Remember when makeup was fun? When colours were joyful and no one cared how contoured your cheekbones looked on Instagram? It was a time before selfies, filters and make up tutorials, a time of youthful experimentation free from rules. Some of our favourite brands have embraced this simple, playful and innocent approach to beauty with their spring collections. From Chanel, to Maybelline to Nails Inc, here’s our edit of the best…
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1 Mac power blush in Spellbinder, £18.50
Pretty in peach is exactly how you’ll feel after a two minute session with Mac Powder Blush In Spellbinder. A quick swirl on the apples of each cheek, over the eyelids and along the temples will give the complexion a warm, summery gleam. Combine it with a touch of fake tan and in magazine speak, you’ve got yourself that illusive summer glow.
Buy it because: your skin (and you) needs a break from all that heavy duty contouring.
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2 Nails Inc Nail Polish In Seven Dials, £15
Hello mellow yellow. Two coats of this surprisingly flattering buttercup shade of nail polish will leave you wondering how you ever lived without it. And no, a tan is not a prequisite to pulling it off; it pops just as prettily on pale skin as it does on those of you with honey, golden and mocha skin tones. Think of it as sunshine in a bottle. And perfect for festivals…
Buy it because: you’re over winter darks, not feeling nudes and can't be bothered with high maintenance metallic manicures.
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3 Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in 117, £6.99
A cool pink lip could be just the beauty fix you’ve been looking for. Unlike it’s bolder sister shades you’ll find it easy to wear and instantly upllifting. We’ve road-tested this pretty shade of blush on the entire Treatment Files team and we can happily report it gets a big thumbs up. We liken it to a supercharged shade of your own natural lip colour.
Buy it because: it’s under ten pounds and is so very, very pretty. Enough said.
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4 Chanel Sunkiss Ribbon Blush, £44
Your teenage self would steal this from your mother’s make-up bag and apply it with wild abandon on the way to school. Your current self will buy it, treasure it, and look at it at least ten times a day to appreciate its sheer beauty. Let’s try to channel a little of that younger you and don’t be afraid to get stuck in and experiment with the many effects this multi-faceted powder can create. Shot with subtle flecks of silver, gold and bronze, every swirl of the brush gives you a slightly different hit of colour.
Buy it because: you’ll be using it all summer and well into next season.
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5 Mac Eyeshadow in Beautiful Iris, £13
There’s a youthful ease to this playful pop of purple eye shadow. It begs to be smudged carelessly across your eyelids and worn with little more than a dab of lip balm. Heaven. We’re taking our cue from make-up artists at the spring/summer shows who used it wet to create a painterly splash of colour in the centre of the eyelid.
Buy it because: it’s the perfect beauty accomplice to your 90’s grunge inspired spring wear
FAQs
How much does the Mac Power Blush in Spellbinder cost?
The Mac Power Blush in Spellbinder is priced at £18.50. This pretty peach blush can be applied in just two minutes for a warm, summery glow on your cheeks, eyelids and temples.
Can you wear Nails Inc Seven Dials nail polish without a tan?
Yes, you can wear Nails Inc Nail Polish in Seven Dials without a tan. This mellow yellow shade pops beautifully on pale skin, as well as on honey, golden and mocha tones, making it versatile for everyone.
What is special about the Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in 117?
The Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in 117 is a cool pink lip shade that is easy to wear and instantly uplifting. It is priced at £6.99 and has been positively reviewed for resembling a brighter version of your natural lip colour.
Which blush offers a multi-faceted effect for summer?
The Chanel Sunkiss Ribbon Blush offers a multi-faceted powder with subtle flecks of silver, gold and bronze. Each swirl of the brush gives a different hit of colour, making it suitable for experimenting all summer and beyond.
How should you use Mac Eyeshadow in Beautiful Iris for a playful look?
For a playful look, Mac Eyeshadow in Beautiful Iris can be smudged across your eyelids or applied wet for a splash of painterly purple. This shade helps achieve a youthful, fun style and is perfect with minimal makeup or a touch of lip balm.