Hi Belle!

I’m revamping my makeup bag for spring.  Any trends that won’t make me look like I’ve trying too hard?

Love the blog! Lizzie

Last spring was a tough year for beauty trends.  Neon nails, glitter eyeshadow and beachy waves were in demand, but, as someone who spends the warm weather months in chilly offices, I was not amused.  But this year promises to be a bit better.

From Left, Aura Sheer Cheek Stain ($45) // Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel Liner ($23) // Bobbi Brown Face Brightening Powder ($50) //  Bite Luminous Creme Lipstick ($24) // Illamasqua Speckled Varnish ($16) // NARS Eye Duo ($34) // NARS White Eyeliner ($24) //ybf Brow Pencil ($12)

Cheek Stain.  Flushed cheeks are in every spring, but this year, instead of  punchy powder, cheek stains are the big thing. This Aura tint is my favorite because the stamp makes application a breeze, but a lot of women sweat by Benefit Benetint or Posietint ($28).  Need a drugstore brand? Try Sonia Kashuk Super Sheer Liquid Tint ($10) or Boots No. 7 Cheek Tint ($9).

If you’re intimidated about how to apply a stain, remember that you need apply it over your foundation/tinted moisturizer but before you apply setting powder.  The Budget Fashionista also has some tips on achieving the perfect, blended look.

Gel Liner. I vastly prefer gel liner to pencil for all day wear.  The liner above in Violet Ink is my favorite because it darkens my lids without making me look like Elvira.  I also liked the L’Oreal Infallible Gel Liner ($10) that I bought as an emergency replacement.

Also, the trick to getting a perfect line is to use an angled eyebrow brush.  The tightly packed bristles and the sharp edge make cat eyes, winged liner and lining your eye’s waterline a breeze.

Brightening Powders.  As we all search for brighter, younger looking skin, beauty brands have started pushing brightening finishing powders with street corner hustle.  This Bobbi powder is great and people swear by the Guerlain Meteorites powder, but for my money, it’s all Physician’s Formula Correcting Powder ($15).

Rosy Lips.  The darker lips of fall and the bright neons of last summer have given way to the subtle rosy lip.  My favorite is Lipstick Queen in Sinner, but other bloggers have been raving about Bite Beauty’s lipsticks.  I also like CoverGirl Jumbo Gloss Balm ($9) in Rose Twist.

Prefer a slick gloss?  Try Nordstrom lip gloss in Rose Petal (2 for $15).

Speckled Polish.  I love the look of this Illamasqua polish, it reminds me of granite.  Polishes with chunkier glitter are everywhere this spring.  Deborah Lippman has some lovely colors ($20), and O.P.I. has glitter top coats ($10) that shimmer but don’t overpower.

Pastel Shadows.  If you’re not ready to indulge in pastel hues in your wardrobe, what about on your lids? Shades of mint, violet and baby blue are on tap for the spring.  I also like the Easter Egg hues in this palette from Pur Minerals ($34).

White Eyeliner.  Accenting with white eyeliner can create an ethereal look.  You can go all in like Emma Stone, use it as a base for other colors or as an accent to brighten eyes.  Some women swear by this long wearing NARS pencil, but for a trendy item like this, why splurge?  Rimmel has Kajal liner for less-than-$5.

Brows.  Want a neutral trend that will make your look pop?  Pump up your eyebrows.  If you’ve over-tweezed, let them grow back in for a more natural and dramatic look.  If the thinning is really bad, some dermatologists will prescribe Latisse, but I just apply some vitamin E oil and layoff the tweezers.

Need a fill in?  I swear (swear!) by this ybf pencil because it gives feathery strokes and thin lines. You can also get back to basics with this Anastasia Eyebrow Kit ($65) or the Sephora alternative for $19.