Last Updated on April 9, 2024
5 Spring Makeup Trends You Can Try With Products You Already Own
Spring has sprung, and with the new season comes a new opportunity to add something fresh and fun to your makeup routine. As the winter chill melts away, we bid a fond farewell to darker tones and say hello to bright pinks, dewy skin, and megawatt blush that makes it look like we’re trying to act casual in front of our gym crush, knowing full well the look on our face is anything but.
Of course, if money is tight, buying new makeup products every season is not always possible. That’s why we found five Spring 2024 looks you can try right now by shopping your own makeup collection instead of pricy beauty boutiques and makeup counters.
90s Dark Nude Lips
90s makeup has seen a well-deserved resurgence over the last few seasons, and while fall and winter called for dark brown, grungy hues, they are now making way for more spring-friendly shades of grunge, such as the dark nude lip. Think Jennifer Lopez in her debut music video, 1999’s “If You Had My Love,” where she lit up the screen with nude lips just a few shades darker than her silky tan skin.
To get this look, pair any nude lipstick you have on one hand with a liner that’s a few shades darker for a pout that will make you look like you’re ready for a 90s J.Lo dance break.
Smudged Eyeliner
Speaking of the 90s, smudged eyeliner is back, which is good news for women like me who are constantly fighting a losing battle against watery eyes. Let’s face it: keeping your eyeliner in place as you battle spring allergies is impossible, so I can’t think of a better time for smudged liner to be in vogue.
To achieve the smudged look, use a gel eyeliner pencil like L’Oreal Paris Infallible Grip Mechanical Gel Eyeliner Pencil to line as close to the top and bottom lash lines as you can. Then, use the smudger on the other end of the pencil to blend out the lines in a way that would make 90s icon Shirley Manson proud.
Bold Eyeshadow
If you like bright, colorful eye shadow reminiscent of the glory days of YouTube, when bold looks ruled, and everyone used tape on the corners of their eyes to sharpen their carefully applied looks, your time to shine has arrived.
So, where to find these bold shadows? Most makeup lovers have a shade or two in our collection that we never use because we deem the color too loud, too bright, etc. Well, now is the time to put those colors to good use.
Protip: If the shadows you have on hand aren’t bright enough, pick up a Nyx Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Milk (yes, just like the YouTube beauty gurus of the 2010s used to use) for under $6. Swiping this on your lids first as a base coat will instantly turn any colored eyeshadow up a few notches, and it helps your color last if you want to take your look from the office to Happy Hour.
Dazzling Metallics
Bling fans rejoice, for our season has finally arrived. Shimmering eyeshadows, metallic accents, and bejeweled looks are taking over, and we are so here for it. This trend was front and center during awards season, with actresses Lupita Nyong’o and Anya Taylor Joy lighting up the red carpet in dazzling shades of silver at this year’s Oscars.
And let’s not forget pop superstar Nelly Furtado, who lit up the stage at this year’s Juno Awards in a thick-a-licious, all-silver ensemble topped off with a smokey eye and shimmering silver lids.
So, now that we know metallics look great on stage, how do you incorporate them into your everyday looks? Even if you don’t buy shimmery eye shadow colors regularly, most eye shadow palettes have at least one metallic shade in the mix. Now is a great time to shop your own collection because you probably already have a few shimmers in your makeup drawer. If not, something inexpensive like the Wet n’Wild Always Naked Palette will give you plenty to experiment with.
Try sweeping a neutral matte brown color a few shades darker than your skin tone across the crease and blending upwards. Then, carefully pat the metallic shadow of your choosing onto the center of your lid. Top off the look with a swipe of black eyeliner and a lengthening mascara like Essence Lash Princess, and you’re good to go!
Bold and Beautiful Blush
Rosy, radiant cheeks are the perfect way to look youthful and well-rested. To really make yourself glow, start by sweeping any highlighter you have on hand across the top of your cheekbones, then add a bright pink or orange blush over it to complete the look. Placement is key to keeping this look modern, so make sure you’re placing blush high atop the cheekbones, blending upward toward your temples to avoid looking like a baby doll.
For inspiration, check out singer Beck G and actress Lily Gladstone’s Oscars looks and study how their blush placement draws the eye upward instead of to the center of the face.
If you don’t have any brightly colored blushes on hand, try starting with a basic blush palette like the Makeup Revolution Ultra Blush Makeup Palette. This way, you can try on different shades and see what works best with your skin tone.
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