It’s time for Spring Beauty!
At last spring is here, giving everyone a little more hope and bounce to their step. The spring flowers popping up are a very welcome sight; after the depths of a long winter, we can all feel a little jaded. Central heating, cold winds and too much builder’s tea (speaking for myself here…) can take their toll on our complexions, leaving us feeling lacklustre and tired looking. Dehydration can make finelines become more apparent and dark circles are also more commonplace in the winter season. No wonder we can’t wait for the longer warmer (and a little bit drier) days. Here are a few spring beauty ideas to get you ready for the new season.
Spring Beauty Spring Clean
Spring is the perfect time of year to check in with your skin and take stock. How is it feeling? Is your routine still working – are your products still suitable?
Our skin changes all the time; it is affected by so many different factors – sleep, diet, hormones. It is also affected by our environment – the change in seasons can definitely have an influence over our skin. Having regular check-ins will help you to understand and support your skin better.
In general, as the weather gets warmer, the elements become kinder on our skin. We can maybe start to switch to lighter skincare formulations. Our skin still needs hydration and nourishment but perhaps not as much as it does in the colder seasons – of course all skins are different, and some dry skins will need intense nourishment all year round.
I like to really sort through my skincare at this time of year. I’ve got a spring clean challenge here which I recommend doing for your skincare and your makeup (it’s fun I promise). It is a great way to see if anything is missing from your routine, or if you need to take anything out – these simple moves can make such a difference. I often find some forgotten gems too!
If your skin is suffering from the effects of winter I would recommend lots of hydration – the colder weather often leaves our skins parched. I love to use a hyaluronic based serum – the Nourish ones are long term favourites; their Radiance Rejuvenating Peptide Serum is one I buy again and again. I was also really impressed with the Haeckles Algae Plump.
The skin’s natural barrier can also become compromised in the winter so using products with ceramides can help to strengthen it.
A gentle exfoliator can be a welcome addition to any skin at any time of year, however spring seems like an apt time to add one in, revealing new skin and all. Be gentle though, you can definitely over exfoliate, here is a post explaining it more.
Spring Beauty Makeup
Sometimes when our skin isn’t going quite to plan, the temptation of heavier foundations can lead us into more trouble. It is true that in winter skin can benefit from richer skincare formulations, however heavier makeup products can make skin concerns look worse, they can also exacerbate issues. Spring means a fresh start so try switching full coverage foundations for lighter textures. I see so many women wearing heavy faces of makeup and more than often they don’t need it.
I always use something lightweight even if someone is suffering from acne for example. This will even out the skintone without masking any natural radiance from areas of the face that are in good condition. Ere Perez’s Oat Milk Foundation is a long standing favourite, it enhances skin but also has buildable coverage. I also love the Kjaer Weis foundations and the original Cream Foundations, these give a nice coverage but can also be lightened up with a moisturiser. In fact any foundation can – mix in some of your regular cream and voila, instant tinted moisturiser. This is a really nice way to create that spring beauty glow with products you already have.
I’m also really impressed with the new Odylique foundations – they give a nice natural coverage and are so full of skin friendly ingredients – a fusion of skincare and makeup.
I then go in with a concealer and add extra coverage just where needed, for example under the eyes and blemishes. Keeping it minimal means that more of the natural texture of the skin is kept, and ultimately the complexion looks fresher. I really like the Ere Perez concealers and also the Kosas one – they have just added more colours to the range.
Blusher is your best friend when it comes to giving a spring beauty look. Cream versions are my favourite as they give that glow from within effect. Also brilliant if you literally have two minutes to do your make-up, they’ll brighten instantly. I’ve got an in-depth blog post here on blushers
A fresh new lip colour is also such an easy way to shake up your look for the new season.
Changing up your beauty routine is a wonderful way to give your skin a boost, but switch things in one at a time. If you change everything at once you won’t know what is working for you and what isn’t. What one skin likes, another might not – beauty is not one size fits all. Give things a chance too; these days everyone wants quick fixes, but it can take a few weeks to see the difference in a new skin regime. Take your time, listen to your skin and you’ll soon have that spring glow about you.
What are your favourite spring beauty tips?
Main image shot by Felicity Ingram, makeup by me.
