Light Spring makeup

Light spring lipstick

The lip shades that flatter you most come straight from warm fruit. A peach pink or soft apricot gives you a quick, easy daytime wash of color. On days when you want a bit more punch, sheer coral, light salmon or warm rose will brighten your whole face.

You'll find these shades most often as tinted balms, sheer glosses and moisturizing satin formulas. Very dark lipstick tends to steal the show, so all anyone notices is your mouth. That's why thin, light layers usually beat one heavy swipe of opaque color.

Finish and intensity

Your coloring is delicate without much contrast, so sheer and satin finishes were practically made for you. A thick matte can just sit there on your skin and leave your face looking flat.

A fine shimmer in warm light gold or rose gold is lovely on the lids. Chunky glitter and icy white shine fight your warmth, so you're better off skipping them.

Blush, eyeshadow and eyeliner

For cheeks, fresh peach and soft apricot bring a soft, warm glow. Light coral and warm pink give you a healthy, just-came-in-from-outside flush.

On the eyes, soft warm neutrals are your friends, not dark brown. Start with a wash of warm cream or pale champagne on the lid, then blend a soft peach, light golden brown or warm taupe shade through the crease.

For liner, stick to gentle browns (think warm medium brown, golden bronze or a soft grey brown) so your eyes get definition without any harsh edge.

Nail polish

Creamy ivory is a neutral that reads softer against your hands than pure white. If you want color, bright peach and soft coral bring the sunshine, and light aqua is a nice fresh switch.

An everyday look and an evening look

Daytime is simple:

1. Sweep warm cream eyeshadow over your lids, then add 1 coat of brown mascara.
2. Dab fresh peach blush onto your cheeks.
3. Top it off with a peach pink lip balm.

In the evening you keep the light base and layer on a touch more shine and color:

1. Dust a pale champagne shimmer over your lids, then run a light golden brown shade through the crease.
2. Line your upper lash line in golden bronze for a soft bit of warmth.
3. Put on light coral blush and sheer coral lipstick, adding a dab of clear gloss if you want.

Makeup shades to skip

Heavy, cool shades clash with your delicate warmth. Lipstick in deep burgundy or dark plum will leave you looking drained, and it drags all the attention to your mouth.

A jet black liquid liner creates a hard edge that covers your eyes instead of framing them. Eyeshadow in cool grey or deep smoky tones tends to read as smudges on your lids.

Skip heavy matte bronzer too. If you want warmth, soft apricot blush does the job much more gently.