• The 6 Best Spring Makeup Colors

    Courtesy Allure Magazine Pastels are pretty, but spring’s vibrant new makeup is a whole lot sexier, with striking red and fuchsia lip colors and sultry metallic shadows and glosses. Yes, you can wear red lipstick when it’s 70 degrees outside. Just pick one with a tinge of orange to brighten things up, and choose a…

The 6 Best Spring Makeup Colors

Courtesy Allure Magazine

Pastels are pretty, but spring’s vibrant new makeup is a whole lot sexier, with striking red and fuchsia lip colors and sultry metallic shadows and glosses.

Yes, you can wear red lipstick when it’s 70 degrees outside. Just pick one with a tinge of orange to brighten things up, and choose a satin or creamy formula (matte is too serious for spring). Apply with a brush—or, to tone it down for daytime, makeup artist Dick Page suggests tissue-blotting the lipstick away almost entirely, so all that’s left is a soft stain.

1. Avon Ultra Color Rich lipstick in Poppy Love, $6
2. Dolce & Gabbana Classic Cream Lipstick in Velvet, $30

Khaki Eye Shadow

Livelier than brown, khaki shadow is one of the easiest colors to wear. To keep it fresh, Page likes a shimmery powder—”a matte khaki can look muddy,” he says—brushed on lids to above the creases (make sure to blend the edges well). For a smoky evening look, sweep a little along your bottom lash line, too.

1. Chanel Soft Touch Eyeshadow in Khaki, $28.50
2. Maybelline New York Eye Studio Eyeshadow in Khaki Craze, $5.94

 

Pink Cheeks and Lips

There’s no reason to be intimidated by hot pink. When you choose the right texture, it’s actually quite flattering. For blush, pick a shimmer-free formula in “a strong, almost fuchsia color,” says Page, and dust it on the apples of your cheeks for that you-know-what type of glow. For lips, choose a sheer, luminous gloss so the color isn’t too heavy. And if you really want to stand out, wear bright pink on both cheeks and lips.

1. Smashbox Blush Rush in Radiance, $24
2. Cover Girl ShineBlast Lip Gloss in Radiate, $8.49

Metallic Purple Shadow and Liner

This look works best with vibrant, blue-based purples. Brush a shimmery shadow on your lids; sweep it under your bottom lashes, too, for a colorful version of smoky eyes. If allover purple seems like too much, try just a thin stripe of violet liquid liner along your top lashes.

1. Sephora Colorful Mono Eyeshadow in Tango Night, $12
2. Milani Infinite Liquid Eye Liner in Endless, $5.99

Pale, Glittery Lip Gloss

“A pinky-beige gloss looks pretty and simple—and the shimmer helps the color stand out,” says Page, who suggests picking one with lots of silver sparkle. If you don’t feel comfortable wearing a lot of glitter, apply a pinky-nude lipstick, then dab the shimmery gloss just on your bottom lip.

1. Dolce & Gabbana The Lipgloss in Nude, $29
2. Rock & Republic Lip Gloss on Preppy Punk, $26
Silvery EyelinerCharcoal liner looks even sultrier when it has a little sparkle. Try either a pencil or a shadow applied with a small, wet brush. Trace it along your top lash lines, extending it slightly past the outer corners. Keep in mind though: “With shiny things, you don’t get a lot of definition,” says Page. So follow with a thin stripe of black liquid liner on your lash lines.

1. Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencil in Oil Slick, $17
2. M.A.C. Eye Shadow in Black Tied, $14.50

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