Sure, this season is all about springy brights, but sometimes a girl just need to go full-on vampy! Case in point: supermodel Joan Smalls' dangerously sexy, merlot-stained mouth at the Met Ball. Not only does the strong color give lips a full, luscious vibe, the hue is flattering on all brown skin tones, from the fairest porcelain to the deepest mocha. For a dramatic look, we love Clinique Long Last Soft Shine Lipstick in Merlot ($14.50, sephora.com). If you like stains, try Sephora Lush Flush Lip & Cheek Stain in Pinot ($12, sephora.com). And for sheerer, buildable color, go for Korres Natural Color Lip Butter in Berry Stain ($10, ulta.com).

Springtime is the perfect time to push the beauty envelope — and one of the easiest ways is through your nails! This season, nothing's hotter than manicures with texture (think glitter, wild prints, and funky decals). We found a nail polish that makes this trend super-easy to DIY at home...

Winged eyeliner always adds a touch of drama to your look, but what about winged eyeliner drawn along the bottom lashline, instead of the top (ala Meagan Good)? The liner look instantly gives your eyes a dose of unexpected, edgy glamour. To create the sexy swoop, simply drag your bottom lashline with eye pencil, and then flick it out and up toward the outer tip of your brow. We love Benefit BadGal Liner in Extra Black ($20, sephora.com), a sooty, jet-black hue that goes on super-smooth; and Givenchy Magic Kajal Eye Liner ($22, sephora.com), a dusky shade inspired by the kajal used by Indian women to accentuate their eyes.

We certainly don't believe in slavishly following every hot trend — you should only embrace a trend if it works for you.  And ladies, the ever-popular, neon '80s lip moment works for brown skin. Just check out how hot pink lipstick pops against "Entourage" star Dania Ramirez's golden-brown skin tone. Not only does the shade brighten up her complexion, it's a super-sexy look for spring! To get the look at home, try Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss in Indulge ($20, sephora.com), an electric fuschia; or Revlon Moon Drops Lipstick in Love That Pink ($8.99, drugstore.com), a creamy hot pink. Go 'head, pink lady...

This season, blue makeup is having a major moment — think denim nails, aqua eyeshadow and in Kelis' case, an electric shock of cobalt eye pencil. We're so in love with this look! Despite giving off an ultra-bold and edgy vibe, it's actually super-simple to create: all you have to do is trace your bottom lashline with a bold blue pencil, and smudge a bit with a Q-tip or your finger. Pair it with a matte orange lip and gold accessories, and voila! You're a rock star, girl. To create the look at home, try Make Up Forever Aqua Eyes Waterproof Eye Liner in Majorelle Blue ($17, sephora.com), a metallic royal blue hue; or Sephora Jumbo Eye Pencil in Blue 509Y ($6, sephora.com), a bright, true blue shade.

It snuck up on us, but white nails are suddenly, surprisingly, one of the hottest nail trends of the season! And why not? Set against brown skin, the pale shade gives a lounging-poolside-in-St.-Barts vibe that's perfect for spring. Plus, as bold as the hue is, white is also a super-versatile neutral. Since white goes with everything, your mani will look just as fierce with an evening gown (hello, Monica) as it does with jeans and a tee. To get the look, try Revlon Nail Enamel in White on White ($4.79, drugstore.com) or China Glaze Nail Lacquer with Hardeners in White Cap ($6.50, ulta.com).

Go There Wednesday

Blue eyeshadow is tricky... one false move and you're in 1980's debutante territory. But if you do it right, the look can be wildly chic; just check out Anika Noni Rose's glamorous periwinkle lids at the ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon...

There are quite a few universal beauty truths (for example, kohl-rimmed eyes give a rock star vibe, or red lips equal Old Hollywood glamour), but right now, this is our favorite: mile-long, faux lashes instantly make everyone look a thousand times sexier. Chrisette Michele's Grammy night lash look might be a little much for day, but why not try upgrading your lash game by using a curler before applying a volumizing, lenghening mascara? We like Shu Uemura's cult-favorite Eyelash Curler ($19, shuuemura-usa.com) and L'Oreal Telescopic Explosion Waterproof Mascara ($7.67, walmart.com). We guarantee that the combination of these two miracle workers will give you the lushest, look-at-me lashes ever!