12 spring beauty updates to try today

Switch your smoky eye to blue

Blues were everywhere on the SS24 catwalks, from big, mask-like sweeps of shimmering azure at Pierre Cardin to ice-blue and shimmery at Cormio; an easy spring update is to invest in a navy eyeshadow like Lancôme Hypnôse Eyeshadow Palette in Bleu Hypnotique (£48). Alternatively, try a single blue shot through with shimmer, like Victoria Beckham’s fabulous Lid Lustre eyeshadow in Midnight (£33). Great for evening, either with peachy gloss or a bright red lip.

Lancôme Hypnôse eyeshadow palette, £38.40

Victoria Beckham Lid Lustre eyeshadow, £33

Try mono make-up

Using the same tone on eyes, lips and cheeks is a way to nod to the trends while keeping things chic – especially if you choose the latte or sepia tones seen on the runways at Richard Quinn, Max Mara, Tibi and PatBO. Try Gucci’s Blush de Beauté cheek and eye powder in 02 Tender Apricot
(£41), or Dior’s Diorshow 5 Couleurs in Mitzah (£55).

Gucci Blush de Beauté cheek and eye powder, £41

Take a bow

Ribbons were used in myriad ways this season: hairstylist Lacy Redway “corseted” satin ribbons through braids at Christian Siriano, they were used as grips at Versace and appeared as chic hair rosettes at Chanel. There were so many variations, it’s now just about finding a bow you like. Prada’s velvet hair clip (£420), and Emily-London’s Pippa bow (£225) work with everything; wear on their own or atop a ponytail.

Emily-London Pippa bow, £225

Prada velvet hair clip, £450

Go for a cream blush

If you like the super-dewy make-up look (christened “clean girl make-up” on TikTok), avoid powders and go for cream textures. Zara’s Lip And Face Palettes (£22.99) contain trios of matte colours – Some Like It Soft will be great for spring. And Bobbi Brown’s Jones Road has Miracle Balms (£36) that are the dewiest cream blushes you’ll find; avoid the pinks and go for Magic Hour, a cool, sheer bronze. 

Jones Road Miracle Balm in Magic Hour, £36

Zara Lip and Face Palette, £22.99

Do vampire lips

Something of a theme this season was “anti-glamour” – which challenged the tropes of high-glamour make-up, such as red lipstick or fluttery lashes, by slightly throwing them off. Red lips were “bitten” at Dior, a deep wine at Carolina Herrera, dark and chic at Saint Laurent, matte-black at Comme des Garçons and – a real highlight – polished-black at Burberry. Two very good, wearable dark reds are Burberry’s Kisses Matte in Oxblood 97 (£35) and Rouge Dior Forever in 400 (£37).

Burberry Kisses Matte in Oxblood 97, £35

Dior Rouge Dior Forever, £37

Sweep it over

This is an easy update because it doesn’t require a cut, or that you comb in a parting. Just push your hair to one side and let it fall naturally – 1980s style. Think Kim Basinger. A good mousse will encourage it to stay; try Arkive’s The Body Hybrid Mousse (£13).

Arkive The Body Hybrid Mousse, £13

Lash out 

“Fluttery” is no longer enough. Lashes on the catwalk ranged from doll-like to thick and clumpy, wet and smudged, bright-pink and feathered. Real-world update? Curl your lashes, switch to a coloured mascara and apply a couple more coats than you would normally. Trait d’Hermès Revitalizing Mascara (£57) comes in four beautiful jewel-like colours, or try Shiseido ControlledChaos MascaraInk (£29) in blue, purple or green.

Trait d’Hermès Revitalizing Mascara, £57

Shiseido ControlledChaos MascaraInk, £29

Get this perfect peachy lipstick

MAC’s Retro Matte lipstick in Runway Hit (£22) is just the perfect warm, creamy, peachy neutral that suits everyone, lasts all day and nods effortlessly to the spring trends. 

MAC Retro Matte lipstick in Runway Hit, £22

Pink eye never looked so good

Pink eyeshadow was on multiple catwalks this season, running the gamut from bright and punkish at Balenciaga to sparkly and glossy at Ashish and Prabal Gurung, and soft and shimmery at Luisa Beccaria. Most modern and wearable was the pinky peach seen at Prada, created by make-up artist Lynsey Alexander using the eye palettes she designed for the house. The Prada Dimensions eye palette in 06 Pulp (£65) is a quartet of gorgeous shades (tip: use the brightest as an eyeliner).

Prada Dimensions eye palette, £65

Stop drying your hair

Hair is at the mercy of the elements this season: from drenched to windswept, wild and free. If forgoing the hairdryer sounds unappealing, consider finishing locks with a hyper-glossy and glistening spritz. Kevin Murphy’s clever Shimmer.Shine (£33) is a repairing mist that contains gold particles. Moroccanoil’s Glimmer Shine spray (£20.85) is more subtle but gives a nourishing gloss. 

Kevin Murphy Shimmer.Shine, £33

Moroccanoil’s Glimmer Shine spray, £20.85

Streamline your brows

After seasons of thick, laminated brows, things have started to look decidedly slimmer and more arch. As well as really good tweezers (try Anastasia Beverly Hills precision tweezers, (£26) hand-crafted in Italy), invest in a great superfine brow pencil, such as Refy’s (£14), which comes in three shades.

Refy eyebrow pencil, £14

“Spotlight” your skin

These cream or liquid highlighters are designed for precision application – in the inner corners of the eyes, above the cupid’s bow, very delicately on the bridge of the nose, or the tops of the cheekbones. Skin should be well-moisturised – to the point of dewy. Try Laura Mercier RoseGlow Liquid Highlighter (£30), or Westman Atelier Lit Up Highlight Stick (£44).

Laura Mercier RoseGlow Liquid Highlighter, £30

Westman Atelier Lit Up Highlight Stick, £44