Updating Your Makeup Routine for Spring
Spring marks the beginning of easing ourselves out of gray winter weather into sunnier, slightly warmer weather. This seasonal transition also means that makeup looks also start to transition, with darker, cooler tones being put away as brighter, more colorful shades come into play. Whether or not you choose to completely update your beauty routine for spring, here are some helpful tips to consider.
As spring approaches, this is a great opportunity to focus on natural glow, but not without considering sunblock. While it is technically a skincare step, there are many tinted moisturizer options that include SPF, so you can layer these on top of your moisturizer. According to L’Oreal, the main difference between a tinted moisturizer and a traditional foundation is that tinted moisturizer offers less concentrated color, more skin hydration, and more moisturizing benefits. Meanwhile, foundation simply offers coverage and helps with evening one’s skin tone. Because tinted moisturizer has less pigment and a lighter texture, it allows for more natural glow to come through, without leading to the cakiness and heaviness that can sometimes come with foundation. This is a great tip for spring as we start to experience warmer weather. Another option is BB (“beauty balm” or “blemish balm”) cream, which is slightly heavier than tinted moisturizer and delivers similar skin benefits, including hydration, sun protection, and antioxidants, according to Garnier. Dr. Jart+ Premium BB Tinted Moisturizer and Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 are great choices.
The next step is concealer, which can also contribute to the lighter, glowier look for spring. Applying a concealer that is slightly lighter than your foundation can add to this effect, and it is best applied under the eyes or around the nose, but to cover up blemishes you may want to use a concealer that’s closer to your foundation shade. Highlighter is another way to enhance this glow, and it is usually used around your cheekbones, nose, and even to accentuate your upper lip. NARS, Saie Beauty and Laura Mercier are quality brands to shop for concealer from.
If you want to use a bronzer or contour, you can, but try to go light in your application. Sometimes bronzer contributes to a more summer-y look that doesn’t always fit with spring, and if you haven’t tanned in a while, it may look harsher on your skin during the spring than during the summer. Brow gel is also a must, preferably in a shade that’s as close as possible to your natural eyebrow color. The Kosas Air Brow Tinted Clean Volumizing Eyebrow Gel and the Ilia Essential Brow Gel are two brow products worth considering.
Now, color! Blushes in pinker shades are a great option for spring, as well as berry tones, as we step away from some of the more brownish, mauve shades. A cream or a powder blush will do, but I personally feel like cream blushes will contribute to the dewy effect more than the powder ones. Applying with a brush is my preferred method as I find that blending is easier, but sponges are also good options. When it comes to blush, aim for a more romantic look than the flushed, cool look of winter. The Tower 28 BeachPlease Lip and Cheek Cream Blush and the Pixi Beauty On-the-Glow Blush are cream blushes that are super easy to layer. In addition, the Charlotte Tilbury Cheek To Chic is a flushed powder blush with a lighter pink in the center of the palette and a heavier pink around it that can easily be swirled and blended with a brush.
For eyeshadow, I would also go with pink. Having multiple shades in a similar color palette is always a good idea. Powder, instead of cream eyeshadow, is my preferred option as I find that it is easier to blend multiple shades, but make sure to use a brush. Start with a darker shade along the crease of the eyelid, then apply more of a base color to the rest of the lid. If you want, you can add a shimmery color along the lash line for a more striking look. The Ilia Necessary Eyeshadow Palette in warm nude offers a great shade range for this look.
While there are some no-mascara trends on the Internet, mascara is a must in my book if you are wearing makeup. Tubing mascara, unlike traditional mascara, contains polymers which wrap around individual lashes so that they don’t smudge or flake during the day. Polymers are molecules that create a film that prevents the mascara from smudging or flaking. Plus, they are easily removable with simply warm water and gentle pressure without requiring the sometimes harsh, oily makeup removers. Ilia makes great tubing mascara.
Finally, some sort of lip product — whether it’s a gloss, stain, tinted balm, or lipstick — is crucial to any spring makeup look. Try to aim for rosier colors, but bright, darker pinks are also welcome. The Merit Shade Slick Tinted Lip Oil, the Clarins Natural Lip Perfector, and the Laneige Lip Glowy Balm in the shade Berry are all great options, but make sure to choose a lip product that isn’t too dry or mattifying.
Spring is a great time to evaluate your makeup stash and figure out what works best for you, whether that means using what you already have or heading to Sephora. While it can at times seem overwhelming, hopefully these tips will help you with your spring makeup look!