4 Easy-Peasy Spring Makeup Looks to Boost Your Mood

Even though my wardrobe might not know it’s spring, my makeup drawer has been ready for months. To help get me through these final weeks of winter, I tapped celebrity makeup artist Mai Quynh and four stylish Who What Wear staffers to come up with our take on Ulta Beauty's spring moods (i.e., bold and daring; fresh and renewed; bright and dreamy; and spirited and free) aka the season’s biggest trends—because nothing lifts my spirit (or distracts from the cold) as much as refreshing my makeup. Try these looks out, or don’t. Just know that each is unique, and there’s definitely something for your every mood. And if they feel a bit outside your comfort zone, Quynh assures me they're all actually wearable (as in, you can wear them out and about and not just in your bathroom) and on-trend. Plus, there's no better time than spring to try something new…

Sometimes, when a new season hits, we feel brighter, bolder, and more open to stepping outside our comfort zone. "I leaned into the neon trend that was seen on so many runways and wanted to create a look that was equal parts bold and wearable. Instead of washing neon pink across the entire lid, I focused on the inner corner of the eyes and used a blending brush to diffuse the color across the rest of the lid,” explains Quynh. Since it is such a bright color, use mascara on the top lashes only and add a nice amount of gloss to the lips.

Dry, flaky-looking skin is usually top-of-mind when it’s cold, but come spring, we’re only thinking about glassy skin, aka a complexion so clear and luminous it’s seemingly transparent, like a piece of glass. "To get this fresh and renewed look right, skin needs to be thoroughly prepped and hydrated, and you should use a makeup sponge for foundation over a brush because it gives a lighter finish,” says Quynh. "Once I finished the look, I added Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream on a makeup sponge and lightly bounced the product along different parts of the face like above the cheekbones, cheeks, chin, and forehead to enhance that subtle glassy effect.” The rest of the look should be simple, focusing on shimmery nudes and browns for the lids and some mascara to really keep the focus on the skin.

When people hear blue eye shadow, they automatically think of the ’80s and cringe. But for spring, it’s all about reinventing the color, making it feel modern and, more importantly, wearable. "I wanted this look to feel bright and dreamy, so I mixed blue with some greener tones onto the lids to add some depth. I added a thin black line across the upper lashes, following her natural lash line for some added dimension. This kept things vibrant but not overly glam,” says Quynh. To try it out, use a light-green shadow in the inner eye, add a turquoise shade, and blend it out over the lid. Use the same light-green shadow in the crease, blend a darker blue on the outer crease, and add a very thin line of shadow along the lower lash line. Apply a thin, barely visible coat of black liner across the top lid, and finish with a few coats of mascara on the top and bottom lashes. 

"To me, spring is about being spirited and free, letting go and starting fresh, so I wanted to create a look to match. Something youthful and playful but current, my take on a pinky-gold monochromatic look,” explains Quynh, who loves to use one palette on both cheeks and eyes. This look is all about pretty, fresh skin, so you want to start with a highlighting primer to help bring out glowiness in the complexion. Once you apply foundation, pick a shade in the Juvia’s Place The Saharan Vol. II Blush Palette (Quynh blended Zoba and Leenah together) and apply it to the apples of your cheeks and softly blend up (to avoid any harsh contours). For the lids, Quynh again layered Sola and Leena together from the lash line up to the crease and blended Zoba in the crease to diffuse it. Next, she used the Anastasia Beverly Hills Sun Dipped Glow Kit and added shades Tourmaline and Moonstone for more golden shimmer. She topped it all off with a few coats of mascara and a pinky gloss on the lips to tie the look together. 

Can’t get enough? See the looks in action below.   

Photographer: Katie McCurdy

Stylist: Alvin Stillwell

Hairstylist: Rachel Lee

Makeup Artist: Mai Quynh

Manicurist: Steph Stone