Arts

Spring? Sprung

With spring here and summer coming right up, it’s time to swap out some of that dark, dramatic winter makeup for warm-weather colors. Beauty trends on the spring/summer 2009 runways showcased nude lip shades such as pinks and peaches, while the ever-popular smoky eye maintained its presence with a few minor changes. And if all this sounds like too much trouble for you? Bare faces with clear, radiant skin made appearances at shows such as BCBG and Marchesa.

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• Shu Uemura
• University of Virginia
• Fashion Trends
• Fashion and Style

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My (totally affordable) must-have products for this spring:

SHISEIDO ULTIMATE SUN PROTECTION CREAM, $34
Nice skin? Always a good thing. Even for sun-worshiping, beach-loving Orange County. Exposure to powerful UVA or UVB rays is responsible for about 90 percent of premature skin aging through cell damage, dryness and sunburn . . . and then there's all that stuff about melanoma. You've heard it before: Wear a daily SPF. Shiseido makes a reasonably priced suncare line that includes self-tanning, protection and after-sun products, all available at your local Shiseido counter or Sephora. My pick is the Ultimate Sun Protection cream for the face (available in SPF 33 and 55)—it's water- (and sweat-!) resistant, non-greasy, boasts a high zinc-oxide content and won't make your face break out. Best of all, it dries with a matte finish. After your usual skincare regime, just slather some on before applying makeup. You'll thank yourself in a few years.

KIEHL'S MINERAL MASCARA, $16.50
Smoky eyes are a perennial favorite, and they're back again this spring—with one exception. After a few years of the heavy, dark and smoldering, spring/summer 2009 lightens things up a bit with softer colors: gold and bronze metallics blended with the usual grays. Mascara is still a must, but again, the look is softer there as well. Get the look with Kiehl's Marvelous Mineral Mascara for natural-looking length and volume and a rich, glossy finish. The mascara is enriched with mineral pigments for rich color but also includes such conditioners as jojoba oil and aloe vera.

SHU UEMURA GLOSS UNLIMITED PINK COLLECTION IN SHEER MELON PINK, $22
While skin-illuminating red lip color is definitely still favorable this spring, nude shades such as pinks and peaches are also a must for warmer weather, which always calls for more natural-looking makeup. Peachy blushes make for a good highlighter, while sheer-pink lip colors flatter the complexion. Check out Shu Uemura's new Rouge Unlimited Pink Collection of lipsticks and glosses made with a “pink hybrid pigment”—supposedly one of the purest pink pigments ever discovered—resulting in more vibrant hues and unique shades.

vchang@ocweekly.com