Spring is almost here, which means it’s time to shed our winter makeup rituals for a more lightweight, fresh-faced look. Spring is all about pinks, peaches, and natural glows to transition into the bright colors and tanned skin of the summer months.
With less focus on hydrating dry winter skin and more attention toward wearing SPF, your spring makeup collection might look a bit different than what you’ve been used to these previous months. The good news is that the light, breezy spring weather calls for less fuss and more natural beauty.
Here are 5 must-have spring products to make the most of the warming weather:
1. SPF
Wearing protective sunscreen is important in any weather, even in winter when the sun isn’t visible. However, as the sun does show itself more frequently in spring, SPF needs to be a necessity in whatever makeup routine you follow. Aim for an SPF above 30 at least, so that your skin is actively protected against harmful ultraviolet rays that can cause aging, wrinkles, and even skin disease.
Wear SPF under your foundation and on top of any exposed parts of skin. Remember to reapply every 15 minutes if you’re planning to be outdoors for an extended period of time!
Some foundations, serums, and BB creams actually come with built-in SPF protection so you don’t need to worry about layering on too much on your face. My favorite SPF-infused BB cream is Dr. Jart’s Premium Beauty Balm, which can be found at Sephora. It’s lightweight, provides sheer coverage and even skin tone, and it even has white gold flakes to add a natural shimmer to your skin!
2. Highlighter/Illuminizer
Dewy, glowing skin is a perfect compliment to spring. Highlighters accent your cheekbones, brighten your smile, and draw attention to any blush or bronzer you might be wearing.
Both cream and liquid highlighters should be applied to the apples of your cheeks, in a downward motion to emphasize the cheekbones. It’s a similar application method to contouring, but without as many colors and products to blend. Apply highlighter over your foundation so that it stands out, but make sure to blend well so that you don’t give away your secret!
Like concealer, the highlighter’s color should be a little lighter than or the exact color of your skin. Depending on your preference, you can opt for a matte highlighter or a shimmery one.
My favorite is Josie Maran’s Argan Illuminizer – it’s made with argan oil so it’s hydrating for your skin, and it has a natural glimmer with bronze to blend easily into skin while highlighting it. The liquid formula can even be mixed into your foundation or applied on your collarbone for extra flushes of springtime glow.
Photo via www.beautyfrosting.com
3. Mascara
Spring is all about natural, flirty looks – so mascara is a must. Even if you decide to go without eyeliner, swipe some mascara on to freshen up your look. Mascara will not only lengthen and thicken your lashes, but it will also make your eyes look bigger and more awake.
There are plenty of fabulous mascaras to choose from, but you can’t go wrong with the ultimate, fan favorite, Benefit’s They’re Real Mascara. This formula is light enough to prevent clumping but powerful enough to extend your lashes in a very natural way. It’s smudge-proof, waterproof, and foolproof – a much easier alternative to fake lashes for that dreamy, heavy eyelid look.
4. Lightweight Moisturizers
Gone are the days of layers upon layers of heavy moisturizing cream and winter dryness. Spring skin care is a little easier in that your skin won’t dry out as much, so you can ditch the oily, thick stuff for lightweight, matte moisture.
Aveeno’s Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer is the perfect everyday face lotion to hydrate your skin for a natural glow. It contains active soy ingredients that are clinically proven to even out your skin tone – I wasn’t surprised to see that it was an award-winning choice for brides on their big day!
5. Sheer Lips
Full-coverage, matte lipstick is great for winter months, when your lips are prone to chapping or drying out more easily. But now that it’s spring, your lips can breathe a little easier with sheer coverage and a light tint of color. Spring is all about pinks and pastels, of course, and sheer lip gloss and tinted balms are perfect for that simple pop of color.
Clinique’s Chubby Sticks are pigmented lip balms that provide a wash of sheer color while hydrating your lips. There’s a wide range of colors, but for spring I recommend light pinks like Curvy Candy and Mighty Mimosa. These are magical additions to any handbag because they can be used in lieu of your regular chapstick, but they’ll give you the glossy smile of a carefully applied lipstick.
Photo via www.possibilityblog.com
Good luck with your spring makeover –Â what better way to enjoy the brighter weather than with a fresh, fun look?