MAKEUP Gear up summer makeup by getting out of neutral

Designer sees color as a mood enhancer minus chemicals.
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
Poppy King lives up to her name: She's bright, beautiful and intoxicating with her enthusiasm for color.
In 1991, at age 18, the Aussie native jumped into the beauty biz when she couldn't find the perfect matte lipstick. She came up with her own, started a cosmetics company (Poppy Industries) and named her first lipsticks after the Seven Deadly Sins.
The red-lipped, leopard-print-lovin' lass quickly got a rep for her business smarts and her eye for spotting trends. The beauty world and customers craved her cosmetics, which are inspired and influenced by flea market and vintage store finds, Hollywood glamour, art, music and film.
In 2002, she became the color designer for Prescriptives line (www.-prescriptives.com) and is charged with energizing its products.
She sat down recently for a quick interview:
Q: When did your love affair with color start?
A: I think as soon as I was allowed to dress myself. I was the original 'Punky Brewster.' I was always wearing colorful clothes that didn't match. I would wear clogs and one would be red and the other yellow with polka dots.
Q: Why is color so important?
A: It's a mood enhancer that doesn't involve chemicals. There was a study that said when you wear red lipstick, you smile more.
Q: How can the color-shy become more color-savvy with their wardrobe and makeup?
A: Use accents of color. It can be a contrast to make more of black, brown or a neutral shade. Carefully placed bits of color can be very powerful. Know what colors work with your skin tone and take it from there.
Q: What's the biggest makeup mistake that you see women make?
A: It's neutral or full-on, too little or too much. I say, pick one, either the eyes or the lips, and play them up. Don't try to do both. Then add a little liner and mascara, and you're ready to go.