Spring Beauty Routines Around the World, From Israel to South Africa
Spring is in the air! Well, at least it is here on this side of the equator. Warmer breezes, intermitted by frozen gusts of wind (and everything in between) often has us switching up our “spring” beauty routines daily; one minute we need a heavy duty moisturizer, the next, a waterproof mascara to keep eyes streak-free during April showers.
But what does spring beauty look like in Paris? Or in Johannesburg? Whether the weather is sweet or still kind of nasty, women from far and wide switch up their skincare and cosmetics routine come spring, and no matter where they hail from, they all certainly have one thing in common: warmly welcoming a more pleasant climate. Click through to see what beauty rituals look like across the globe.
Kenza Sadoun-el Glaoui
Blogger at La revue de Kenza
Paris, France
For spring, I continue to use La Mer’s Renewal Oil ($270, holtrenfrew.com). I apply it on my face as a cream, which I use all winter long, but come warmer weather, I use it on top of my foundation instead of underneath. The lightweight texture of the oil allows me to apply it on my cheekbones in lieu of a highlighter and gives a dewy look. The effect is more natural, and I can use it alone if I don’t want to put any foundation.
As for my skincare routine, I keep it really simple. I start by applying the French favourite Caudalíe’s firming serum, Resveratrol Lift ($86, sephora.ca). Next, I apply moisturizer. For spring, I use Sisley Youth Hydrating-Energizing Early Wrinkles Treatment.
For cosmetics, I use Burberry Cashmere foundation ($60, ca.burberry.com). I don’t apply all over my face; I only use it where I need it, which is on my dark circles, on some redness around the nose, and on my lips to prep for lipstick. For eyes, I just apply Eye Colour Contour from Burberry in “No. 112” ($32, ca.burberry.com) and Perversion Mascara by Urban Decay ($27, sephora.ca). On the lips, I’m totally addicted the entire Cream Lip Stain by Sephora ($18, sephora.ca); they stay on lips for hours!
Yael Comaroff
Industrial Psychologist and Senior Continuous Improvement Consultant
Johannesburg, South Africa
Winters in Johannesburg are far colder than [you] can imagine. With no central heating and much of our lives revolving around the outdoors, you will find most South Africans counting down the days until spring when they can wear tank tops and flip flops and embrace the beautiful purple jacaranda trees that fill up our roads. Spring is festive and exciting with roadside bars and restaurants packed with pale people filling up their glasses with wine and G & T’s, and many parties commencing around the city on weekends. After months of dry and flaky skin, it’s time to mix things up and get our bodies looking as beautiful as possible for our South African summer beaches.
To welcome spring I make sure that weekly, I apply South Seas Island Escape Citrus Sugar Scrub ($28, southseaskincare.com) to get rid of all my flaky skin and ensure my skin feels fresh, silky and smooth — ready for shorts, mini skirts and my bikini. No exfoliator is complete without a moisturizing body lotion, but for spring one needs to be able to use one that’s not sticky and easily absorbed. I can rely on Dermatological E45 to protect and keep my skin hydrated and feeling good. With the heat blazing during the day, I know I need to protect my fair skin from the harmful rays, which is why I rely on Thalgo’s Age Defense 50spf Sunscreen for my face. It moisturizes deeply and I can easily apply my makeup over it; it invisibly absorbs and no one will ever know I have a protector on!
Last but not least, looking fabulous is important too. To ensure that I look as good as I feel because it’s spring time means going to the gym throughout winter but picking up the pace and intensity when spring kicks in. After my daily 5am gym routine before work, I make sure I don’t forget two important products. The first is Organix Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco Penetrating Oil ($8, ulta.com), which restores shine and softness in my hair but also keeps it strong and seductive.
Lastly, applying some M.A.C Lipstick in “Up The Amp” ($21, maccosmetics.ca) is the final touch to spring happiness. On the days when I wear it, I am guaranteed a compliment for the brightness it brings to my office and my smile. Happiness radiates from the inside out, but this shade definitely tells the world I am overjoyed it’s spring time. With us ‘Joburgers’ currently approaching fall in March, I find myself wishing the winter away with the hope of fun, outdoor adventures, bottomless white wine on ice and the beauty spring has to offer.
Chiara Nasti
Blogger at chiaranasti.it
Naples, Italy
In Naples the sun shines intensely, so I always take care of my skin, especially in the springtime and hotter months. During this time, I apply Dior’s Skin Refining Matte Primer ($48, sephora.ca) – it helps mattify and refines the skin immediately. Then I use my favourite enhancer, which is Touche Éclat from YSL ($50, sephora.ca). It captures the light, while fades out imperfections; it really makes the skin bright, which is perfect for delicate makeup. That being said, mascara is fundamental. My favourite is Ultra Tech Curve Mascara from Kiko. For this spring, I love a super natural look for my lips, and Dior Rouge Brillant Lipgloss ($42, sephora.ca) in the new for spring 2016 limited edition Flora shade is the perfect colour for me.
Elshane
Fashion stylist, consultant and blogger at elshanesworld.com
Los Angeles, California
I’m based in Los Angeles, so the strong sun plays a huge factor in my spring beauty routine. As a fashion stylist, my days are spent on set of various commercials, red carpets, and campaigns, most of which take place outdoors. It’s most important that every morning I keep in mind that sun protection is a key element in keeping my skin youthful!
I start my routine with a variety of SkinCeuticals products, and apply the SkinCeuticals AOX Eye Gel ($92, skinceuticals.com) first, which I dab around my eyes, forehead creases, and laugh lines. This is followed by SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic ($162, skinceuticals.com), which is a Vitamin C treatment containing special acids to boost collagen in your face and protect you against photo-aging (long-term sun and UV exposure). Finally, I apply SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel ($78, skinceuticals.com), which is a serum that restores maximum moisture to the face and is always encouraged after a Vitamin C is applied.
For a day outdoors, I follow up with L’Oréal’s Silky Sheer SPF 50 Face Lotion ($13, walmart.ca) because it offers really solid sun protection without the greasy side effect.
My makeup routine for spring is extremely minimal; a little tan and some perfectly full brows go a long way! I use my tried-and-true favourite tinted moisturizer called Balm Shelter by The Balm ($25, thebalm.com) (I dare you to find one that’s lighter in consistency, yet full enough to give you that perfect natural glow coverage)! It’s SPF 18 is slightly relieving if I ever forget to apply a stronger sunscreen that day, and the medium tint is a perfect highlight to my complexion no matter how pale or tan I am all season long.
Final touches are easy: a two-step Urban Decay mascara process is a must, starting with their white mascara primer they offer called Subversion ($24, sephora.ca), followed by their Perversion mascara ($27, sephora.ca), which is the best in the business. And lastly, the never-to-be-neglected brows! I use Anastasia’s Brow Wiz Pencil ($27, sephora.ca) (I, and most blondes/dirty blondes use the shade Taupe). I make sure to really go in strong with the pencil — after all, 2016 is the year of the brows!
Najla Kaddour
Celebrity Makeup Artist & Blogger at najlakaddour.com
Dubai
I’ve got very oily skin, but during the winter season it tends to get dry on certain areas, especially around my eyes and lips. Come spring, I don’t need suffer from dryness anymore, and switch to a lighter textured moisturizer, as my skin gets greasier quicker. During spring and summer, it can get really hot in Dubai (up to 45 degrees Celsius). To combat shine and stay moisturized, I use Clinique’s Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel ($34, sephora.ca) because it’s extremely light in texture yet hydrating and moisturizing. I store it in the fridge so that whenever I use it in the morning, it de-puffs my skin at the same time. During spring, I also like to use fix sprays more often than I usually do just to refresh my face during the day. One of my favourite fix sprays is the Beauty Elixir by Caudalie ($19, sephora.ca), which I also store in the fridge.
Karen Or
Fashion Blogger at streetchictelaviv.com
Tel Aviv, Israel
Springtime in Tel Aviv means really warm weather. It gets hot and humid here early on in March, so just like we lighten up the layers of clothing, we do the same to our make up. I like to switch to a lighter moisturizer with a higher SPF; I use Neutrogena Oil Free Moisturizer with SPF 15 ($13, ulta.com) to protect my skin from the sun.
I usually keep my eye makeup and lip routine the same as in the winter; for lips, I use either a Kiko lipstick in pink nude or a lip stain by Revlon; I love those! One thing I do switch up dramatically come spring is my foundation. I tend to use almost none, nor any heavy blush because it comes off with sweat from the heat. I keep it light and just use a concealer under my eyes; I like Maybelline Cover Stick Concealer, or M.A.C Studio Finish Concealer ($24, ). I finish with a bit of powder from Lorac; I use the Pro Palette for contouring. A small makeup bag with all the essentials also becomes really handy when you need to touch up throughout the day.
Sinéad Kavanagh
Beauty blogger at thebeautifultruth.ie
Dublin, Ireland
During springtime, the weather in Ireland is still quite cool and wet. Even though I don’t necessarily have to change up my routine to suit the change in weather, I still find both my skincare and makeup products I use this time of year (and into the summer season) reflect a more natural, dewy, and lighter finish. Gone are the dark winter heavy foundation and eye looks, which I swap in favour of glowing skin and soft eyes.
Springtime makeup is all about flawless glowing skin, which starts with good skincare. Often, at this time of year, skin is quite dehydrated from being indoors during the winter season. To combat this, I love using products that have a high concentration of hydraluronic acid, as it’s an excellent ingredient for tackling dryness — it helps skin retain up to 1000 times its weight in water! A deeply moisturized complexion helps foundation sit better and not settle into dehydrated lines. Mizon Hydraluronic Acid ($42, peachandlily.com) is one of my favourites.
To help achieve that glowing skin look, M.A.C Strobe Cream ($40, maccosmetics.ca) is an excellent product to apply before your foundation. I love to apply this to the high points of my face to help my skin glow just that little bit extra. You can also mix it right in with your foundation; this emits a lit from within look.
When it comes to foundation, I tend to ease up on the heavier coverage in favour of a more natural look. I’ve recently been favouring the Make Up Forever HD foundation; while it offers a medium to full coverage, it still looks and feels light on the skin.
I tend to keep my eye makeup minimal during the spring and summer months, and often just stick to mascara. One of my favourites for helping achieve long, fluttery lashes is M.A.C Extended Play Gigi Black Lash Mascara ($20, maccosmetics.ca). The wand is super small, so you can get right in at the root and give your lashes extra length.
Finally, when it comes to lips, I like to keep things nice and glossy, usually in some beautiful pink and neutral tones. The new Clinique Lip Lacquers ($22, clinique.ca) have excellent pigment and wear really well on the lips, as it’s not sticky, which is so important on a breezy day so your hair won’t get stuck!
