For the last few weeks I’ve been testing, reviewing and trying out a load of products. What’s different to any other month I hear you ask? Well the sole purpose has been to create my official Spring Edit of 2016. I’ve tried a lot of products, some good, some bad, but these products are the ones I give my seal of approval. So if you’re looking to update your makeup bag, you can safely take out your shopping list and get stuck in. What I LOVE about Spring this year is that there are some really interesting trends. It’s not all about the pastel nails and understated makeup – although they are included!
Get that strobing glow from your skincare
I think it’s safe to say that the idea of ‘glowing’ skin isn’t leaving the beauty world anytime soon. A great way to really get strobing off to a good start, is to introduce it to your skincare. The Pulsaderm Buddy* only recently came into my life, but I’m already really impressed. Pulsaderm offers a whole range of innovative skincare devices. They are face brushes that use sonic pulsation technology, instead of more common oscillating or rotating brushes. The sonic pulsation technology applies sonic-micropulses to gently break away makeup, dirt and oil. Its great for cleanses your skin and really giving the skin a healthy glow.
I’ve tried a couple of serums from Vichy and I’m yet to be disappointed! The Vichy Idealia Life Serum* focuses on infusing radiance back into the skin. This makes it the perfect fit for anyone who suffers with skin that looks stressed and unbalanced. The serum stimulates our skin cells to repair tired skin, exfoliating the skin and allowing it to reflect light. It’s not greasy, it’s very light and it gives your skin a beautiful glowing finish, which is a perfect base for makeup.
By Terry’s Brightening CC Serum* introduces strobing to our complexion, to give us that natural glowing finish. The CC serum offers colour control, but also adds hydration and vitamin E. The pearlescent finish comes in a formula that feels weightless and soft on the skin. I have the shade Rose Elixir that is perfect for rose tones, brightening the skin and hiding signs of fatigue.
Spring eyeshadow trends: brightening shimmers and bold blues
By Terry have also released two new shades of the Ombre Blackstar Eyeshadows* for Spring. Number 16 is called ‘Nude Milky Way’ and it’s a stunning ivory cream shade, paired with an opalescent shimmer. Number 17 is called ‘Bubble Glow’ which is a lovely marbled pink. Both these new shades have the texture and finish of the others I’ve tried - they are truly stunning. In a similar vain they have a new shade of their Terrbly Khol Crayon*, in the shade White Wish. As you can imagine, this is a white shade which is designed to capture the light, making the eyes look better.
A really interesting eyeshadow trend for this spring is blue eyeshadow, yes BLUE. It’s popping up all over the catwalk, but also all over the Spring releases. I know that I’m not brave enough to brace the blue eyeshadow trend, but if you’re less of a wimp, you might like Maybelline Colour Tattoo in the shade ‘Turquoise Fever’. Makeup Revolution also do some budget options, including their mono eyeshadow in ‘In The Deep’.
Strong brows that frame our face
Strong brows had a strong presence on the Spring/Summer catwalks and I’m pleased that they are here to stay. The Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz is a little tiny pencil and it takes the fuss out of doing your eyebrows. There's a pencil on one end and there's a handy spoolie on the other, the pencil itself is a very thin shape, which means you can literally draw on individual hairs. Another favourite of mine is the Hourglass Arch Sculpting Brow Pencil. The pencil itself is a triangle shape, which allows you to use it in lots of different ways. The flat edge allows you to fill in the thickest part of your brows, using broad strokes. The pointed tip allows you to fill in the sparse areas with fine lines.
Exaggerated eyelashes are on all the catwalks
Another odd trend for Spring 2016 comes in the form of exaggerated eyelashes. Normally, it’s all about a simple, understated curl, but huge eyelashes took center stage on the catwalk this season. My favourite mascara for recreating this look is from Marc Jacobs. The Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara is designed to give you epic lashes. It has an ultra-volumising formula that gives instant dimension. In just one quick coat you get thick lashes that almost look fake!
Bright blush high on the cheekbones
I feel like the cream blusher trend comes around every single year and it’s not going to go away anytime soon. This year it’s all about applying bright blusher high up on the cheekbones. I’ve recently fallen in love with the Convertible Lip & Cheek Color from Stila*. These are gorgeous cream blushers, which are incredibly pigmented! I don’t actually think I’ve ever seen so much pigment in a cream product before. I apply these with a brush and they blend beautifully! I’ve been playing with so many shades, but my favourites are Tulip (a bright pink), Lillium (a natural pink shade) and Gladiola (a orange/coral shade).
If you’re looking for a powder blusher Paul and Joe have quite an extensive collection for springtime! They have released ten new shades of powder blusher and it’s pretty hard to pick a favourite! I’m obsessed with Secret D’or* (shade 01), as it’s a combination of champagne and gold, which is really pretty as a highlighter. Shade 04* is called ‘Cinema’ and it’s a blend of orange and pink to create something brighter.
Classic Spring lip shades are back, but with a splash of matte red
I think we tend to think of red tones as a perfect finish for autumn/winter, but they played a big part on the spring/summer catwalks. Of course, the classic pink shades are back too. By Terry have released two new shades of their famous ‘Baume De Rose’ lip balms. There is number 7 Coral Stellar*, which is a coral/pink shade, but if you’re looking for something different Mauve Moon* is a lilac shade! These lip balms are nourishing, whilst adding a pop of iridescent colour.
Interestingly, darker shades including reds and wine hues are making an appearance this spring. I think that the Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick Collection from Stila looks incredible. There are five new shades in total, but my favourite is ‘Bacca’ which is a raspberry shade. They are infused with Vitamin E and Avocado Oil so your lips stay hydrated. The brand new 'Instant Glow' range from Clarins, features new shades of the Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector. One of the shades is a beautiful plum pink shade named Plum Shimmer.
Interestingly, darker shades including reds and wine hues are making an appearance this spring. I think that the Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick Collection from Stila looks incredible. There are five new shades in total, but my favourite is ‘Bacca’ which is a raspberry shade. They are infused with Vitamin E and Avocado Oil so your lips stay hydrated. The brand new 'Instant Glow' range from Clarins, features new shades of the Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector. One of the shades is a beautiful plum pink shade named Plum Shimmer.
Bright and pastel polishes both have their place
The traditional pastel nail polish trend is back once again and my favourite pastel releases have to be from Barry M. The Speedy Dry Polishes, are without a doubt some of my favourite polishes in all of the nail industry. You get a lovely opaque coat of colour, which looks shiny and lasts beautifully. The two shades I have here are Freestyle* which is a pretty pink and Personal Best* which is pretty purple. They also have new shades of the Gelly Nail Paints range, Pink Lemonade* which is a neutral pink and Butterscotch Sundae* which is another neutral shade but with a yellow tone running through it.
It’s not all about pastel shades this season though, as bright matte nails are also very popular. Morgan Taylor have an amazing selection of bright polishes; including Sitting Pretty* (bright pink) and West Coast Cool* (bright blue). They even have a handy matte top coat, called Mattes A Wrap to finish them off nicely.
Keeping oily skin at bay in the warmer weather
As I get older, my skin is getting drier but in the springtime, my oily t-zone likes to come out to play. So I’m always looking for products that can help my skin looking flawless all day everyday. La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mat* is a moisturiser that aims to fix oily at the source. You just use it daily and it provides long lasting hydration and it aims to mattify skin, win-win!
Bath and body products to make our skin feel (and smell) amazing
I love to switch up my bath and body products in the springtime. There is nothing I love more than layering pretty scents so I smell amazing all day long. I’ve recently fallen in love with the KORRES Bergamot & Pear line. The Bergamot & Pear Body Milk* carries a fruity, citrus scent which includes notes of Apple, Pear, Orange, Bergamot, Grapefruit, Spearmint, Rose, Jasmine, Sandalwood and Amber. It is incredibly moisturising and it contains Shea butter and Jojoba oil.
Another great product is the Rose Precious Restoring Balm* from Roger & Gallet. This new product comes packaged in an authentic Parisian tin, you simply unscrew the lid of the tin to reveal the body balm that is hiding inside. The texture itself is not a traditional balm, the texture is closer to being a whipped cream texture, which is thick enough to add moisture and relief to the dry areas of your skin.
Getting your feet fit for sandals
Okay, so it's not quite warm enough quite yet but it's getting close to sandals weather! Every year I prepare for sandal season, by using Hand Chemistry Heel Hydration Complex*! It's unlike any foot cream I've used in the past, because it's not a super thick formula. Instead it's a lovely lightweight texture, which soaks straight into the skin, but still makes a big impact with moisture.
Protect your skin with a great SPF
It’s important to protect our skin all year round, but when it comes to springtime, we start to spend a lot more time in the sun. Some of my favourite products include the Garnier Ambre Solaire Dry Mist, which is an ultra-light mist, which is completely dry to the touch. I’m also a huge fan of the Anthelios range from La Roche-Posay. What is great is that they cater for every type of skin - sensitive skin included. They have the 'Comfort' range for dry skin, the 'Ultra-Light' range for normal/combination skin and the 'Anti-Shine' range for oily skin.
If you want to try something a bit different, NIVEA have launched a new SUN Roll-On! This is the very first roll-on for NIVEA, and helps to make the process of applying sun protection just that much easier. The roll-ons are available in SPF30 and 50, packaged in a handbag friendly size!
If you want to try something a bit different, NIVEA have launched a new SUN Roll-On! This is the very first roll-on for NIVEA, and helps to make the process of applying sun protection just that much easier. The roll-ons are available in SPF30 and 50, packaged in a handbag friendly size!
Hair with texture and beach waves
Again this is another trend which comes around every year and I love it, especially as I have a perm and curly hair all year round. The Ocean Mist Volume Shampoo* and Conditioner* from SACHAJUAN, is dedicated to created this look for you. The products aim to give you volume and that beachy feel to the hair. The Ocean Mist range is built on a formula of natural vegetable proteins, which give structure to the hair’s surface.
If you’re looking for something that adds illumination and shine to the hair, the PHYTOKERATINE Extreme range is lovely. My favourite product is the Exceptional Cream*, which repairs damaged hair, leaving it more supple and silky-smooth. It makes it easier to style and it protects it from heat, it also has anti-frizz and anti-humidity properties, which is perfect for holidays!
If you’re looking for something that adds illumination and shine to the hair, the PHYTOKERATINE Extreme range is lovely. My favourite product is the Exceptional Cream*, which repairs damaged hair, leaving it more supple and silky-smooth. It makes it easier to style and it protects it from heat, it also has anti-frizz and anti-humidity properties, which is perfect for holidays!
Light Spring scents
Since June last year the Fleur de Figuier Eau de Parfum* has been my favourite perfume, I finished my first bottle of this in record time and it holy grail status in my collection. Inside the fragrance we have a combination of; Fig Pulp, Mandarin, Pink Peppercorn, Patchouli, Musk, Fig Accord and Violet Wood. It's deliciously sweet and it's really fruity. However, it's all underpinned with a floral, musky finish. For me, it's literally my perfect scent, it's everything I look for in a perfume, especially in the Spring.
GirlCrush* is the latest product from Ghost and it basis for the perfume is about reliving memories. Ghost wants you to remember your “first crush, the first girl band you formed or that spellbinding first kiss”. It’s a nostalgic love potion! It’s a fruity fragrance including pomegranate, summery peach, raspberry, rose, pink peony and fresh almond flowers. The sweetness is balanced by musk, vanilla and rich cedarwood.
I'd love to hear about your favourite Spring products in the comments below, I'm always looking for new things to try!
I'd love to hear about your favourite Spring products in the comments below, I'm always looking for new things to try!
