A Spring Makeup Refresh. ~ Gemma Louise

A little makeup reshuffle for the season...

Whenever we hit a new season, I like to make sure I have a rummage through my makeup drawers and clear out any ancient bits that never see the light of day. I also love to dig out things I haven't used in a while and swap out my everyday faves for some more season-appropriate picks, it's a fab way to make sure you make the most of your collection! I've narrowed down my makeup stash tons lately as I fail to see the point in hoarding loads of makeup that I never use, but I do have different bases and palettes that suit the different seasons throughout the year, because that's a must isn't it really?! I've had a little reshuffle just as Spring has hit, so here are a few things I've started including in my weekly makeup routine...

IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream

I was a huge fan of the original IT Cosmetics CC Cream last spring/summer, but I've recently been trying out the new matte version as I tend to get extremely oily in my T-Zone. I think this is fab if you have super oily skin and I know it will come in so useful if we get another heatwave this year - however I have found that it clings to my dryness a bit and I tend to look quite cakey. So whilst I've still carried on using it, I think having the original as well as the matte version in my stash might be a better option so I can alternate depending on how my skin is behaving. If you suffer with a lot of dryness then definitely opt for the original, I mean it goes without saying as you wouldn't buy a non-oily matte product anyway - but you know what I mean! This base is definitely going to be a Spring favourite this month anyway, I still have an original somewhere so I'll be digging that one out too!

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Powder

It took me ages to finally invest in the Laura Mercier Loose Powder, I'd had it on my lust list forever and recently I've began using it on a daily basis. I honestly reach for this every time I do my makeup as it's incredible at keeping my oiliness under control in my t-zone! I use it more sparsely on the rest of my face as it can get quite caked on dry areas but for oily skin it's a dream. This is 100% going to be staple during the warmer months.

NARS Orgasm Blush

NARS Orgasm is one of the newest blush additions to my stash but it's perfect for the spring season. It adds a peachy flush to your cheeks whilst giving you such a beautiful, natural looking glow. It has gold specks running through it and it's just a beaut. It's pretty famous in the beauty industry and I'm full of regret for taking so long to finally purchase it!

NARS Wanted Eyeshadow Palette

The NARS Wanted Palette is one of my most used palettes (as you can see in the images!) but took a backseat recently as I've been playing with other easy everyday palettes. I've quickly dug it back out again as Spring has hit as the golden, shimmery shades are perfect for the season. I love that there's some more pink/champagne tones thrown in there too so I can create some very Spring-esque eye looks!

Clarins Instant Light Lip Perfector

I'm not usually one for glosses but I find the Clarins Lip Perfectors so flattering. I have a couple of different shades and I feel like they really enhance the shape of my lips and add something to an overall makeup look. They're not sticky and are quite long lasting for a gloss too - perfect to use on their own or on top of your fave lipstick for a bit more glow in the warmer weather.

Glossier Stretch Concealer

I haven't used my Glossier Stretch Concealer all that much since buying it, I used to fake tan quite dark so I only found it useful when I wasn't wearing makeup. However, I'm an advocate for a much more natural looking tan these days, I prefer wearing gradual tan just to take the edge off my paleness so I've found myself reaching for the stretch concealer way more. I love that it's super lightweight and not thick or cakey, it covers up redness and blemishes very naturally, so that they are still a tad visible but your skin looks naturally flawless. It can be layered up too so if you prefer a light coverage you can just apply a little bit, but if your skin is breaking out you can add a bit more for a heavier coverage! It's amazing for dryness too as it's a much more moisturising concealer than most others.

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Pillow Talk

I've hardly worn Pillow Talk lately but I'm making an effort to start wearing it more this Spring as it's a much more weather-appropriate lipstick than the browny/peachy shades I've been reaching for lately. I think the pink nudes are super flattering in the Spring/Summer and Pillow Talk is a favourite when it comes to those types of shades!

Marc Jacobs Daisy Love

Not a makeup product but I couldn't not mention MJ Daisy Love! It's one of my all time favourite fragrances and it's perfect for the Spring. It's a floral scent with much sweeter notes so if you're into the sweet side of fragrances like moi then you will love it. Highly recommend giving it a sniff, it's a dream.