Winter to spring: How to give your makeup a pop of colour

We’re finally moving towards brighter days, lighter layers, vibrant colours and warmer makeup tones. Just as the seasons change, your makeup looks can also do with a makeover, and spring is the perfect time to play with colours and bust out a new sassy attitude to go with it.

Here are some ways to wipe off that winter makeup and glide on some fun colours and lightweight products that will give you a fresh look!

Drop the heavy products: Your base no longer needs ‘rich’ formulas to protect the skin barrier from cracks and dryness. Opt for gel-based products that will help your skin absorb the ingredients quickly without making you look like a slick mess on a warm toasty day. Products like Too Faced Hangover primer (has coconut milk that sinks into your skin quickly) Milk Hydrogrip Primer are some must-haves for the sunny season. You can also go with gel-based moisturisers from brands like Body Shop (Drops of Youth), Ole Henriksen Vitamin C moisturiser or any other water-based moisturiser. They work just as great as the primers.

Less Layers: Winter makeup may have called for more products because they were easy to manage with the relentless cool breeze, but you may want to reconsider that for the forecasted warmer days. Drop the full coverage foundations and instead work with concealers. If you still need the extra layer, switch to using BB and CC creams. BB creams are hydrating products with a tint that can work as a lighter foundation layer. CC creams offer more coverage but are more lightweight and perfect for matte looks. Glossiers’ perfecting skin tint, NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser, IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream and Maybelines’ BB cream are some recommended products for you to try!

Powders are your best friend: If you’re more inclined to use cream blushes and eyeshadows for the ease of blending, drop those and grab your powders. The weather is warmer, and you can forget that natural look from cream products when it’s melting and drooping from your face. Use loose powders to set and bake your makeup (baking: dab a generous layer of powder over your concealer and let it sit for over 10 minutes. Once done, brush the excess powder off, and that will leave you with a well-blended flawless base). I swear by the popular holy grail product- Laura Merciers’ Translucent Loose Setting Powder. It’s a super lightweight formula that soaks up the oils, giving you a crease-free, airbrushed look. Additionally, if you are on the go, I would recommend throwing in a pressed powder/ compact powder in your bag to sneak in those touch-ups before meeting people. Mac cosmetics, Laura Mercier and Charlotte Tilbury, have some quality pressed powders that do a fine job.

Play with colours: No more dark shades to match the dull winter. This is the time to bust out your favourite dramatic palettes and have fun with trends you see on TikTok. Keep in mind to continue using powders as you don’t want liquid/cream eyeshadows or cream blushes to melt off due to the heat. Have fun with your lip shades as well- corals, oranges, nudes, fuchsias and pinks are a great switch from the bold colours. If you want to stick to your bold colour lip shades, you could try a shade lighter from the same palette. Alternatively, try lip stains. They provide a soft coverage on those bold shades while helping you achieve a minimalistic yet fresh-faced look. The best brand for these would be Nyx- they have an extensive range of coloured products in their eye and lip makeup collection. Nars has a good range of lip colours, and Morphe is recognised for its eye palettes to have quality pigment and a wide range of shades.

Mist away: With all the sweating, your skin can probably use some hydration and cooling. The best way to go about this is by adding facial mists to your makeup routine. These can be used instead of a primer and/or in place of a setting spray. You can also use them as a solo product to simply refresh your face on the days you go bare-faced for classes or errands. Mac Cosmetics has a collection of mists that are worth giving a try. The MAC Prep + Prime Fix+ Mattifying Mist is one particular product I would recommend for the summer looks. Too Faced Hangover Mist is another go-to product. However, I use these only when I need my makeup to last longer during the summer. It’s a lightweight formula but not light enough to wear regularly.

No matter how you decide to play with your makeup, I would suggest you all to let your skin breathe this season. Winter calls for layering and using as many products to soften and prevent your skin from cracking and chapping, but the summer and spring call for detoxing from those intense skincare routines. Remember that the grease and oils collected are grounds for skin troubles, so keep your products to a minimum. It's all about balance so remember to have fun with your colours, keep up with your skincare, and don’t forget your sunscreen!

Edited by Amy Mullen-Brown