Spring Clean Your Makeup Bag

 

So with it being Easter bank holiday and all what better time to spring clean your makeup bag than now.

 

That means firstly out with the old and in with the new. I cannot tell you how important it is to get rid of your products which are out of date, this is for many reasons really. Some creams and serums contain active ingredients which lose their goodness and power after a year or so, so are no longer any good to use. Also, SPF's lose their protection over time so foundations, creams etc which contain an SPF no longer protect you against the suns harmful UV rays. Ladies, check the packaging of your lotions and potions and chuck out anything which has gone past it's best before.

 

Second, swap your rich heavy Winter moisturiser for a light cream or fluid such as Clarins Daily Energizer Cream, it hydrates without an oily effect so offers a perfect base for your makeup, it leaves skin hydrated but not heavy, fresh looking and bright - great for achieving that Spring like dewy look.

 

Third, invest in a good face mask. My first choice is the Lancôme Hydrating Gel Mask, it is super hydrating and quenches even the most dehydrated of skin. Now that the Winter months are behind us skin is left feeling dry and dull from the Wintery elements and central heating, so investing in a good face mask is an absolute must to bring back that life and glow to your skin. Also, be sure to purchase a good exfoliating face wash to use 2-3 times a week to get rid of those dull dead skin cells and reveal bright glowing skin such as Philosophy Microdelivery Exfoliating Facial Wash.

 

Fourth, get that skin tanned and glowing. I like to use a good body scrub to fully exfoliate my whole body to provide a great base for any tanning products, I love the Philosophy Candied Pecan Body Scrub it just smells incredible and leaves your skin feeling so soft and supple. With it being Spring/Summer time the sun is shining so naturally the pins come out, make sure you have a good base colour to build on so I tend to use more gradual tanners at this time of year just to give a more natural glow such as St Tropez Gradual Tan Mousse.

 

And lastly, create lovely, healthy, glossy looking hair with Philip Kingsley Elasticizer, which is a super intensive conditioning pre shampoo treatment.

 

Now that you have the basics right, switch up your beauty products with more lightweight alternatives for example instead of heavy mattifying primers use light illuminating primers such as Soap & Glory Hocus Pocus with a brightening serum like Elemis Visible Brilliance.

 

Put your foundation to the back of your bathroom cabinet and think bb/cc creams or tinted moisturisers for the next few months. I love L'Oreal Nude Magique BB Cream, with it's 5 in 1 formula it creates the texture and glow of perfect bare skin. The best tinted moisturiser I have tried recently is the Soap & Glory Glow Job, which creates an instant sun kissed glow.

 

Big for Spring/Summer 2014 are pastels, my current go to shades are mauves and pinks with a gold or light brown to shade and create an everyday wearable look. My favourite palette for this has got to be Revlon Colorstay Palette in 505 Decadent. To keep your eye shadow in place be sure to use a bright illuminating primer with all day staying power such as the Soap & Glory It's About Prime.

 

To create that no 'makeup' makeup look be sure to firstly use a refreshing eye gel/cream to get rid of any puffiness or dullness such as Clinique Moisture Surge Extra Refreshing Eye Gel. Highlighting is the key to creating a dewy look and a great highlighter to use is the Soap & Glory Glow All Out Luminizing Radiance Face Powder, just sweep lightly over cheek bones, forehead and down the bridge of your nose to create a lovely luminous look. Make eyes look big and bright with a white kohl pencil such as the Barry M pencil, just apply to inner corners of the eye to create the illusion of big beautiful eyes. Lastly, use a natural looking lip gloss to give a perfect Spring pout such as Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in shade 02.

 

It's time to switch your musky, rich scented perfumes to something more floral or fruity, my current season favourite is D&G 3 L'Imperatrice it just smells of summer.

Finally swap those deep red, berry nail shades for a bright coral such as Maxfactor Glossfinity in shade 70 cute coral which will look great against a tan.

 

What's in your Spring makeup bag?