About halfway through February our moods begin to lift. The days are squeezing in a few more hours of sunlight and spring collections from your favorite designers are beginning to hit retail locations. Bright, happy hues epitomize the season and gradually convert your dark, smoky eyes into beams of sunshine. It’s time, pop the new shades of spring into your cosmetic bag.
In China yellow has a negative stigma, but don’t fear this daisy-fresh color! Glowing on the runways, designers including Kate Spade, Derek Lam and Tory Burch have taken the lemony hue to a whole new level. Illuminate your eyes with NYX Single Eye Shadow ($5.00) in Mellow Yellow. The mineral eye shadow blends easily and the rich pigments will keep you bright-eyed all day long. Bring spring’s exhilaration down to your fingers and toes as you paint your digits in the cheerful Yellow Brilliant polish from Anna Sui Nail Art Color ($15). The high-gloss nail polish is enclosed in a dress-shaped pied-à-terre and exclusively formulated with a resin that gives your nails a high-gloss and a superfluous luster. If yellow inside your makeup bag is a little too bold, whip out a citron-hued Stephanie Johnson Malibu Snap Mirror ($18.00). Super-cool and mega-cute, the double-sided mirror is the perfect accessory for reapplying your petal-pink lip gloss.
Spring into the season with girly-girl shades of pink. The blooming color has Burberry’s makeup collection blushing. Shades of strawberry ice cream and cotton candy parfaits will light up your face, especially when your pout is perfectly colored in Pink Apricot Burberry ‘Lip Velvet’ Long Wear Lipstick ($30). The elite gel technology provides your lips with rich color and hydration. Give your cheeks a natural-looking flush with Burberry ‘Siren Red - Light Glow’ Natural Blush ($42) in Coral Pink. The radiant finish incorporates warm glowing accents for a crisp, top-of-the-morning freshness, especially when applied to the apples of your cheeks. Finish your spring-chicken look with a gloss from the Burberry ‘Lip Glow’ Natural Lip Gloss Set ($65; $81 value). Each hydrating lip gloss reflects light and creates an illusion of fuller, kissable lips; the set includes: Tea Rose, Cameo and Nude Beige.
Along with pastels, purple showers the spring color scheme. From the lavender taffeta textures of Vera Wang to the violet florals from J.Mendel, the super-fem shade finds its way to your lids and fingertips. We are crazy about the Lilac Shiseido Shimmering Cream Eye Color ($25), this shadow goes on creamy and doesn’t get caught in your creases, looking fresh from morning ‘til night. The secret Super Hydro-Wrap Vitalizing DE formulation makes application smooth and even. Estee Lauder Pure Color Nail Lacquer ($20) in Lilac Leather turns your figures and toes into a bouquet of flowers. This polish has a satiny-sheen and will give your peep-toes a freshness from spring through summer.
As spring unfolds, the season begins to dictate a glistening joie de vivre. Celebrity makeup artist, Trendee King, is a fan of the LORAC AWARD SHOW GLOW TANtalizer ($32) especially for photo shoots, music videos and pool shots.
“I love the Lorac Tantalizer and always have one in my kit,” says King. “It is an amazing substitute for a spray tan if you don’t have time and washes off with soap and water.”
Kings tip: the best way to use Lorac TANtalizer [for medium skin tones] is half lotion and half TANtalizer to give your legs and body the most luminous, honey-colored shimmer. If you are very fair, use three-quarters lotion and a quarter of the TANtalizer. For an added sexiness to your spring ensemble, the Lise Watier Glitter Gel ($13) in Etoiles De Glace, Etoiles De Mer or Etoiles De Genie sprinkles your complexion with just the right amount of glitter. Apply this to your cheekbones, temples, lips or cleavage.
The minimalist look is always a hit for spring; it’s the opportunity to ditch the heavy colors of winter and give your skin and mind a “spring break.” Chanel knows color and always does the a la naturale look right. Our picks from the beauty collection include Rouge Coco Shine Hydrating Sheer Lipshine ($34.00) in Candeur, In Love Joues Contraste Powder Blush ($43.00) and the Ombre Essentielle Soft Touch Eyeshadow ($28.50) in Lotus or Safari.
