lifestyle

IT'S SPRINGTIME! Here, 3 quick spring beauty tricks to celebrate.

 

 

 

 

 

By KAHLA PRESTON

We made it, you guys. We survived winter, and now spring is here to reward us for our perseverance.

As we all know, ‘tis the season for starting afresh. As soon as the temperature starts creeping up again, the regeneration begins: our houses get a good clean, the knits are packed away for another year, and our fitness regimens start moving back outdoors (or they, you know… just start in general).

However, these aren’t the only parts of your life that need an overhaul at this time of year – your beauty routine also needs freshening up.

Here are three easy tweaks to help put the spring in your (beauty) step.

1. Get your flower on

If Meryl Streep’s The Devil Wears Prada character could read what I’m about to say, she’d raise an eyebrow and say wryly, “Florals? For spring? Ground breaking.” Touché, Meryl.

But it’s a truth universally acknowledged that spring is synonymous with flowers (and, unfortunately for many, hayfever). So embrace it with a deliciously, petally perfume that’ll make winter seem like a distant memory.

Some of the most popular floral fragrances include Marc Jacobs’ Daisy (and its many incarnations), Clinique’s Happy, and just about anything by Chloe.

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Tip: If you’re a bit of a novice when it comes to perfume shopping, spring-friendly fragrances aren’t hard to find – they’re usually the ones with flower-influenced names. It’s rather considerate of them, really.

Just as an FYI, you should know that this post is sponsored by Dove. But all opinions expressed by the author are 100 per cent authentic and written in their own words.

2. Get oily

In winter, slathering on heavy, luscious body butters is the ideal way to inject the moisture back into your skin – but as the days start getting sweatier, that’s the last thing you’ll feel like doing. However, during spring, the weather is still mild enough for you to get away with an intensive moisturising product – but it doesn’t have to be dense. The golden ticket? Body oil. It goes on light and, in many cases, dries almost immediately, leaving you feeling all dewy without that heavy sensation.

Bonus – these oils usually smell really delightful. I love smashing mine on just before I hit the pillow and letting the magic happen while I’m asleep. If you don’t like the thought of marinading in oil overnight, put it on when you hop out of the shower – the steam and moisture in the air will help all the goodness sink right in.

Spring, the perfect time to warm up your make up routine

3. Warm up your makeup

Transitioning your makeup from winter to spring isn’t always easy.

In the first few weeks out of winter your skin is probably still a bit paler, duller or more ashen than usual, so summer’s vibrant colours won’t necessarily look quite right straight away.

The trick here is to gradually warm up your makeup routine throughout spring.

Lips – Winter suits deeper, more dramatic lips in plum, crimson and berry tones (or even darker ones if you’re into the Lorde look). But the end of the big chill doesn’t mean you have to do away with these rich shades – ease them into spring by adding a bit of lip gloss or balm to dilute the intensity.

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Simple.

Otherwise, add some pink, cherry, coral and raspberry shades to your lipstick armoury – the pop of colour will brighten your complexion, especially if it’s got a bit of shine to it.

If you’re hesitant about using lipstick, try a chubby stick instead – the colour is usually a bit sheerer.

Skin – Spring days call for light, glowing foundations that can stand up under a bit of heat. BB and CC creams, mineral powers and tinted moisturisers will give your face a wash of colour without looking too heavy on your skin. And, of course, SPF is essential – but you knew that already. (Right?)

CheeksBlush is practically spring in a container. Whether it’s in powder, cream, stick or tint form, a bright blush will have your cheeks looking rosier than your neighbour’s flower garden. You can enhance the dewy effect with a swish of highlighter and/or bronzer.

Brows – Brows are big in 2014 – quite literally – so shop around for some powder, gel and/or wax to maximise the eyebrows you’ve already got. You might be pleasantly surprised by how much a filled-in darker brow can change your face.

What are your top tips for a spring make over?

Here’s just a few things we look forward to in Spring…

Not only is Spring a great time to tweak your beauty routine, it’s also the perfect time to re-work your wardrobe and welcome back your favourite colourful pieces, and thanks to new Dove Invisible Dry Deodorant this Spring you won’t have to worry about nasty white marks ruining your look.  Invisible Dry is Dove’s first anti-white mark deodorant proven to leave no marks on 100 different colours, from black to white and all colours in between.  Whilst it doesn’t leave any white marks on clothes, it contains all the goodness of Dove including its unique ¼ moisturising cream,  which also helps nourish skin to reduce the irritation from shaving. Dove believes women should have the freedom to wear any colour they want, not just black and white, knowing that their deodorant will not leave white marks on that colour. Dove wants to change the way women feel about wearing colour across the world! By liberating women to wear more of the colours they love, whether it is black, white or any colour in between, Dove wants women to feel confident and free to wear the colours they love most. Whether it’s to work, out with friends, at home or while shopping, Dove Invisible Dry gives women the confidence to wear more of their favourite colours by protecting against white marks ruining their clothing.