The beauty trends you need to be across this spring

With spring comes a fresh approach to your beauty routine with cool new hair and makeup colours and backstage hacks – these are the trends to try now. 

#1 / Complexion-enhancing hair colour

Move over blonde, spring’s hero hair colour 
is here: meet bronde. Heading into summer,
 rich tawny tones will take centre stage, and believe it or not, balayage is stepping aside this season.
 Take your colour cues from Gigi Hadid’s honeycomb ’do—the warm tint will enhance your complexion and improve the condition of your locks, too. 
“You can never go wrong with natural browns,” 
says French colour artisan Christophe Robin. “Chestnut hues are elegant and very Parisian,”
 he adds. Effortless French-girl hair? Sign us up.

Product to try: Christophe Robin Shade Variation Care 

Not into bronde? Here’s how to hit refresh on your natural hair colour:
For blondes – For a low-maintenance blonde, request creamy tones that “ribbon finely though the hair”, says celebrity hairstylist Anthony Nader.
For redheads – Take red a shade lighter for a strawberry blonde effect. “Reds warm up the skin and enhance every eye colour,” explains Robin.
For dark brunettes – “Perfect for those looking to lighten up a darker base,” states Nader. “Keep the lighter tones peeking through from underneath.”

#2 / Blushing highlighter

“Spring and summer is an exciting time for makeup because we are instantly transported to a world of colour,” says Victor Henao, Director of Global Makeup Design for Estée Lauder. Start with a wash of blush or bronzer to brighten your base, but take it a step further by applying it higher on the face. “It’s almost the same placement as a highlighter would be,” instructs Henao. “This trend came from our friends in Asia, as they love placing the blush a little higher to make the woman look like she’s blushing or shy.”

Products to try: Tom Ford Cheek Color in Love Lust; Elizabeth Arden FourEver Bronze Bronzing Powder; NARS Orgasm Liquid Blush 

#3 / Cool-girl curls

From the red carpet to the runway we’re 
in the midst of an ’80s revival — and for good reason. Reminiscent of the original supermodel era, the key to this look feeling fresh is a mid-length blunt cut
 that allows curls to be as full and bouncy as possible. Keep the styling contemporary by bringing pieces forward to frame your face, and make sure it’s mussed up for a relaxed feel and finish. Smoky, slept-in makeup is the perfect match and stops the look skewing too pretty. 

#4 / Subtle skin strobing

“Beautiful glowing skin is the number one trend for spring/summer,” says Henao. “Contouring is slowly making its way out [and] we are seeing a return to skin looking like skin,” he adds. The key to nailing glow but avoiding shine is controlled application. “Once you’ve got moisturiser on, look in the mirror and move your head. Apply [highlighter] where it catches the light,” says Jane Richardson, Global Makeup Artist for NARS.

Products to try: Kevyn Aucoin The Neo-Limelight in Ibiza; Too Faced Love Light Prismatic Highlighter in Blinded By The Light; 3CE Shimmer Stick in Peach; Zoeva Strobe Gel in Halo

#5 / The modern topknot

It’s an easy go-to at any time of year, and now our favourite fail-safe hairstyle is making a stronger statement: sleek in texture and graphic in shape. 
This season the topknot is all about the height —sitting just above the crown of your head, with the ends deliberately left out of the bun. Add a grungy smoky eye for a celebrity-approved spin on the hairstyle.

Product to try: John Frieda Frizz Ease Secret Weapon Finishing Crème  

#6 / Sugar-coated nails

Forget slicking on a last-minute coat of
 colour as you run out
 the door—treat your manicure as an
 extension of your
 overall makeup look.
 It’s the quickest trick
 to feeling polished from head to toe, as well as being an affordable way to try seasonal trends without committing to cosmetics. Put down the dark, winter shades and
 consider bold
 brights: from hot
 pink to pretty
 pastels and a touch
 of tangerine, this
 palette is the warm welcome to spring we’ve
 all been waiting for. Look for a sheer formula in subtle tones for the office, and up the ante with vivid pigments for nights out.

Products to try: OPI Infinite Shine Gel Lacquer in Malibu Pier Pressure; Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Pretty Piggy; L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Le Vernis à L'Huile in Dimanche Aprés Midi (220)

#7 / New hair heights

From the gym to the office and everywhere in-between,
 the ponytail never dates — and now it’s taking a step towards higher ground. Worried about the schoolgirl effect? Don’t be. Jessica Alba shows us how it’s done, delivering a grown-up take by teaming it with a red lip and bronze smoky eye. Added bonus: the ’do doubles as a mini face lift. Smooth strands into a neat tail, secure as tightly as comfortable at the highest point of your head and wrap a section of hair around the elastic to finish.

#8 / Eye spy colour

“We’re seeing a return to colour,” says Henao of the latest shades of eyeshadow. “The easiest way to do this is to use only one shade, either on the lid or as a liner,” he adds. “Sticking to one hue will make it look as effortless as it does on the runway, but [is] more friendly to wear in public.” Try tones of coral and pink to amp up your everyday look, and feel free to skip the mascara.

Products to try: Shiseido Paperlight Cream Eye Color in Sango Coral; Maybelline New York Color Tattoo Metal 24hr Cream Gel Eyeshadow in Inked in Pink; Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow in Cool Lilac

#9 / Hair hardware

Minimalist and modern, start with an understated hairstyle before tapping into the hair accessories trend with simple shapes and subtle finishes. Contrast smooth strands with raw textures like leather, and stick to metallics and monochrome hues.

#10 / Downplayed brows

The reign of the bushy boy
-brow is coming to an end
 (a relief for those of us not blessed like Cara Delevingne)
 as celebrities, including Lily James, show off their softer side. Natural arches move away from tattoo-style intensity and toward subtle shading with a between-appointments nonchalance.

Products to try: Benefit Foolproof Brow Powder; Maybelline New York Brow Precise Micro Pencil; Rimmel London Brow Shake Filling Powder; MAC Fluidline Brow Gelcreme in Dirty Blonde

#11 / Short and sharp strands

“The beauty [of] this haircut is the solid, polished ends which work a treat even on the finest of strands,” says Nader. “When you style your new shape, kick those ends under.” If you’re sporting a textured fringe, strengthen it up to highlight your facial features. “Forego the hippie, textural vibe for now,” he adds.

#12 / Loud lipstick

“Reds, oranges, purples, pinks — it’s a really beautiful time for lipsticks,” Henao reveals. “We’re seeing all the colours in the rainbow that are bold and bright.” There’s also been a shift in texture and finish. “Before, we were seeing a lot of creams and glosses [and] now we are seeing a lot of matte colours, making these shades a little easier to wear.” Choose creamy formulas with punchy pigment and apply them with your fingers instead of a brush for a just-kissed look.

Products to try: Chantecaille
 Lip Sleek in Calypso; Estée Lauder Pure Color Envy Metallic Matte Sculpting Lipstick in Sizzling Metal; Antipodes Lipstick in Piha Beach Tangerine

Love a lippie? These 3 bold lipstick colours belong in your makeup kit.

For more beauty trend predictions from InStyle, check out instylemag.com.au

Which of these trends are you keen to embrace this season? Share your favourites below.

Image credits: Getty