5 of My Spring Beauty Essentials

I always say that summer is without a doubt my favorite season.

But then spring comes around, and I’m not so sure anymore… I mean, I love the endless possibilities that come with long summer days, but the feeling of rebirth that spring brings is pretty hard to beat.

It’s so invigorating.

I love it when the freezing wintery air shifts into that warm spring breeze. You know, just taking a walk and soaking in the sun puts me in a better mood. The smell of freshly cut grass and new flowers is mildly intoxicating… In spring, I feel like I’m on a constant high.

I think that what makes me like spring so much is that it’s a big moment of change. As human beings, it’s usually the moments when (good) changes happen that give us that utter sense of joy. Later on, most of us tend to get used to what we have and lose that feeling of ecstatic excitement.

Besides the changes in the scenery and weather, spring also brings along changes in my beauty routine. There are a few products I always rediscover at this time of the year, and today I’m sharing them with you.

The Fake Tan: Clarins Liquid Bronze Self Tanning ($38)

Aside from the occasional dusting of bronzer here and there, most of the time in winter I tend to embrace my corpse-like complexion, but once the sun comes out of the clouds and the leaves grow back on the trees, I’m all about that healthy, sunkissed look. Since my face and neck are usually a shade lighter than the rest of my body, in the spring and summer I like to use a self tanner to make sure everything matches.

The best one I’ve tried so far is the Clarins Liquid Bronze Self Tanning lotion, a lightweight lotion that gives me a nice glow in two or three applications. The effect is pretty gradual and not too dramatic, so I think it’s well suited for fair/light complexions.

The Sunscreen: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Dry Touch Gel-Cream SPF 30 ($19.99)

Being an oily-skinned gal, I can’t just grab any random SPF and slather it on my face… Some of them tend to feel pretty heavy and greasy, you know? But luckily, these days, there are quite a few options for us shiny girls in the sunscreen department! My current favorite is La Roche-Posay Anthelios Dry Touch Gel-Cream SPF 30, because besides looking perfectly matte upon application, it doesn’t make me oilier over time.

The Juicy Lip: Dior Addict Fluid Stick in 872 Mona Lisette ($35)

I’m definitely more of a lipstick person than a gloss person, but in the warmer seasons I do appreciate adding a bit of juiciness to my pout. I tend to prefer pigmented formulas over the sheerer ones, and, while I really like the Lancôme Lip Lover in 336 Orange Manège, my favorite favorite has to be Dior Addict Fluid Stick in 872 Mona Lisette. Non-sticky and moisturizing, it feels as good on the lips as it looks in the tube. And it’s long-lasting, too!

The Lightweight Base: KIKO Wanderlust Sunshine DD Cream

I’m a fan of lightweight bases all year round, but when temperatures peak, I feel like they really become a necessity. One I’ve been loving lately is KIKO Sunshine DD Cream (not available on the US website, oops!) in Very Light from the new Wanderlust Summer Collection, which I reviewed here on my blog. It is an SPF 30 tinted moisturizer that I think would suit a pretty wide range of skin types, from moderately dry to moderately oily.

The Bright Nail Polish: Essie Nail Polish in Fifth Avenue ($8.59)

Smith and Cult recently made me rediscover my love for nail polish after months of bare nails (you may read a detailed account of our love story on my blog here), and now that sandal-weather is just around the corner, I can’t wait to paint my toes with Essie Fifth Avenue, a beautifully bright red-orange.

What about you? Are there any products you use mainly in the warmer months?