Spring’s officially here—time to revamp your makeup arsenal, ladies! Trade in your wintry berries, browns and grays for brighter, poppier shades: Think candy pink nails, peachy blush and violet eyeshadow a’la Kerry Washington (get the look with Black Opal Mineral Brilliance Eye Shadow Mosaics in Zanzibar, $7.99).
The great thing about peach blush? The orange-y undertone instantly warms up brown skin, giving you a natural-looking, outdoorsy flush (whether you’ve spent time in the sun, or not!). Try Urban Decay Afterglow Blush in Score ($17, at Sephora.com)
Deep, opaque shades are gorgeous in winter, but in spring and summer, there’s nothing sexier than a sheer hint of a tint on lips. Nars’ new Pure Sheer SPF 15 Lip Treatment ($25, each) comes in six super-sexy, moisture-infused shades that heal and prevent chapped lips while giving lips a subtle kiss of color.
Bronzer is a key makeup essential all year round, but it’s especially key in right now (bright spring makeup shades dazzle against sun-kissed skin!). To get your faux glow on, blend a bronzer two shades darker than your complexion (try Iman Sheer Finish Bronzing Powder in Clay or Sand, $14.99) along cheekbones, bridge of nose, and the outer perimeter of your face.
Metallic nail shades are hotter than ever this season! Go for a mani or pedi in statement-making, liquid metal hues like silver, pewter, bronze, copper and gold. We’re head over heels for OPI Nail Lacquer in Bling Dynasty ($4.50) from the brand’s Spring 2010 collection.
Eyeshadow shades in oceanic blue hues—think aqua, teal, and turquoise—were all over spring runways. The good news for us is that blue looks positively electric on brown skin (exhibit A: Estelle). Try Mark Color Cream for Eyes in Cabana ($6).
Not exactly pink, not exactly orange—coral-colored gloss is this season’s hot new “goes with everything” shade. Our favorite interpretation right now is MAC’s genius new Superglass in Gift Wrap ($9), a super-sparkly, beyond-sexy gloss that hits counters on May 6th.
Neon nails are so very spring 2010! Take a cue from Ciara and rock a look-at-me hot pink polish like Orly Nail Lacquer in FabFuschia ($7.50)
Shimmery neutral eye shadows—think taupe, champagne and sand—are a fabulous everyday look for spring. Jazz it up for evening with a hint of teal or purple along lower lashlines. Stila Pro Artist Palette No.1 ($28) comes with six award-winning shades that look stunning on brown skin.
One of Spring Fashion Week’s most recurring beauty themes was super-glossy, ice pink lips. At the VH1 Upfronts, makeup artist Monifa Mortis created the look on Queen Latifah by lining her lips with brown pencil, and filling in with CoverGirl Shine Blast Lipgloss in Sparkler ($8.49), a high-shine, pale pink hue.
