Quick, Easy, Pretty....

   Spring is just around the corner...right?  Because of that, i wanted to make a few suggestions that you can do to transition into the upcoming season, brighten up your makeup routine, and give youself a beautiful glow.

SKIN
  I can't stress this enough.....it doesn't matter how proficient you are at applying makeup...if you don't take proper care of your skin, your makeup will never look as good as it could.  This time of year exfoliation and moisturizer are two things you need to do to get your skin ready for makeup...and for spring.  Winter zaps our skin of moisture and often leaves our skin looking dull. Exfoliating your skin will expose the newer layers of skin underneath and leave it smoother and softer.  Following with a good moisturizer for your skin type will rehydrate the skin and allow a smooth application of your  foundation.  Exfoliating your skin also allows your moisturizer to penetrate better because your skin is now free of any barriers that may prevent the full benefit of  that product from sinking in.  For most of us, exfoliating once per week is enough.  Moisturizer should be a daily step in your beauty routine.
Once you have properly prepped your skin...follow with the foundation of your choice.  I am a fan of lightweight tinted moisturizers because they have the most natural finish and blend easily. Powder/dual foundation is an easy option but can also draw attention to small imperfections such as uneven texture and dry  flaky skin.

A WARM GLOW
    We all get a bit pale this time of year.  The easiest way to warm up the skin and give yourself some colour is to use bronzer.  You can use it alone, or as a finishing touch when paired with your favorite blush.  When choosing a bronzer, look for one that has a few shades combined in one compact.  A multi-tonal product will look more natural, and it removes the guess work when choosing a shade that best suits your skin tone.  Plus, nobody tans in just one colour.  Aveda's Bronze Glow Face Accent is a great choice, or you can try the Physicians Formula line which is available at most drugstores.  They offer a variety of bronzer types  that have different degrees of colour and shimmer.
 When applying bronzer you only have to remember a few things....think about where the sun hits your face when you look up 1) across the cheekbones  2)  across the forehead  3)  along the bridge of the nose  4) and on the tip of your chin.  Apply your product to those areas and blend well to create the most believable bronzed look.
My favourite product of the moment is from Urban Decay and is easily (and cheaply!) available at Wal-Mart. Its a pale shimmery mineral based bronzer called Tiki (pictured below)

that adds just a touch of  colour and compliments any makeup style.  This product works best if applied across the tops of your cheekbones, angling the brush towards the temple and finishing just above the center of the brow.  It is a nice compliment if your are wearing a coloured blush, but finishes our bronze look nicely too.

LIPS
  Choose your favourite lip product to finish the look.  Because the rest of the face is neutral,  feel free to play with some colour on the lips.  Most cosmetics companies have rolled out their Spring 2011 product lines so there are many options out there, at all price points.  Be prepared....the spring lip is bright and colourful....so you may want to try a sheer gloss if you are not comfortable with the opaque colour of a lipstick.

This is a quick and easy daytime look that can easily transform itself for nighttime too.  Apply some eyeliner (teal is the colour of the moment) and an extra coat of mascara for more impact, and you are ready to go!