Finally, the time has come to think about spring makeup looks. The evenings are getting lighter, blue skies are back (some of the time) and we can just about foresee venturing out without being bundled up in layers of knitwear.
Trying new, spring-like easy makeup looks will spark joy, speed up your routine, and refresh your makeup wardrobe. Whether that’s picking a brighter lipstick, choosing the best mascara to survive April showers, or finding out how to apply foundation for a radiant glow. These swaps will get you excited for the warmer weather to come and change your mindset for that fun, carefree spring mood.
Caroline Barnes, Max Factor’s Makeup Artist Ambassador agrees that now’s the perfect time to experiment. “When it comes to color, go bold!" she says. "Don’t be shy—this season it’s all about embracing color, trying out new things, and finding the right colors to suit you. Bold, bright makeup can even make you look younger, styling out a striking look that’s on-trend." Who doesn't want that?
How to choose flattering spring makeup looks
Playing around with makeup is the ideal non-committal way to switch up your look—after all, you can always wash it off and try again! When you're trying out something new, consider these tips:
- Ease in gently: We keep saying, "Be brave, go bold!" but we also understand that it can be intimidating. You could find yourself trying to style out a colorful eyeshadow, your best pink mascara, and bold blush all at once, which can feel OTT. If you're not sure where to start, pick just one area to focus on for a soft glam makeup effect. Keep eyes neutral and pick a pillar box red lip, or go for a dramatic eye look and pair with nude lips.
- Play with lip textures: If you're self-conscious about a new bold lipstick, it can be easy to overthink things. Caroline has a top tip to help, "If you can't feel the product on your skin, you'll think about it less," she explains. "A drying, thick lip color will feel heavy, and it could make you feel more self-conscious. Look for light, wearable options that give you extra confidence."
- Practice at your own pace: Don’t decide to try a whole new, dramatic makeup look five minutes before you need to leave the house, that’s a recipe for disaster. Set aside some time on a day where you have no plans, and get playful. Layer on some new colors, experiment with new shapes of eyeliner flicks, try out new combinations. Then you can really see what works without the pressure. You may be surprised by what suits you!
20 inspiring spring makeup looks for 2022
1. Sheer perfection
Now's the ideal to swap out your heavy, full-coverage foundations for lighter, sheer options. They tend to be more flattering on the skin, giving a youthful glowing finish, rather than matte formulas that can sink into wrinkles and creases. If sheer seems like a scary step, ease yourself in by mixing your best full coverage foundation with a sheer tint or BB cream, to gradually lighten the coverage. You can keep the rest of your look minimal, to let your glowing skin take centre stage.
2. Copper Eyes
Copper or rose gold shades suit all eye tones, but will look especially gorgeous as eyeshadow for blue eyes and eyeshadow for green eyes, like Bobbi Brown Pro Makeup Artist Hollie Olivia Ellis shows. She's applied the shadow across the whole lid, adding touches of lighter tones by the inner corner. She's also taken the rose gold shade under her eye line, to open up her eyes. The end result is beautiful, and definitely something we'll be trying out in our spring makeup looks this year.
3. Get the gloss
Glossy lips don't always have to be a neutral nude, just as a bright red lip doesn't have to always be matte! Play with different finishes of your favorite colors for a twist on your own tried and tested spring makeup looks. We love the idea of a luxurious, high-shine red. It's like an '80s makeup look in all the right ways. Wear on its own to let it stand out, or pair with golden eyes in the evening.
4. Turquoise Tones
Speaking of the '80s, a big pop of turquoise must be right up there with the best blue mascara in terms of iconic throwback looks. If loved this eyeshadow look the first time around, you can give it a modern spin to make it wearable. Stick to one tone, like this, to keep it simple but effective. What's key in this look is keeping the rest of the face minimal, so it's not too busy.
5. Brushed up brows
We're choosing to ignore the rumors that the ultra-thin 90s makeup eyebrow trend is coming back. Ignorance is bliss. Instead, we'll be opting for flattering, structured brows, which help add youthful definition to the face. For maximum trend points, brush them up to define every brow hair, just like Caroline Labouchere has here. Use a clear gel if you have thick brows to begin with, or cheat it with a fine eyebrow pencil.
6. Rosy Raspberry Lips
If even the best red lipstick feels intimidating, but pale pink feels a bit boring and 'been there done that' try the perfect middle ground—a deep raspberry pink. "You can wear a bright lipstick at any age—the right one will make your teeth look whiter, and even help brighten the whites of your eyes,” says Barnes. This particular color works in all finishes, but this satin texture by Pat McGrath Labs looks totally irresistible. You can wear it with a smoky eye look for date night, or with eyeliner flicks for fancy events.
7. Detailed Dots
Sometimes little touches of detailing can have the biggest effect. We love this lilac look, which is subtle but still playful. Violet is Pantone's color of the year 2022, so it's worth experimenting with shades of purple, but this hue works for anyone. Pat the shadow into the corners of eyes, both the inside and outside. Keep the rest of the lid clean to make it look purposeful, not smudged, then add lashings of mascara.
8. Va Va Volume Lashes
Go on the lash with bold and beautiful eyelashes. Whether you're looking for the best Maybelline mascara, a volumizing buy or you're looking for real curl power, the right mascara is all about what works best for your lashes. Make sure to always use a dedicated eye makeup remover when cleansing, to make sure to remove every scrap of mascara and eyeliner. This will stop your lashes from falling out, and help them look fuller.
9. A monotone moment
Monotone doesn't mean boring! Sticking to one block color, like hot pink, just like Caroline Barnes has here is a great way of going for a bright look without overcomplicating things. She's applied a pretty pink eyeshadow, combining it with matching lipstick and blush, for a simple but striking effect.
10. Go graphic
If you're feeling artistic (and have a steady hand!) experiment with bold, graphic shapes across your eyes. Eyeshadows don't have to be traditionally blended across the whole lid, and liners don't have to just be cat-eye flicks. Think outside of the box for an arty twist. Learn how to apply eyeliner for an arty swoosh, or use a skinny eyeshadow brush with a nice bright shadow (dip it into some water to help the color come out with a higher pigment.)
11. Golden highlighter
Highlighter is a great way of creating a glow, instantly. Caroline Barnes has a top tip to help boost radiance. “I love mixing in a highlighter with blush, it creates a multi-tonal glow that gives you that elevated professional finish. It also stops it from looking stripey against the blush and or bronzes," she explains. "Mix a liquid formula with powder or cream blush on the back of your hand before applying with your fingers.”
12. Fancify your flicks
Who says your cat-eye flicks always have to be black? We love this multi-tonal look, which uses a mix of two liquid eyeliners—a copper and a navy. You may not have considered pairing these shades together, but the combination of the straight graphic lines and a pared-down face has a really striking effect. To try it for yourself, start with just one color—navy is a great option to start with, then venture out to brighter colors like orange, green, and silver.
13. Embrace your freckles
If you're blessed with natural freckles like Julianne Moore, the spring months are the ideal time to let them peek through. They add a pretty, youthful touch to any face, and we love how much character it adds too. Use a sheer base to even out your skin tone, that will still let them shine through. To cheat it, you can use freckle pens to dab on some detailing across your nose—the results are surprisingly effective.
14. Wearable Smokey Grey
A smoky eye is a truly classic eye look, but it can look severe on some eyes, as well as being a bit dark and moody for the summer months. Swap darker tones for a more flattering grey, like Hollywood power player Reese Witherspoon. It strikes the perfect balance between sultry and wearable, and it pairs perfectly with her pink lippie.
15. Upside Down Eyeshadow
The under-eyes often get neglected in make-up, as we're so used to painting on color to the top lids. Get experimental with your bottom lash line, keeping your lids minimal and adding a pop of color to the bottom lashes. We love this pretty pastel look, which is perfect for weddings, birthdays, and celebrations. It could also add a bit of fun to a daytime look, pairing with a white tee and jeans.
16. Boost your blush
Contouring and bronzer have taken over in recent years, but now’s the time for blusher to come back with a bang. It has the power to transform the dimensions of your face, helping you look younger and chisel out cheekbones. “If you want to add fullness to hollow, long faces, apply to the apples of your cheeks, blending with a big fluffy brush,” says Barnes. “To add definition to a round face, take it underneath, emphasizing bone structure, drawing attention to your cheekbones.”
17. Lip liner hacks
Get clever with your lip liner to create a multi-tonal look on your lips. Start with nude tones to ease yourself into the tone. Use a shade one or two tones darker than your natural lip color, then blend in with a nude satin lipstick or lip gloss. It will help your lips look fuller in under a minute. Genius!
18. Bronze goddess
No matter what your skin tone, a bronzer will add a beautiful sun-kissed hue, just in time for spring. The finish you choose is dependent on the result you want—for contouring, go for a flat, matte option. For boosting glow, pick a shimmery option, and apply where the sun would naturally hit—the temples, nose, and cheekbones.
19. Tangerine Dream
Swap your pillar box red lipstick for a joy-sparking, orange-toned option—it just shouts 'spring makeup looks' (don't worry you don't have to do the yellow eyeshadow too) This look works well on almost anyone, as both fair and darker skin tones look gorgeous while wearing this vibrant shade—the brighter the better.
20. Multicoloured Magic
If you're looking to make a real statement, mix and match a few different tones like Katie Jane Hughes. We can't get over this absolutely stunning mix of iridescent shades, which are sparkly without looking childlike. Stick to a 'family' of colors if you're not sure which go together—for example, oranges reds and pinks, or greens, blues, and Aquas. Or go full throttle with clashing tones.
woman&home thanks Caroline Barnes for her time and expertise
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