Who’s Ready for a Spring Makeover?
I am! I am! After a cold and rainy winter here in Los Angeles, this weekend’s balmy summer weather was a much welcome reprieve. (I was sad to hear from Siobhan on Saturday that the East Coast was having no such luck.) But while temperatures have dipped back down to normal for now, my yearning for a new spring-summer look will not abate.
What can I say? Yes, trends are there to drive consumerism, I know I know. But a girl’s desire to change up her appearance with the season goes far beyond that—it’s downright hardwired (maybe even primal?).
The question is what to do exactly, while staying on a budget and also keeping things clean. I have a few ideas. I’m loving the whole peachy-coral-orange thing happening right now in makeup (along with some aspects of the bright-colored ’70s redux in fashion)—I’ve had just about enough of the 40s-style lip I’ve been sporting for a few years now (even if Elle says a dark lip is still in for this spring). First, I’d like to try this Living Nature Summer Bronze Pressed Powder. Then I’m going to try blending two RMS colors—Smile (which is much brighter than it appears in pics) and this new lip shine Moment—to get the perfect peach for me. I’m also going to try this coral nail polish from Scotch Naturals called Highland Fling, as well as the beigeish one Siobhan’s been raving about (reviews to come!) called Heather Blush. I think that beige and peach play so well together.
Last but not least, my hair needs a pick me up. I’m thinking it’s time for a trim and some shaping, and maybe some lemon-juice highlighting. Have any of you done that? Oh, and I’m going to start wearing more color.
Okay, your turn! What spring trend is making you weak in the knees right now? Do you have any plans to update your look?
Gorgeous pic by Mark Borthwick for Rag & Bone
I’m in the same mood! All about coral lips, colored clothing for the first time in my life (I got some dusty turquoise jeans wtf), and I think I need a trim too (wah).
I am loving coral clothes right now too…just so happens, coral is “my color.”
In terms of makeup, I am liking lightweight tinted moisturizers (i.e. Origins Vitazing) with bronzer (Korres) and tinted lip balm. Fresh and light for the warm weather! I also just picked up Nvey Eco’s peach blush and love that too.
Did you see the all-eco look Rebecca Casciano did in coral? She’s fierce!
http://www.spiritbeautylounge.com/blog/makeup-monday-katie-gets-the-star-treatment-from-makeup-artist-rebecca-casciano/
I”m still very stuck in last year’s baby doll v neck dresses. I wore them out last year, and found a bunch at Ross. they’re super comfortable and a middle length so I don’t have to worry about maxi dress that aren’t quite long enough. I’m also thinking about locing my hair!
I hadn’t thought about coral, but now you ladies are making me crave some! My wardrobe always goes through a major Crayola overhaul come spring — begone gray sweaters!
So, I am excited about flowy sundresses with wedge sandals. Every pair I save on Pinterest is yellow so far, so that must mean something.
Makeup-wise, I have recently realized that despite what they taught me at Beauty U, you can wear just ONE shade of eyeshadow at a time, not three… which is proving very liberating and making it easier to experiment with fun stuff. Like sheer purple. Which looks rad.
And on the hair front, I am growing out some unfortunate layers cut by a well-meaning hair stylist who just didn’t seem to believe me when I said “no really, I know it looks straight now, but it dries curly.” SIGH. So there’s a lot of clever half-up-with-clips happening in my world right now and I am all about baby bobby pins, which let you do the piece-y thing without a lot of visible pinning.
Just looking to lighten up a bit with RMS’ living luminizer…which is hopefully landing on my doorstep as I type! Other than that, looking forward to shedding these sweaters and tights. Any day now…though I did wake up to snow this morning.
In cleaning up my makeup act over the last few months, I have bought lip colors. I never could wear lip colors before as they all irritated my lips even wearing for just a few hours (even things I thought were clean choices). Now that I understand what clean makeup really is, I’ve been able to wear lip color, and I definitely notice the desire to do so more as spring is warming up the earth. I love the RMS lip shines in both Moment and Bloom, and Alima’s lip balms in Fig, Pomegranate, and Nectarine. These are all really subtle, as I don’t like the way I look in really obvious lip color. They also don’t have that lipstick-y taste. The other thing I did was buy some shimmery makeup, like Alima’s Luminous Shimmer blush in Sugar Rose. It’s another really subtle touch that freshens up my look for spring/summer. I plan to use it on face, collar bone and shoulders in tank top weather.
And I’m also using a body brush and going to take Dr. Alkaitis’ Universal Mask for a spin. Do those count as a makeover? More behind the scenes I guess.
im so excited for coral and turquoise all over the dang place! i think im going to go w/ a mohawk and some coral lip stain :)
I have some coral dresses, but can only where them when I’m not caring for my 8 month old, which is never.
I had been sporting opaque red lips, but am moving towards sheer for the summer, with peach cheeks and a mild bronzer and highlighter. I’m thinking that Studio 54/roxy girl/Jerry Hall/Desperately Seeking Susan might work as a starting point.
Elizabeth, what’s your opinion on the body brushing?? I just started dry body brushing a few weeks ago and I love it! I always thought it sounded ridiculous but somehow decided to give it a spin. I’m experimenting with softer vs. firmer bristles (great ones from Spirit Beauty Lounge). I feel like it’s a spring cleaning for my skin. Anyone else doing this?
I know I’m ready! This morning I have on all RMS except for liner and mascara: Uncover on face, Promise on cheeks and lips (that color is amazing!) and Lunar and Solar on eyes. Solar is very golden and when I received it yesterday I was unsure – but I think it looks good with my blue eyes. Oh yes – and Scotch Naturals – love it! I have on Hot Toddy on my toes and it has lasted for weeks! Next is either Heather Blush with Scotch Naturals (they have a great offer of a “Cocktail Trio” on their website) or “The Full Monty” from Butter. I don’t polish my fingernails – I’m too rough on them. I just shape, buff and go.
This weekend I picked up a Korres lipstick in, what else, Coral!
It’s texture is pretty sheer, so you can wear it light or put a few layers for a bolder look.
So far, so good. The color in the tube is frightening looking, but it is definitely sheer on.
Also recently purchased a bronzer from Physicians Formula organic line. It’s very nice and doesn’t make me look unnatural in my pale skin.
@Rebecca, I’m actually liking body brushing! I’m with you, too, I always thought it sounded a bit ridiculous, so I’m not sure why I even decided to try it. I bought the smaller round brush from Spirit Beauty Lounge. In addition to sloughing off dead skin (gross), I also feel like it really wakes me up in the morning. Though, I just read somewhere that you’re supposed to brush until your skin is pink and I definitely don’t do that. Do you??
I am a coral and peach girl. Best with my skin tones so very excited to read all the comments on suggestions.
@Rebecca and Elizabeth , I have been body brushing for a year now and wow you won’t believe how wonderful your skin gets. I am smoother and more even. I am in my 40’s so this is big. You don’t have to brush until you are pink.
Check out this link for info on it. http://www.naturalhealthtechniques.com/healingtechniques/dry_brushing_technique.htm
Elizabeth, if I use the firmer brush I’m pink with one swipe…it’s a bit much for my sensitive skin. With the softer brush I spend a total of probably 3-5 minutes, and I’d say it’s more “glow” than “pink.” I’ve read that one should spend 15-20 minutes brushing, but I can’t see having that much time on a daily basis and I’m not sure my skin would appreciate it.
As much as I have spring fever, I simply refuse to follow trends. I guess I am the anti-consumer.
Hi Therese, I agree, this is big! I’m in that age range too so taking care of my skin/body has become especially important to me.
That link has useful info on techniques, but I have to say this is the sort of stuff on dry brushing that, prior to my giving it a shot, made it seem quite silly to me. As an anatomy and physiology teacher at the college level, I can say that much (not all) of the info on that site is unscientific/misleading. But, that doesn’t mean that dry brushing isn’t useful – it makes sense that gentle stimulation increases blood flow to the skin (very healing) and certainly it is great for exfoliating. And it feels fantastic! I kind of view the dry brushing thing the way I do Kombucha…I don’t buy all the claims of being the miracle for nearly everything, but it sure is tasty and it makes my digestive system feel good. That is to say, I don’t have to believe every claim to get something useful out of it.
I remembered what got me thinking that maybe I’d give the dry brushing a try…it was this post on Evan Healy’s blog: https://www.evanhealy.com/blog/show/64. There are still some of those claims about dry brushing mentioned that I don’t believe are realistic, but it’s short and I mainly noted it for technique.
@Rebecca, @Therese: after regular body brushing, do you notice and difference with cellulite? Curious if that claim is too good to be true….
@elizabeth: I am not sure about the cellulite. I switched my diet a few years ago to Dr. Schwarzbein’s plan and I think that had a huge effect on my cellulite. My legs look better but maybe the brushing helps too. I should have paid more attention. I started the brushing on a whim and the effects kind of caught me off guard. Sorry for not being more helpful.
@Elizabeth, I don’t think I’ve been doing the brushing long enough to tell (just a couple of months), but maybe there’s some sort of firming/lifting effect – possibly just my imagination.