Twenty-six top beauty products to help you look your best this spring

Best eyeshadow

M.A.C Mineralize Eye Shadow x 4 in A Sprinkle of Blues, $52 at M.A.C (www.maccosmetics.com).

Sapphire, sky, cerulean, navy – whatever shade you prefer, blue is definitely having a beauty moment this season. Whether it’s seventies punk-rock-inspired indigo liner or a classic mid-century wash of azure over the lids, this quad offers a stunning selection of shades.

Best brow-care product

Wet & Wild Tame & Define Eyebrow, $2.99 at drugstores and mass-market retailers.

Brows are defined but not severe this season and this clear gel allows you to groom them without overpowering them Added bonus: You can swipe a clear layer of it on your eyelashes to create a subtle sheen.

Best mascara

Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Color Lash Enhancing Mascara in Ocean Blue, $30 at Shoppers Drug Mart (www.shoppersdrugmart.ca), Hudson’s Bay (www.thebay.com) and London Drugs (www.londondrugs.com).

A blue-shadow skeptic? Try this is cobalt mascara instead. A limited-edition shade, it’s flattering for all eye colours and skin tones and can be layered under black mascara or worn solo to brighten the whites of your eyes.

Best eyeliners

Smashbox Always Sharp 3D Liner in Neptune, $23 at Shoppers Drug Mart, Murale (www.murale.ca) and Sephora (www.sephora.ca). Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof Long-Lasting Eyeliner in Bleu Métallique, $29 at Chanel beauty counters (visit www.chanel.com for retailers).

When it comes to eyeliner, precision and staying power are key. Whether it’s a classic cat eye or a smudged, grunge-style day-after look, these easy-to-use deep-blue liners won’t migrate to your cheek by midday. The reflective 3-D pearls in the Smashbox liner add a dash of shimmer to the dark hue for added drama.

Best hair serum

Shu Uemura Ultimate Remedy Extreme Restoration Duo-Serum, $38 at salons across Canada.

Go ahead and rock Vivienne Westwood’s teased-hair tower: In addition to improving the overall health and strength of your locks, the lipid-rich lotus-flower extract in this cream-oil serum also prevents breakage.

Best shampoo/conditioner

Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Shampoo and Conditioner, $28 each at Shoppers Drug Mart, Target (www.target.ca), Jean Coutu (www.jeancoutu.com) and London Drugs.

Heat treatments, styling tools and one too many backcombed bouffants can lead to dull, lacklustre hair. Restore shine and eliminate frizz with this smoothing duo, encapsulated with natural olive oil, to soften and hydrate strands without fading your hair colour.

Best hair repair

Rodin by Recine Olio Lusso ($65), Babalu Boutiques, ilovebabalu.com

A lesson in alchemy, this blend of eight essential oils – including almond, sunflower, apricot and calendula – repairs dry and damaged hair and gives strands a lustrous shine without weighing it down or leaving a greasy residue.

Best hair brush

Moroccanoil Boar Bristle Classic Brush, $72 through www.moroccanoil.com.

At Chloé’s runway show this season, hair stylist James Pecis made it clear: Smooth, straight locks are as on-trend as a pleated midi-skirt. Instead of dry shampoo, though, use this brush, made with 100-per-cent-natural boar bristles, to comb your natural oils from root to tips for shinier, healthier hair.

Best nail-care products

Revlon Nail Brightener, $6.50 at drugstores and mass-market retailers. Sally Hansen Nail Rehab and Cuticle Rehab, $8.95 each at drugstores and mass-market retailers.

The hottest tip from the Dior and Chanel couture runways? Ladylike natural nails are the must-have “manicure.” In order to eschew polish (and especially if you’re suffering from nail-art-ravaged digits), try these nail-care formulas that restore your talons’ brightness and even out their surface.

Best concealer

Marc Jacobs Remedy Concealer Pen, $47 at Sephora (www.sephora.ca).

Leave it to Marc Jacobs to package a skin-care workhorse (this concealer pen brightens and erases signs of fatigue, dehydration and aging) in an instrument as covetable as a Montblanc stylo. Available in eight shades, it’s infused with coconut water, vitamin extracts and Remedy Complex, a unique blend of anti-aging and hydrating ingredients. After a late night, it’s better than a cup of coffee.

Best moisturizer

Rodial Instaglam Skin Tint SPF 30, $44 at Shoppers Drug Mart (www.shoppersdrugmart.ca) and Murale (www.murale.ca).

The best way to achieve a dewy glow may be an energetic jog, but it’s easier to use this tinted moisturizer. It offers just enough coverage for everyday wear and contains such hydrating ingredients as hyaluronic acid and coconut oil that plump and soften.

Best compact

Cover FX Pressed Mineral Foundation, $35 through www.coverfx.com.

Duplicating the barely-there makeup seen at the Marni and Valentino spring shows means selecting the exact right shade of foundation. Good thing this pressed foundation (bolstered by amino acids, green-tea extract and vitamins C and E) comes in 24 shades, which maker Cover FX has helpfully divided into pink, neutral and golden undertones. One light application provides enough coverage for the office; layer it more liberally for on-camera appearances.

Best pore minimizer

Guerlain Abeille Royale Dark Spot Corrector Pore Minimizer, $165 at Guerlain beauty counters (visit www.guerlain.com for retailers).

From Dick Page to Charlotte Tilbury, top makeup artists all agree on the importance of a flawless base. And while you can mask blemishes and dark spots, it’s far better to start with a smooth surface. This lightweight serum is enriched with royal jelly and instantly reduces the appearance of pores and evens skin tone and texture.

Best liquid foundation

Shu Uemura Lightbulb Foundation and Sponge Set, $66 through www.shuuemura.ca.

Shu Uemura was a pioneer in the Japanese beauty industry, so it comes as no surprise that his brand has developed this new formulation to provide impeccable, professional-looking coverage. The buildable oil complex allows for even distribution, while the multi-glow oil complex ensures longevity. It’s applied with an innovative “lightbulb sponge.” The result is flawless skin under any light.

Best eye serum

Elizabeth Arden Prevage Anti-aging + Intensive Repair Eye Serum, $155 through www.elizabetharden.ca.

Consider this: The area around your eyes ages three times faster than the rest of your face. Instead of living behind oversized sunglasses, use this hydrating serum that accomplishes the big three age-erasing tasks: smoothing the eye area, minimizing fine lines and preventing future signs of aging.

Best primer

Dior Glow Maximizer Primer, $42 at Sephora.

If there were a cosmetics version of Raf Simons’s ultra-modern spring couture collection for Dior, which included light-as-air fabrics, it would be this illuminating primer, inspired by backstage makeup techniques. Makeup minimalists apply it on its own – the velvety finisher evens skin tone and provides a subtle sheen thanks to light-reflecting particles (no pixie-like sparkles here). You can also mix it with foundation to boost radiance or dab on cheeks as a highlighter.

Best illuminating cream

Olay Regenerist Luminous Tone Perfecting Cream, $38.99 at drugstores and mass-market retailers.

Tom Pecheux created a natural (no makeup!) look for Balmain’s recent presentation by giving models a facial massage and applying a serum and moisturizer. (Okay, fine: He also used some concealer.) For an equally runway-worthy complexion, may we suggest this illuminating cream? Its blend of antioxidants like vitamin E, green tea and aloe vera brighten, exfoliate and soothe skin all at once.

Best unisex fragrance

Bottega Veneta Essence Aromatique Eau de Cologne Spray, $130 for 90 ml at Holt Renfrew (www.holtrenfrew.com), Hudson’s Bay (www.thebay.com) and Sephora (www.sephora.ca).

A floral scent for both men and women? The latest unisex fragrance from Bottega Veneta blends white rose with bergamot and sandalwood to create a blend both animalistic and delicate. Finally, something you and your man can both agree on.

Best lip pencil

NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Timanfaya, $30 through www.narscosmetics.ca.

Straight from the mouths of the babes on the Altuzarra, Nanette Lepore and Antonio Berardi: the classic bright-red matte lip. NARS’s Timanfaya hits all the right notes: pigmented, hydrating and shine-free.

Best mosaic blush

Lise Watier Blush in Imagine, $32 at drugstores and mass-market retailers.

For an I-just-spent-a-month-vacationing-in-Florence-with-a-handsome-Italian glow (as seen at Dolce & Gabbana and Anna Sui), sweep this mosaic blush across cheekbones and up to your temples. Ciao bella!

Best nail polishes

Dior Vernis Haute Couleur Extreme Wear Nail Lacquer in Bloom, Bouquet and Porcelain and Dior Vernis Frosted Effect Nail Polish, both $26 at Dior beauty counters (visit www.dior.com for retailers).

Best worn in the sugar-coloured salons of the Petit Trianon at the Palace of Versailles (or, sure, at the office), these unabashedly girly polishes are as delectable as any pastry from Ladurée.

Best special-occasion scent

Dolce & Gabbana Dolce Eau de Parfum Spray, $132 for 75 ml at Holt Renfrew, Shoppers Drug Mart Beauty Boutiques, Murale (www.murale.ca), Sephora, Jean Coutu (www.jeancoutu.com) and Ogilvy (www.ogilvycanada.com).

Save your Air Miles and use this light, floral scent to transport yourself to Sicily. Inspired by the character Angelica in Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa’s novel The Leopard, this blend of white florals – daffodil, water lily and amaryllis – epitomizes grace and femininity. Wear it with espadrilles and a sunhat.

Best blushes

Clinique Cheek Pop in Berry Pop, Peach Pop and Ginger Pop, $24 each at Clinique beauty counters (visit www.clinique.com for retailers).

Aside from the adorable packaging, these bright, floral-embossed blushes charm with a silky finish that blends seamlessly into the skin. Best of all, the colours are designed to complement every skin tone. Swirl colour onto the apples of your cheeks and blend up towards your cheekbones for a healthy blush.

Best lip crayons

Rimmel Lasting Finish Colour Rush in All You Need Is Pink and Boom Chic a Boom, $6.99 each at drugstores and mass-market retailers.

The ultimate in taxi-cab makeup, these easy-to-apply crayons give lips a subtle stain, glossy finish and have the moisturizing texture of a balm.

Best any-occasion scent

Aerin Evening Rose Eau de Parfum Spray, $125 for 50 ml at Holt Renfrew.

This rose-based fragrance contains notes of cognac, blackberry and incense to create a day-to-night scent as versatile as your go-to LBD.

Lip colour of the year

Sephora + Pantone Universe Radiant Rush Matte Lipstick, $22 through www.sephora.ca.

In case you haven’t gotten the message, Radiant Orchid is the colour of 2014, at least according to the paint pros at Pantone. This limited-edition, fuchsia-meets-purple lippy can be dabbed on for a sheer veil or layered to create a bright jolt with a modern, matte-satin finish.