By Aliana Moss
Are you seeing hints of pinks, yellows, and purples around you? Brighter greens are popping up too as flowers start to bloom and mother earth awakens after a long winter hibernation. We’re officially in the spring mix, enjoying the longer daylight hours and warmer weather. We also celebrate the most important women in our life this month with Mothers Day (May 11th). As we spring clean, swapping out sweaters for shirts, consider where your skincare and makeup might benefit from a switch up as well. Our skin’s needs change with the seasons, and now is the time to swap more intensive moisturizers and darker colors for lighter and brighter products.
Spring/Summer Skincare Basics:
With warmer temperatures comes increased humidity, and our skin starts producing more oil and perspiration. Skin still needs moisture to stay balanced, but using the more intensive and heavy products of winter can lead to enlarged/clogged pores and breakouts. Time to lighten it up! Let’s look at some core ingredients that will keep your skin nourished without smothering it during these warmer months.
- Hyaluronic Acid (HA): Our skin naturally produces this substance and it plays a crucial role in maintaining its hydration and elasticity. HA acts as a humectant, meaning it attracts and retains moisture helping to keep skin hydrated, plump, and supple. As we age, our bodies produce less HA so topical application can help to replenish lost moisture and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This key ingredient also helps skin’s elasticity by strengthening the skin’s barrier; it has anti-inflammatory properties and improves skin texture by helping to reduce the appearance of pores. (Some options I like are Image Skincare AGELESS Total Pure Hyaluronic 6 Filler and Ole Henriksen Strength Trainer Peptide Boost Moisturizer)
Aloe Vera: This natural gel-like substance contains water and polysaccharides-which are molecules that help retain moisture in the skin, hydrating the skin without leaving it feeling greasy. It is especially excellent for people with sensitive skin, both oily and dry complexions and warm weather environments. Aloe Vera contains compounds called lectins and salicylic acid, and has anti-inflammatory properties that can help to calm irritated or inflamed skin. (Try Ursa Major Golden Hour Recovery Cream)
- Niacinamide: A form of vitamin B3 or niacin, this essential nutrient helps the skin build proteins and lock in moisture to prevent the damaging effects of external factors. This is a powerhouse ingredient with many benefits that help improve signs of hyperpigmentation, fine lines, enlarged pores, rough or uneven skin conditions, and also has anti-inflammatory properties. You’ll reap most benefits if you use it alongside hyaluronic acid to increase absorption! (Try Saint Jane Star Flower Niacinamide Serum and Farmacy Daily Greens Oil-Free Gel Moisturizer)
- Betaine: Another great humectant, this naturally occurring compound has many benefits for the skin. Known as an osmolyte, an ingredient that helps skin adapt to moisture losses and gains, it essentially works to keep skin’s hydration balanced. Another ingredient with anti-inflammatory properties, it helps calm skin and is great for sensitive or eczema prone skin types. It helps strengthen the skin’s barrier to protect from external stressors such as UV rays and pollution (Try The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan and Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence)
Spring Makeup Trends:
Get playful! Evoke a sense of whimsy and wonder by mixing pretty pastels with brighter punched-up hues. Think light lemons, pale pinks, peaches and mints mixed with tangerines, teals and limes. See how many ways you can mix and match your favorite pastels: not just on the eyes, but a soft sweep on the cheeks and a gloss over the lips. Or go for a full monochromatic look by using one shade in varying levels. Because pastels are soft by nature, they are a great way to get comfortable with playing with color if you’re not already using them!
Here are some of my favorite tips to “pop” your pastels:
Eyes: Use a pastel pencil first as the base. A creamy formula works best here so you have time to play and move it around *pro tip: a soft flat brush is best for buffing in this technique. This method works great if you wash a color over the entire lid, dab an accent on the inner corners, or rim around the top and bottom lash lines. Follow with the coordinating shade in a traditional eyeshadow. Not only does this method help pop the pastel color but also provides longevity. (Try Victoria Beckham Satan Kajal Liner in seafoam, Chanel Stylo Ombre Et Contour in Peche Poudre; Viseart Paris Reveries Etendu Pro palette and Dior Diorshow 5 Couleurs-Glowmania Limited Edition Palettes).
Cheeks: Pastels are so pretty when used to highlight the cheeks. They give an instant flirty, girly flare to your look. Try using softer shades high along your cheekbones, where you’d usually use highlighter, making sure to keep on the outer perimeter and not bring the color too far in. Another technique is to layer on the apples of the cheeks over a slightly deeper shade which creates a pop and brightens the face. Either technique leaves a soft, diffused look which is what this spring is all about. (Try Addiction Tokyo The Liquid Blush Glow-which has a variety of shades perfect for spring, Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Beauty Soulmates Face Palette, and Featherlight Cosmetics Mineral Blush in Bella).
Lips: While the color palette of your pastels might be more limited here, there are still ways to make the pastel trend work for the lips. Use the Pantone color of the year, mocha mouse, as a great base for gloss to be layered over. That lavender you were loving for your eyes? It makes a fun unexpected color on the lips as well. Formulas that are the most user friendly are sheer tints and glosses here. If using more opaque formulas, keep it from looking dead and dated by using a bullet brush to buff and blur the edges, or try using to highlight just the center of your lips. Want to really go for it? Try a bright statement tangerine lip (Some fun colors to try are Makeup by Mario Moisture Glow Plumping Lip Serum in Tangerine Glow and YSL Loveshine Plumping Lip Oil Gloss with Hyaluronic Acid in Thunder Stealer).
Maybe this Mothers Day you share or coordinate a pastel look with your mom or daughter! And remember, this pastel beauty trend doesn’t have to stop at your face. Pastels are perfect for spring nails as well. So get creative and see how many colors and ways you can incorporate these fun colors into your life! As always I want to know your favorite color combos and ways to wear this trend so share them with me at @alianamoss.
