5 Spring Makeup Trends Made Easy & Affordable

Trends in the world of makeup are always changing, and keeping up with them can be exhausting and expensive. But this spring the Paula's Choice Team has already done the work for you - outlining the season's most important beauty trends and hottest looks.

We'll help you update your makeup routine with really practical tips, as well as provide recommendations for products, all less than $15! We know that not every makeup trend works for everyone, but with our help, you can take the gamble out of experimenting with new makeup.

So, go ahead - spring forward into a new look!

Trend #1: Sorbet-hued lips, in bold shades like watermelon, tangerine, and berry.
How You Can Wear It: In sheer, fruit-inspired shades - but avoid orange and overly bright shades. Try a lip stain in a soft, but rich, color. Done right, these can give your lips a burst of color without looking overdone. Sorbet hues don't work well on women with olive or deeper skin tones. Tip: Make sure the drugstore where you shop has a fair return policy on cosmetics!

• NYC Smooch Proof Lipstain in Champagne ($5)
  
• Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstain in Cherry Pop ($7.50)

Trend #2: Lavender eyeshadow.
How You Can Wear It: Very carefully. It's okay to apply a lavender color to your eyelid, as long as it's a soft lavender and you don't use it in the crease or under the eyebrow. Also, look for shades that are matte - pastel eyeshadows already stand out, so adding shine or frost will make them practically jump off your face. Remember, shiny eyeshadows, no matter what shade, exaggerate wrinkles.

• Wet ‘n' Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Singles in Kitten ($1.99)
  
• M.A.C. Veluxe Eyeshadow in Beautiful Iris ($14.50)

Trend #3: Ultra-neutral makeup, with almost no added color, shine, or luminosity.
How You Can Wear It: With sophistication and not too literally. Anyone can go au natural - the challenge lies in keeping it looking polished rather than sickly. Use a hydrating tinted moisturizer to even out your skin tone, rather than a foundation with heavy coverage. Finish with a natural shade of pink matte lipstick, and don't forget blush (a very soft shade of pink works great; we like Sonia Kashuk Beautifying Blush in Flamingo).
Tip: Groom your brows and add a little bit of mascara for a put-together look that still passes for natural.

• Paula's Choice Barely There Sheer Matte Tint SPF 20 ($14.95)
  
• Revlon Matte Lipstick in Mauve it Over ($7)

Trend #4: Winged eyeliner.
How You Can Wear It: Start subtle. Using liquid eyeliner with a pen-style applicator or a gel eyeliner with a fine-tip brush, apply the liner as close to your lashline as possible, and then blend to soften the line. For more drama, gradually thicken the line, then flick it ever-so-slightly out into a point at the outer corner of the eye - and, unless you're Amy Winehouse, don't extend past the outer corner!

• Physicians Formula 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Eyeliner ($10.95)
  
• Clinique Brush-On Liner ($14.50)

Trend #5: Nail polish in opaque peach/putty cream shades.
How You Can Wear It: Easily. These shades are far more versatile and feminine than last year's "greige" (grayish beige) trend. Plus, the lighter the shade, the less precise your home manicure technique needs to be.

• Sally Hansen Complete Salone Manicure in Peachy Keen ($7)
  
• OPI in Coney Island Cotton Candy ($7.50)
  

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Paula's Product Pick

Packaged with an attached natural-hair brush dispenser, it does an impressive job of depositing powder evenly and applies best when swirled onto your skin. The powder itself is silky and readily adheres to your skin, without grabbing or streaking, leaving a finish that's somewhat luminous, but not shimmery. The richness of the pigments and the finely milled texture make it incredibly easy to build natural-looking coverage that enhances your skin. This is an especially great option for those with sensitive skin (including rosacea) because it contains mineral sunscreen ingredients, which pose less risk of irritation than synthetic sunscreen ingredients.

The 14 shades range from cool porcelains (My Fair Lady) to warm darks (Toast of the Town), and, with the exception of the pinkish Not Too Deep, they represent a respectable range of skin tones. Due to the inherent blendability of the formula, most skin tones should have an easy time finding a good match.

Colorescience also claims this powder foundation is "very water resistant," and it certainly does withstand a moderate amount of moisture before it begins to streak, and even then, it doesn't transfer from skin easily.

Keep in mind, however, that this mineral makeup is really no more "mineral" than hundreds of other powder foundations. "Mineral" is just another marketing gimmick that the beauty industry has successfully turned into a cash cow.

Back to the high price: Although this provides reliable sun protection, it still must be applied liberally to get the amount of sun protection indicated by the SPF rating. You have to ask yourself how likely you'll be to apply such an expensive sunscreen liberally. As with any powder with sunscreen, it's best to pair it with a daytime moisturizer or foundation rated SPF 15 or greater.

Dear Paula,

I am 30 years old and starting to see some signs of aging. I do get blackheads and the occasional pimple. I want a simple skin-care regimen, ideally no more than 3 steps morning and night. What would you recommend with your products?

Jessie, via email

Dear Jessie,

I have outlined a simple routine for your below; however, please keep in mind that this may not get you the results you want. You may need to add extra steps, such as when you get that occasional pimple or if your skin becomes drier during winter. What's listed below will get you off to a great start and you can see how you do with this simplified routine. Also, although this routine specifies Paula's Choice products, you can put together the same routine using any of the top-rated products on Beautypedia.

Daytime
1. Cleanser: Skin Balancing Cleanser (slightly foaming, a bit creamy, removes all makeup).
2. Exfoliant: CLEAR Regular Strength Targeted Acne Relief Exfoliating Toner (anti-acne AND antiaging due to the exfoliation; this can replace a toner for those looking for a streamlined routine).
3. Sun Protection: Skin Balancing Daily Mattifying Lotion with SPF 15 or, if you prefer a creamier but still lightweight texture, Moisture Boost Daily Restoring Complex SPF 20.

Evening
1. Same cleanser as above.
2. Same exfoliant as above.
3. If you prefer an antiaging moisturizer at night and want a lightweight texture, go forRESIST Barrier Repair Moisturizer. If you'd prefer a serum texture for antiaging, go for RESIST Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum. Either product can be used around the eyes, too. It is also great (and actually recommended) to use both for enhanced antiaging benefits.