Hair and makeup by Kevin Smith for Tresemme Hair Care/Judy Inc.Geneviève Caron for The Globe and Mail
Pack the heavy potions and moody palettes of your winter beauty routine away and put some spring in your steps: Fresher-looking makeup, lighter formulations and fewer harsh chemicals are the key to a polished natural mien as warmer weather beckons.
Meet your matte
Instead of using powder to cover up the shine that humid weather causes, try blotting papers. "They won't wipe off makeup, but they do get rid of shine without adding more product to the skin, which can clog pores," says Min Min Ma, a freelance makeup artist based in Toronto and New York.
TRY: M.A.C. Blot Film ($18 through www.maccosmetics.com) or Mary Kay Beauty Blotters Oil-Absorbing Tissues ($8.50 through www.marykay.ca).
Think zinc
Protecting one's face with SPF products is nonnegotiable, but a new raft of mineral-based eyeshadows and lipsticks containing zinc and titanium dioxide give extra coverage to delicate areas that conventional sunscreen doesn't cover. The best of them have tinting properties derived from natural ingredients such as rose quartz, topaz, mother of pearl, white sapphire, mineralized water, amethyst and calcite, which impart a natural-looking finish.
TRY: Lancôme Ageless Minérale With White Sapphire Complex ($49 at Lancôme counters across Canada) and Revlon ColorStay Mineral Lipglaze ($10.95 at drugstores across Canada).
Embrace the balm
The ultimate all-in-one product, BB (a.k.a. beauty balm) cream won't just lighten your makeup bag on trips back and forth to the cottage; it's also designed to tackle a host of skin-care concerns including moisturizing, concealing imperfections, correcting discoloration, priming, diminishing fine lines and wrinkles and offering SPF protection. This makes it an excellent choice for spring and summer if the thought of layering several products overtop one another is enough to make you perspire.
TRY: Estée Lauder DayWear BB Multi-Perfecting Beauty Benefit Crème SPF 35 ($45 at Estée Lauder counters across Canada) or Smashbox Camera Ready 5-in-1 Beauty Balm SPF 35 ($50 through www.sephora.com).
Sign up for neon
Neons made a big splash in beauty this season and, though bold, can complement a fresh spring look. "Go for a tangerine lip, coral cheeks or electric blue liner," says Ma. "The secret here is about balance. Pick one feature that you want to have fun with and leave the rest of your makeup natural."
TRY: Make Up For Ever Aqua Liner #5 in Diamond Turquoise Blue ($26 through www.sephora.com) or YSL Rouge Pur Couture Vernis à Lèvres Glossy Stain in Orange de Chine ($34 through www.thebay.com).