15 of the prettiest spring beauty looks you should definitely start wearing now!
15 of the prettiest spring beauty looks you should definitely start wearing now!
Aquamarine Eyes
Peepers light up with soft washes of ocean blue, turquoise and sapphire from Paris to New York. Think mermaid-meets-city-girl – this look is summer-inspired, free spirited and electrifying. To ace this cool aquatic eye trend, blend lustrous or cream shadows in blues and greens. Try Cle de Peau Beaute Cream Eye Color Solo in 303 Pure and Vivacious Aqua Blue, $60; Tom Ford Cream Eye Color For Eyes in Siren Blue, $68; and Chanel Illusion D’Ombre in 126 Griffith Green, $52.
Budding Rose
Spring blossomed at Dior’s runway show. Eyelids, lips and cheeks were softer than rosebuds. Apply Dior Mono Eyeshadow in 864 Fabulous, $49, onto three-quarters of the eyelid. Then, softly dust on Kosé Esprique Glow Cheek in Sweet Pink, $25. Finish off with Clinique Stick Moisturizing Lip Color Balm in Supreme Sorbet, $26.
Doll-Like Peepers
To do this season’s XL lashes right, curl and prep lashes with a primer like Benefit They’re Real Dual Purpose Tinted Lash Primer, $42. Then apply a lengthening mascara like Clio Salon de Cara 003 Finger Cara, $24.90.
Supermodel Off-Duty
From Stella McCartney to Versace, healthy skin stole the show. First, invest in a good primer. VDL Lumilayer Metal Cushion Primer, $63 (15 g x 2), reflects light at the perfect angle for a soft inner lustre. Go light on the foundation. We like Shiseido Synchro Skin Lasting Liquid Foundation, $74 (30 ml), which showcases your skin's natural beauty, and YSL Le Cushion Encre De Peau, $88 (14 g), for its feather-light finish.
Futuristic Metals
Nails wore the hues of space-age metal alloys at Chanel, Daks and Antonio Berardi. These stark greys and aluminium work well with a neutral makeup palette. Try Chanel Le Vernis in 522 Monochrome, $39; Marc Jacobs Beauty Enamored Hi-Shine Nail Enamel in 210 Confession, $34; and Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Buffalo Nickel, $16.90.
Straight On
For a modern no-nonsense look, tame waves and frizz, and wear tresses straight and sleek. Remington S9620 Silk Wide Straightener, $159, indicates the best temperature for your hair type, and PLAY by TUFT 1” Smart Styling Iron, $125, offers consistent heating for best results. Dial up on shine and smoothen flyaways with Mermaid Perfume Hair Shine Spray, $28 (118 ml), and keep the look clean and powerful by wearing minimal makeup, or just a statement red lipstick.
Scarlet Smackers
Take a leaf from Jason Wu and Laura Biagiotti – dress lips in matte red. We love Tarte Tarteist Lip Paint in Bae, $28, for its head-turning ultra-matte full coverage finish, and ZA Vibrant Moist Lipstick in 401, $18.90, for its colour brilliance and hydrating benefits. Keep the rest of your makeup minimal – go for clean, luminous skin and soft, fluffy brows. Trade your black brow pencils for ettusais Powder Brow Liner in Natural Brown, $26.
St. Tropez Glow
Recreate the French Riviera post-vacation radiance. To get this rich-girl glow sans UV damage, mix some ultra lightweight Nars Liquid Laguna Bronzer, $60 (30 ml), with moisturiser and spread from the centre of the face outwards. For more facial definition, apply The Make Up Store Bronzing Powder Leopard, $59, just below cheekbones, to your temples, and to the sides of your chin. If you want a little more colour, warm up cheek and lips with Stila Convertible Color 5-Pan Palette in Sunset Serenade, $67.
Second-Day Liner
More riveting than tight-lining and less fussy than cat eyes, this tough girl look has the right touch of irreverence. Line eyes with a pencil liner like Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Kajal Liner, $45, or Estée Lauder SuperNoir Shadow & Liner in Blackest Black, $42, and smudge. Skip mascara. But be sure to lighten dark circles with Innisfree Mineral Stick Concealer, $13, to avoid panda eyes.
Couture Orange
At Blumarine, Issey Miyake and Les Copains, models wore the iridescent glow of a tropical sunset on eyes and cheeks. To nail the look, warm up peepers with MAC Eye Shadow in Amber Lights, $23, or Shu Uemura Cream Eye Shadow in P Beige, $40. Sculpt cheekbones with Lancome Cushion Blush Subtil in 31 Splash Orange, $55. Finish off with a hydrating lip balm.
Fairy Dust
Keep the rest of your makeup pared down when trying this look. Pat Make Up For Ever Glitters, $25, on eyelids with a wet brush, and lock it down with Too Faced Glitter Glue Glitter Shadow Primer, $32. For a subtler effect, use Sephora Colorful Eyeshadow Glitter in 203 Wedding Day, $17.
Choppy Bangs
Unlike the neat bangs of yester-year, this season’s look is more natural. Prep hair with a texturising spray such as Percy & Reed Wonderfully Wavy Texturising Spray (150 ml), $30, or L’Oreal Professionnel Tecni.Art Wild Stylers – Next Day Hair, $28 (250 ml). If facial or scalp sebum tends to make your fringe go limp by midday, Lush No Drought Dry Shampoo, $16.50 (50 g), can soak up excess oil and achieve texture on-the-go.
Perfect Plaits
Plaits suggest warrior princesses and Grecian aristocrats by emphasising the bone structure and long neckline. This regal hairdo is easy to perfect. For a high-shine finish, apply Moroccanoil Glimmer Shine, $52 (100 ml), before plaiting. To keep frizz and flyaways in check, spritz on Aveda Air Control Hair Spray, $48 (300 ml), after plaiting. Even if you have curly or unruly hair, you can still perfect this hairdo. Simply apply the The Body Shop Wheatgrass Fixing Gel, $14.90 (150 ml), before plaiting to hold the style in place.
Quirky French
Give the classic French manicure a tongue-in-cheek twist, as seen at Gucci and Monique Lhuiller. Use a nude or light pink polish like Nails Inc Sweet Almonds Powered By Matcha in King William Walk, $34, as your base. Pick bolder colours for the tips. Try Ciate Gelology in Mistress, $26, or OPI Jade Is The New Black, $16. Tip: Perfect the French tip at home by using a band-aid as a stencil so you’ll never paint out of the line.
Summer Scarves
Add colour with a hair scarf. Pull your hair into a loose bun. Then, fold the scarf lengthways. Wrap it around your neck, bring the ends to the top of your head and tie a bow. Adjust your scarf so the bow sits on one side of your head. Our picks include Bimba Y Lola Leaf Scarf in Pink, $110; I love flowers by agnès b., $425; and Diane Von Furstenberg Grace Flower Power Atlantis Blue Scarf, $290.
