Going into spring, we all want some fresh, new products that we know work and are not wicked expensive. I personally love watching beauty guru videos on YouTube, but I find that the products are unrealistic and often expensive for a busy, college girl.
So here are my unprofessional recommendations of products that I find great for spring!
1. A Good Tan
Now if you're like me and the sun literally runs in the other direction when you're outside, making it impossible to get a good tan, then you might have to fake it. But we've all heard the scary truths of what fake-baking can do to your body, so what's a pale gal to do? Well, lately I've been all about tanning lotions. The problem is, they often smell funny and look streaky on a real person, and all around never live up to the hype.
The one that I've been loving lately is St. Tropez's in shower body tanning lotion. It works really well, doesn't leave you smelling funny, and doesn't leave your clothes stained. If you can suffer through the three-minute wait with the shower off, this will be the perfect product to give you a light glow going into the spring and summer months.
2. Colorful Nails That Stay
If you're like me and you're the laziest person alive (thus leaving no time to give yourself a fresh Spring manicure once a week), then you're looking for a way out that includes clean nails without paying $25 or more for a gel manicure once every two weeks.
I've worked my way through millions (okay not millions, but a good amount) of different at home gel nail polishes that claim they'll last two weeks but never live up to the hype. So save yourself some time and money, and get the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel polish. This stuff actually lasts two weeks, and you don't need to buy a UV light! It cures with natural light, and is just as expensive as a regular bottle of nail polish. Do yourself a favor and buy a lot of pretty spring shades, you'll love them.
3. Bronzer
In addition to having a nice tanned bod, you have to make sure you have a face to match. But finding the perfect bronzer is harder than cooking a bag of popcorn perfectly, so I'll save you some time.
Recently my friend bought the Butter Bronzer by Physican's Formula, and I swear it is the miracle bronzer. It is a powder formula, so it is super easy for beginners to blend out and it works on a wide variety of people, as it is a very versatile shade. And the best part? It literally smells like the beach. Even better? It's super affordable.
4. A Gorgeous Highlight
We've all heard of strobing (if you haven't, it's basically highlighting the crap out of your face without contouring) and how it can transform a face into a nice healthy glow. I don't know about anyone else, but after the winter, my skin is always lacking a little luster, so a good highlighter is a must.
Finding one that is easy to apply, but also looks natural proved a little bit of a challenge. But when I tried Sephora's Luminizing Drops Liquid Highlight, it may have changed my life. It has super subtle pigments that are buildable*, so whether you are using it on an everyday basis to make yourself look more awake in the morning, or just going out it will fit the look no matter what your plan is.
It comes with a super simple dropper, and applying it to your cheekbones, brow bones, eye corners, tip of your nose, and cupid's bow only takes a couple drops to instantly perk your face up.
*For a super strobed and highlighted look, applying a powder highlight over the top can be a good plan.
5. Lipstick That Lasts
Spring/summer is a great time to try out funky new lip colors. From pinks to reds, and even some fun oranges and nudes, there are really no limits for this season. But the issue is you are a real human (I'm assuming) and as a real human you probably eat, drink, and kiss people. And if you're lipstick was a key pop of color for your outfit, you don't want it to wear off -- so a mattifying formula might be perfect for you.
The problem with a matte formula is that it can often be drying, especially on the lips. So I found that, paired with a good lip moisturizing routine, Revlon's Ultra HD Matte Lipstick is perfect. The colors are gorgeous, and really long lasting without being overdrying and making the lips look leathery. And! It is under $10 for a tube!
6. Coconut Oil
If you haven't hopped on the coconut oil train, do it right now. I'm serious, go to your nearest grocer and buy a tub of it. It is perfect for everything. I'm serious. I shave my legs with it, deep condition my hair with it, and use it to treat dry skin. There is no problem that coconut oil can't solve.
With the warm weather coming, you're going to want to have some smooth legs. The best way to achieve this is with coconut oil. If you shave with it in the shower, and then moisturize after your shave lasts over two days, and your legs stay super soft. It is one of the best, most natural beauty secrets and you need to get a tub today.
Additionally, if you are using an aforementioned matte lipstick, coconut oil is great for prepping your lips so they don't dry out with the liquid matte formula. Seriously -- what can't this amazing substance do?
7. A Moisture Mask
Even though spring is on the horizon, the air can still be very drying just like the winter, especially if you live somewhere where it is often windy in the spring. If you feel like your everyday moisturizer just isn't doing the job at combating the dry skin on your face, it may be time to look into an overnight moisture mask. Now this sounds like a super expensive endeavor, but if you know where to look, you can get away with it super cheap.
My favorite of the moment is Freeman Beauty's Honeydew & Chamomile Sleeping mask. You can try it out for $1 in a sample size, and if you love it (like I do) buy a full size tube! It is super light-weight, so it doesn't make the skin feel greasy or thick, and it has a super sweet and soothing smell to it which is great for sleeping.
A big thank you to the beautiful Marissa McCall for her consulting on this article! As another quasi-beauty guru girl on a budget, she approves all of these products, too!
