I sometimes blend a bright lip product onto my cheeks or use a neon blush if I want to look polished, but don't have time to do a full face of makeup. A pop of color warms up my whole look. (Try Nars Blush in Taj Mahal or Exhibit A, $28.)
Expert advice: "Darker skin tones always look great with vibrant cheeks," says Daoud. She suggests wearing bright blush over a tinted moisturizer for a near-transparent complexion.
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Shocking shadow
Over-the-top celebs like Nicki Minaj and Ke$ha make neon eyeshadow look scary, but color around the eyes can be gorgeous in moderation. I like to blend a touch of hot pink from lash line to crease, or wear bright yellow on the inner corners of my eyes with neutral brown or bronze shadow on my lids.
Like shadows, a subtle streak of neon liner paired with a clean face can add a fun pop of color to your look. Try applying a fine line of electric blue, green, purple, or yellow liner in a cat-eye style or along your lower lash line. (Try COVERGIRL Liquiline Blast Eyeliner in Blue Boom or Green Glow, $7.99.)
Expert advice: To prevent creasing or smudging the color, blend concealer or pat translucent powder on your lids before you apply your eyeliner.
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Neon nails
If you're wearing a neutral outfit, a neon manicure is a great accessory. You can try a pattern (think checkerboard), where you set off the bright color with a neutral shade, or wear the bold tone on its own. I currently love oranges and pinks, which are the most popular and wearable shades. (Try CND Colour in Electric Orange or Poppyfield, $9 each).
Expert advice: "If you have warm skin (undertones of yellow, orange, or olive), choose bright corals, oranges, and reds," says CND Nail Artist Candice Manacchio. "For pale, cool skin tones, opt for blue, purple, or yellow shades. And if you're neutral, everything will look great."
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Try them all
"The neon trend is about being bold and having fun," says Manacchio. So even though we just gave you a bunch of guidelines to pick the right shade for you, remember, there are no rules. Go with whatever color strikes you!
"Neons can work on any skin tone," says Daoud. "What's most important is to balance your look. Choose where you want to apply your neon pop, and keep the rest of your makeup simple. This way the result will be modern and approachable."
Even if you're a pink lip gloss and beige eyeshadow kind of gal, you can make the so-hot-for-spring neon trend work for you with these tips
If you're like me, you've already been to the mall to eagerly try on a pair of neon jeans -- only to find that they make your behind look twice as big. (Insert dejected face here.) Well, I say screw the jeans. Bright, bold makeup is where it's at. Next to coffee and eye cream, it's one of my favorite instant pick-me-ups.
From hot pink lipstick to bright, checkerboard nails, there are so many amazing neon trends to try this season. High-voltage colors look great with neutrals, or, if you're more adventurous, pair them with other saturated shades.
Of course, the trouble with neon makeup is that it can easily look stuck in the '80s -- or just plain unattractive -- if you go overboard. So I turned to pro makeup artists for their advice. I told them about my favorite looks and got their feedback on everything from finding the colors for your skin tone to making sure the final look is balanced. Here are my favorite ways to add an instant flash of color to your look -- and how to pull it off.
