Shopping for spring

I had the opportunity to interview one of my favorite beauty bloggers, Sona Gasparian from MakeupBySona.com, to get the scoop on spring makeup must-haves for less. Find out how to get your face spring-ready!

Be smart about splurges

“You don’t have to buy the most expensive beauty brands to get a flawless face,” says Sona.

Indeed, it’s easy to stay on trend and save money, as long as you know which affordable products work best for you. The beauty of cost-effective makeup is that you can get more products than you typically would at higher price points.

“You never know what new colors, shades or palette combinations can match you until you try them out, and that’s why it’s both fun and beneficial to try less-expensive makeup products.”

Starting from the top of the face and going down, we went through her favorite picks and the techniques she uses to perfect her spring artistry. Check them out below.

1

Eyebrows and eyeliner

“For an evening look for the springtime, apply black eyeliner close to your lash line (top and bottom) and smudge it with your ring finger for a light, smoky finish.” says Sona.

For brunettes, she says to pick a shade slightly lighter than your natural eyebrow color. For lighter hair, go one or two shades darker. For the spring, avoid heavy black eyeliners and instead opt for dark brown or gray tones to soften the look.

Spring pick: Eyeliner and brow pencil with brush by Tarte Cosmetics, (Dermstore, $20)

2

Eye shadow

Sona says, “Use your favorite blush as eye shadow to create a soft, natural spring look.”

Powder-gel blushes are much easier to use than traditional ones are, and they glide on more evenly without having to use a primer. The creamy base is less pigmented and allows you to add the color in small doses and build onto it to create a more opaque effect.

Spring pick: Dream Bouncy Blush by Maybelline, (Maybelline, $8)

3

Eyelashes

“Curl your lashes before and after applying mascara to give your eyes a playful lift,” says Sona.

Never underestimate the power of dashing lashes. Bat your eyes with longer, fuller-looking lashes by getting the curler as close to the eyelid as possible. This will plump your lashes from the root for a longer-lasting lift.

Spring pick: Diamond Collection Curler by Revlon, (Drugstore.com, $8)

4

Lipstick

“When using a red lipstick, always clean around the lips with a concealer brush and your color foundation for a cleaner, more defined look. When using a darker red lip color, leave the eye shadow as soft as possible,” says Sona.

Make your lipstick last all night long: Double-coat your lips by applying one coat of lipstick, then blot with a tissue and apply a second coat. After that, apply a lip liner one shade darker than your lipstick to perfect your look and hold the color in place.

Spring pick: Matte Lipstick by NYX, (NYX Cosmetics, $6)

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