The Perfect Spring Makeup Palette
We’re always eager to lighten up at the beginning of spring, from refreshing our rooms to updating our wardrobes. This seasonal shift includes makeup as well, as we tend to embrace a more natural and fresh-faced look during the warmer months. To help us transition our cosmetics routine for spring and summer, we asked Ann Mendelsohn of Woo Skincare and Cosmetics for advice on a less-is-more look. Here, she walks us through the perfect makeup palette for the new season, plus tips and tricks for pulling it off.
When it comes to color, think lighter and brighter. According to Mendelsohn, spring is the time for a lighter and brighter eye and bold lip. “One of the trends is to use a lot of rose and pinks,” she says, noting that while many people think the hues are difficult to pull off, it’s just a matter of finding the right color for you. For the eyes, she recommends Chantecaille’s 20 Year Anniversary Eye Palette, which includes two soft browns, a pink, and a neutral, as well as the line’s eyeliner in Jasper, which she describes as a beautiful coppery bronze that offsets the bright eye with a little dark liner at the lash. For blush, Mendelsohn advises going with a cream, which is hydrating but won’t make your skin look oily—rather, it’ll achieve a spring- and summer-appropriate glow, such as Trish McEvoy’s liquid face color, a pinky peach option that looks good on everybody. As for the aforementioned bold lip, Mendelsohn recommends a liquid lipstick that will give you a long-lasting matte finish that you can layer gloss onto if you’d like. Available from almost any line, she suggests a punchy berry color, coral, or peach tone for spring and summer. Her pick? Laura Mercier’s Velour Extreme Matte Lipstick in “Hot.”
Know how to fake a spring/summer glow. When it comes to achieving that perfect dewy look for spring, Mendelsohn says to invest in an illuminator. Again, there are many to choose from, and they come in cream or powder versions. One of her favorites is from Chantecaille, and can be used anywhere on the body. Another key product to have in your arsenal is a great self-tanner. Popular options include Tan Towels and alpha beta pads by Dr. Dennis Gross, which are individually wrapped towelettes that are pre-moistened with product. As for body self-tanners, Mendelsohn recommends St. Tropez’s In-Shower self-tanner, which is scent-free, comes in two colors (light and medium), and is applied like a body wash.
Apply like an expert (and invest in game-changers). Yes, it helps to choose the right colors and have a couple of key products in your makeup bag. But to really take your makeup to the next level—even when you want to look like you aren’t wearing any—use some tricks of the trade. According to Mendelsohn, these include always using an eyeshadow base, and always using brushes, which will add to ease of use and allow you to achieve a soft, no-makeup look. “Brushes help make makeup look natural, like it’s coming from within rather than sitting on top of your face,” she says. Additional tips for nailing a less-is-more look include using a brow gel rather than filling in your whole brow, and mixing your moisturizer with foundation or liquid bronzer to achieve a sheer but shimmery effect. Finally, enlist experts for game-changing beauty services that will make your routine more manageable all season long. For example, Woo offers the “Lash Lift,” which is a 30-minute service during which aestheticians wrap each eyelash around a silicon rod, leaving them curled for 6 to 8 weeks which, when combined with lash tinting, means months of going mascara-free. Bright eyes without fear of black smudging? Yes, please.
TSG Tip 253 from Ann Mendelsohn of Woo Skincare and Cosmetics, which has locations in Charlotte, North Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; and Nashville, Tennessee. All products are available for purchase from Woo Skincare and Cosmetics. Call 704.333.0443 to order.
