Get a fresh look with make-up artist Carly Hobbs’ pick of the best new products for spring – all for less than a tenner!
The new season brings with it a new confidence – your skin is naturally looking more healthy and has rediscovered its glow. The warmer, sunnier days call for a lighter look than winter, and the season switch is an ideal opportunity to play around with brand new products and dabble with the most wearable trends of the season. Forget crazy, out-there options that are fine for the catwalk but don’t look quite right for popping out to the shops – smudged lipstick we’re talking about you – and instead, think about embracing the real beauty looks breaking through for SS18. Skin that looks like skin, lush natural lashes that frame your face and a soft blush contour, that suits everyone (no matter how many candles have been ordered for your next birthday cake) are all in now. We’ve trawled through the newest budget make-up buys to bring you our pick of those that will get you looking your best this spring…
Mascara
Fluffy lashes are on-trend and this spring the aim is to enhance your features, not distract from them. Gone are the loaded, clumpy and heavy false lashes needed to balance out wintry, thick eyeliners, now it’s all about focusing fully on your flutter. Opt for new formulas that work hard to increase volume over everything else.
Lottie London Lashgoals Mascara (£6.95) couldn’t be more of a beauty bargain, but it delivers a glossy, defined finish
Blush
This season find inspiration for your blush from the roses emerging in the garden – from beautiful soft pinks through to deep maroon hues. Regardless of age,
a flush of blush, selected to suit your skin tone, can make all the difference to your spring makeover. Brands are upping their game with creamy, powder and even semi-powder product styles.
L’Oréal Paris Infallible Blush Stick (£8.99) has a super-pigmented creamy formula that’s easy to blend, gives luminosity and really suits medium skin tones
Eye Pencil
Fine lines – where you lightly trace a hint of eyeliner right into your lash or slicked around the waterline – are not only in right now, they’re also a flattering look to master. Choose your favourite kind of liner – liquid or pencil – but make the most of the creamy new formulas that melt into the delicate eye areas, and find wobble-free applicators that ensure a perfect finish.
Barry M Kohl Pencil in Nude (£2.99) will knock out any redness from the waterline of your eye, making you look like you’ve had a good night’s sleep
Lipstick
Forget nudes and deep berries, this spring you can embrace a pop of colour with bright lips – glossed, stained or casually slicked on. And the go-to shade for SS18, which handily flatters all skin tones and ages, is a red-orangey hue. This shade makes teeth appear whiter, smiles wider and your eyes more sparkly. And the best bit is that you can adapt the application to best suit you.
Bourjois New Rouge Edition Velvet Liquid Lipstick in Oranginal (£8.99) has
a semi-matte, modern finish.
Base
This season, base isn’t about covering up your skin, but rather enhancing it, so try slightly more blending to ensure an even finish. Brands are now including skin-feeding ingredients such as vitamin E in their formulas, so you are laying the foundation for a healthy complexion. This means the longer you use these products, the less you will need to apply to get a beautiful base.
