This spring, don’t let stars like Kerry Washington and Beyoncé have all the fun. Put your fresh face forward with the hottest beauty buys of the season. Spring is always a great time to experiment with colors, so check out our guide of the top palettes and products on the market.
By Lauren Blassingame
Your face is your canvas, and like any painter, you want to begin with a smooth and even-toned surface. Brighten dark spots and camouflage wrinkles with a lid primer like Photo Finish Lid Primer by Smashbox. Before applying any foundation, use a concealer to blot out dark, under-eye circles. We love the Supernatural Airbrush Concealer by Philosophy. This three-shade compact goes on light and is perfect for blending to your complexion. Finish your look with a light reflecting shadow like e.l.f. Brightening Eye Color. The four complimenting shades help transform your look from day to night. Just apply the lightest colors to your lid and brow bone, using the darker color to fill in your crease.
Stamp your pout with neutral peaches and vibrant shades of fuchsia for spring. Nude lips like Mo’Nique’s make a delicate and modern statement for medium to medium-dark complexions.
The trick to a perfect nude pout is to line lips with a skin-toned (no dark lines allowed) pencil like the Milani Retractable Pencil in Most Natural. Blend and finish with a soft petal or peach-colored lipstick. We can’t get enough of LORAC cream lipstick in Baby Doll; it’s extra moisturizing. Or, add springtime spice to your look with bright lavender and pink shades of fuchsia. Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick offers a great collection of eye-popping shades.
Bronzers and shimmer are great for special occasions, but we want to get our everyday glow on for spring. Get flawless skin that glistens like megastar Beyoncé’s.
Beyoncé gets her look with Dremu Cashmere lotion, which is rich in therapeutic emu oil. We also love CeraVin Moisturizing Cream for its deep penetrating qualities, great for extra dry skin; Olay Quench Body Lotion, which contains light reflecting fragments, providing a natural looking glow; and Carol’s Daughter Mango Mélange, an extra smoothing body butter.
Say goodbye to your winter gloves and closed-toed shoes. Now is the time to let your nails embrace the spring air. Manis and pedis are a good away to keep your nails looking good, either done at home or by a professional, as we introduce the must-have colors of the season. Just remember: moisturizing your nails is a great way to keep them looking healthy and strong.
Cotton candy-colored hues are all the rage this season. From lilac to buff pastels, there are lots of options, so be pretty in pink. Before you choose your color, strengthen your nails with a base coat like Rimmel London Stronger Base Coat. Next, pair you favorite nude-colored pumps with a buff nail, the ideal accessory for any outfit. We love the hydrating nail lacquer by Borghese in Botticelli Nude.
Work your pout with playful, girly colors this spring like actress Tichina Arnold, who was stunning recently at the 30th Annual College Television Awards Gala. When on the prowl for the perfect springtime lip gloss, think bold and sweet. Fuchsia, flamingo pink and bright raspberry are all delicious hues—great for the season.
For an electric pout, pucker up with Neutrogena MoistureShine Lip Soother in Glaze. This tropical shade contains SPF 20 to keep your peckers extra smooth. We’re also digging e.l.f.’s Hypershine Lip Gloss in Vixen. The cotton candy scent is to die for! If you don’t want to go so bold, delicate peaches and pinks make quite a statement. A favorite to the stars, NARS Lip Gloss in Turkish Delight is perfect for layering over your favorite neutral lipstick.
