The Fresh Face of Spring
On runways, as in nature, spring is a time of fresh starts. And the best beauty trends to emerge this season embrace that freshness, some literally (see: the fresh-faced, no-makeup effect), others figuratively (all kinds of fresh takes on decidedly dramatic looks). So whether you feel like going bare or bold, you’ll find inspiration below, plus the clean makeup finds to act on it.
Bare-faced beauty
Call it a return to the ’90s, as many have, or the simple springtime craving for a clean canvas. Either way, skin that looks makeup-free—but isn’t quite—is a big star of the season. The goals being dewiness, evenness and apparent nakedness, consider treatment-infused skin tints and CC creams in place of standard foundation. A few favorites:
Saie Slip Tint SPF 35, with hydrating hyaluronic acid and brightening licorice root
Westman Atelier Vital Skincare Complexion Drops, powered by energizing ginseng and softening sunflower and almond oils
Juice Beauty Stem Cellular CC Cream, spiked with soothing aloe and emollient coconut oil
Soft-focus eyes
Though cat eyes and other feats of winged liner haven’t disappeared entirely, the precision they require has largely given way to the opposite this spring: delightfully smudgy softness. Whether you want to skip the liner altogether or use it in combination with an easy, smoked-out shadow, now’s the time to resort to smear tactics. A few favorites:
Nudestix Magnetic Eye Color Eyeshadow Pencil in Smoke, which functions as a smudgy liner and/or shadow
Jones Road The Best Eyeshadow in Smoky Grey, as dense or diffuse as you want it to be
Ilia Liquid Powder Eye Tint in Dove, for the softest, springiest interpretation of smoke
The shining
Also known as Mermaidcore, this ode to all things ethereal and gleaming might at first seem a bit too Ariel-forward for grown-ups. But when you think of it in the context of, say, A Mermaid by John William Waterhouse, or even Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, you can probably imagine going for a well-placed touch of pearlescence. A few favorites:
Milk Makeup Cream Highlighter, which is equally subtle—but not just for lids (try some on your cheekbones, collarbone—even shoulders)
TooD Freestyle Color Cream, which can also go anywhere, can make a bit more of a statement with shades that range from Sweet/Sour to Push/Pull
Lashes for days
Whatever’s happening on your lids—smoke, gleam or nothing at all—it pairs well with another spring eye trend: maximalist mascara. All but replacing false lashes and extensions, these formulations are causing quite the flutter. A few favorites:
Tower 28 MakeWaves Mascara adds dramatic length and volume with one stroke
Róen Beauty Cake Mascara is prized for its buildability—go as big as you want
Honest Beauty Extreme Length Mascara + Lash Primer is the equivalent of fake lashes in a tube
Liquid lips
Also known as vinyl lips, latex lips or simply blinding shine, the trend works well with tint or without.
Kosas Wet Lip Oil offers every option from the subtlest (Exposed) to the deepest (Fruitjuice)
PYT Plump It Up Lip Gloss is a clear coat that works on its own—or over lipstick
Supergoop Lipscreen Shine SPF 40 pairs a gorgeous gleam with sun protection