver shadow aside: Smoldering copper is sexier and more grown-up. Pair it with smudgy black liner to give definition to your eyes. Try L'Oréal Paris HIP Studio Secrets Professional Metallic Duos in Charged with Smashbox Limitless Eyeliner in Onyx.

Here's the thing about a lot of trendy nail colors: They're really fun...if you're 18. Enter charcoal. It's sophisticated, chic, and works for any age or skin tone. (We like Butter London 3 Free Nail Lacquer-Vernis in Chimney Sweep). But it can go edgy, too: Look for a charcoal with a hint of silvery gray shimmer, like OPI Nail Lacquer polish in Suzi Skis in the Pyrenees, a dark gunmetal shade that manicurists brushed on nails at Jason Wu.

"Sheer plum blush gives cheeks a flushed, fresh, athletic look," says makeup artist Quinn Murphy. Tap a cream or stain, like Hourglass Aura Sheer Cheek Stain in Rouge, onto the apples of the cheeks.

Pantone says the color of the year will be emerald. We say thank you, Pantone. The vibrant green looks awesome as eyeliner (try Shiseido Luminizing Satin Eye Color Trio in GR305, which makeup artist Dick Page used to create graphic floating liner at Michael Kors) and on nails. Stick with shimmer-free cream shades, like OPI Nail Lacquer in Jade Is the New Black, Rescue Beauty Lounge Nail Polish in Recycle, or Essie nail polish in Pretty Edgy.

Yes, you read that correctly: Sky blue shadow is back. Makeup artist Dick Page painted a graphic line of Shiseido Luminizing Satin Eye Color Trios in BL310 Punky Blues along the crease at Michael Kors, while makeup artist Tom Pecheux applied a metallic hue on lids at Anthony Vaccarello. Keep the shade from looking too retro or costumey by wearing it as an eyeliner, says Murphy. Or pair sky blue shadow with black liquid liner.

Sure, this look won't exactly work for the office. But electric purple lips (like the ones makeup artist Stephane Marais gave models at Haider Ackerman) are girly, whimsical, and, OK, maybe a little intimidating. "You need guts to wear it," says Marais. To create the look at Haider Ackermann, he coated lips with M.A.C. Lipmix in Burgundy, and then added metallic sheen using M.A.C. Pigment in Violet. (You should probably skip that in real life—unless you want to look like Barbie.) "This color is striking against dark skin and dark hair," says Murphy.

Alright, fine. Pearly gold or silver highlighter isn't new. But the way you want to wear it is different: Sweep it across your lids and cheekbones for an allover lit-from-within glow. Choose white or silver shades like M.A.C. Cream Colour Base in Pearl and Jouer Highligher in Camellia for fair skin, or a gold one like Urban Decay Urbanglow Cream Highlight in Sin for darker complexions.

Platinum shadow makes your eyes look huge, and it works on fair complexions that can't wear copper. Makeup artist Peter Philips applied a platinum shadow (Chanel Illusion d'Ombre Eyeshadow) all the way up to models' brows at Chanel's spring 2013 show. You can get the same eye-opening effect by blending a chrome, such as Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow in Galaxy, across lids and onto the corners of eyes. "It's really important to stay away from shimmery blush or lip gloss," says Murphy. "That's just too much."

Remember when you would use Wite-Out as a makeshift nail polish when you were bored in fourth-grade homeroom? (No? That was just us?) Take that idea, dial up the sophistication factor about 100 percent, and you'll end up with one of the hottest nail shades for 2013. But you don't want to look like you're actually wearing the correction fluid, so choose a nonstreaky nail polish formula with a shiny finish, like Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Xtreme Wear Nail Color in White On.