Anyone need an excuse to shop some new beauty booty? No, me neither, but a new season is officially upon us and it’s always worth taking a peek at what’s trending for spring. “I simply HAD to buy it, otherwise my makeup bag was sooo 2021,” is one way to justify the credit card bill.
The good news is that 2022 is shaping up to be a glamorous yet achievable year, awash with simple shortcuts to a good hair and face day. There are all sorts of genies ready to be let out of the beauty bottle, whether it’s instant glow, smoother skin or A-list expertise you’re wishing for.
90s sleek
This is a trend I adored the first time round, so I’m trying to feel nostalgic rather than old on seeing that sleek 90s hair is back. The models at Versace and Fendi were channelling their inner Atomic Kitten (okay, possibly not the exact reference the designers had on their Pinterest boards), with sheets of super-shiny, pin-straight locks.
This trend collides with the return of ghd’s iconic Original Styler, £119 here, brought back for its 20th anniversary with some 2022 tech upgrades. I think I speak for many women of a certain vintage and frizz level when I say no other hair gadget has ever been so revolutionary, and I’m thrilled to confirm it’s every bit as good as I remember.
Glow on
It feels a little premature to bring out the lighter duvet but this is exactly the right moment to bring down the tog rating on your face regime. So goodbye blanket coverage foundations and mega-cocooning masks, and hello to formulas that float on and impart a weightless glow.
An instant radiance oil is top of my to-apply list (thank you Charlotte Tilbury and your awesome Collagen Superfusion Facial Oil, £60 here, swiftly followed by a sheer touch of radiance fakery.
While I’m still clinging to concealer for my dark circles, I’m ditching a full-face base in favour of St Tropez Tan Tonic Glow Drops, £30 here, which gives a healthy golden glow in a few hours, and Pixi Glow Tint Cushion, £18 here, which lends a light-diffusing spring freshness.
Nail detail
Treating yourself to a manicure? Bring anything from a French to a single-tone slick of polish bang up to date with the micro-mani trend, which involves adding a small, single detail per nail.
This delicate, pretty trend is an easy addition to any salon appointment (just look to the gorgeous Instagram of A-list nail artist Harriet Westmoreland for inspiration), and it’s even do-able at home. Use the end of a make-up brush as an impromptu dotting tool, or add a cute nail sticker a la Nails Inc Feeling So Fly kit, £16 here.
Uber stylists
Want A-list locks for spring? You’re spoilt for choice, with a host of super-stylists bringing out their own ranges. Take your pick from Andrew Fitzsimons, the eponymously titled range from the Kardashians’ mane man, or ARKIVE by Adam Reed, who’s styled everyone from Tess Daly to Madonna (and once had a kindly word with me about the excessively dark DIY dye I’d been dollopping on).
Or perhaps you might like to tend your tresses with the help of Queer Eye’s Jonathan Van Ness, whose cult US range, JVN Hair, has just landed here like a full-season Netflix drop.
Lip lustres
How are your lips celebrating the relaxing of mask rules? Mine still need some intensive scrubbing before they’re ready for a saturated matte but I’m delighted I can wear gloss again without it rubbing off by the time I’ve got round Tesco.
This coincides with a glut of glam new lustres, including Victoria Beckham Beauty’s new Posh Glosses, £26 here, as well as NARS Afterglow Lip Balm, £24 here, and Laura Mercier Lip Glacé, £24 here.
However, my bargain fave is The Gloss from boohoo’s new make-up range which has serious handbag appeal for £5 – find it here.
Prime time
I’m not breaking any exclusives when I mention that “naturally flawless” is big for spring, but I do like the shortcut to the trend that comes with 2022’s new-gen primers, which really do supercharge any foundation.
Rather than being a one-size-fits-all sandwich layer between face and base, these formulas are to be matched with your specific skin goals, from radiance to oil control.
Smashbox has added environmental and blue-light protection to its Photo Finish primer and launched four targeted versions, £29.50 each here. Catrice has some brilliant budget alternatives in its spring line-up too, from £4.99 here.
Magic mushrooms
The most fashionable face fungus right now? It has to be the snow mushroom – and don’t crinkle up your nose. Even if mushrooms are the icky element you’d always ditch from a full English, you’ll certainly want to serve this one up your skin, thanks to its incredible sponge-like ability to take on moisture.
It feels lusciously plumping to apply, and also ticks off other items on the spring skin wishlist, including calming irritation and barrier boosting.
You’ll find this magic mushroom popping up everywhere, from high end to high street.– splurge on MZ Skin Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Serum, £110 here or try it for less with Revolution Skincare Snow Mushroom Serum, £4 here, Origins Mega-Mushroom Soothing Hydra-Mist with Reishi And Snow Mushroom, £22 here, and Botanics Pure Botanicals Snow Mushroom Concentrated Serum,£7.99 here.
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