Skip to content
Style
Link copied to clipboard

How to look like spring when there's still snow on the ground

Ah, spring in Philadelphia.

The damp. The cold. The piles of dirty snow.

Yes, it's spring, even if Mother Nature hasn't quite caught on yet.

Unfortunately, the weather being what it is, many of the beautiful spring clothes filling the racks in local stores don't make a whole lot of sense right now.

But even if you can't wear spring fashions just yet, you can lighten up your look with springtime makeup.

Do the dew. No, not a soft drink. Swap the matte foundations of fall and winter for a dewy, hydrated look. For fuller coverage, try the bareMinerals bareSkin Pure Brightening Serum Foundation, $29.50 at Sephora; for something more sheer, I recommend Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream, $8.99 at drugstores.

Dial back the contour, and dial up the bronzer. Spring is soft, so forget the harsh chiseling of cheekbones in your daily look. Instead, add a little extra warmth to your face to mimic time in the sun until you can actually spend extra time outside. Use a big, fluffy brush (try the up & up Powder Brush, $6.99 at Target) and a bronzer with a touch of shimmer (I like the Milani Baked Bronzer in Soleil, $7.99 at drugstores). Buff the bronzer across your forehead, across the cheekbones to the nose, and then along the jawline.

Add just a touch of highlight. In the colder, darker months, I often reserve highlighting for a night out, but in the spring, a touch of glow can make dull winter skin come alive. The Stila Heaven's Hue Highlighter in Kitten, $32 at Sephora, is pricy but magical. Use your fingertips to apply this springy-feeling (literally) product to the tops of the cheekbones, tip of the nose, even the brow bone. Just remember, a little goes a long way!

Trade your lipstick for a gloss. The dark matte lips that ruled the roost all winter will make way for ultra-glossy, lighter looks. NYX Cosmetics Butter Gloss, $5 at drugstores, is pigmented but never sticky, and with 34 available colors, you'll be able to find the perfect shade to complete your fresh spring look.