Some beauty trends just get it right. And some just… don’t. But as a beauty director, I’m happy to report that there’s nothing (and I mean nothing) boring about this season’s looks. They’re mega! They’re ’90s! They’re just plain fun! I’m seeing lots of dewy skin and colors galore, but the eye looks are arguably my favorite. I mean, there really is an eye trend for everyone. If you want to dip your toes in the land of Y2K, a subtle pink monochrome look is waiting. Or perhaps you’re ready to make smokey eyes daytime appropriate. (After all, bronze lids are making a case for it.) Or if you’re craving some edge, there’s a double-winged cat eye just begging you to try it. And you can really turn up the volume on any of these looks (or any look, for that matter) as long as you have the Covergirl Exhibitionist Stretch & Strengthen Mascara ($9) on hand.
Yes, really. This mascara‘s lightweight formula is infused with biotin, peptides, and provitamin B5 for protection against breakage, and the premium wire-bristle brush wraps and stretches each individual lash from root to tip, opening up the eyes in ways you’ve only dreamed of. But lifted lashes aren’t the only thing you can expect from this miracle wand. According to my stylish co-workers, a boost in confidence is an added bonus. Below, three of my fellow editors share the eye looks they’re most excited about, so keep scrolling to learn how makeup makes them feel ready to take on the world.
“I’m a beauty minimalist who secretly lives for a dramatic makeup moment. I’m really only committed to my sunscreen on a daily basis,” says Executive Director Natalie Cantell. “If I want to feel a little more presentable, I might add a drop of bronzer or tinted moisturizer, and I’ll pay attention to my brows and lashes if it’s been a minute since I’ve tinted them. I love anything glowy, so a little dewy highlighter or creamy blush is my finishing touch. But honestly, I tend to rush through my morning routine, so any day that I take the time to put myself together, I really do notice a little difference in my mood. To be honest, it’s probably less about appearances and more about the time I took for myself.”
What spring beauty trend are you most excited about?
The retro vibe of a clean, slick, statement liquid eyeliner is really my jam, although it’s taken about a hundred years to pull off doing it myself. But here we are! Just in time for the double-winged cat-eye trend to come along and put my (mostly) steady hand to the test.
How did you create this look?
I started by spritzing my face with the Clean Fresh Skincare Priming Glow Mist ($10). I love anything that adds dewiness, so this is always a good first step. Since I only like light coverage, I mixed a little dollop of foundation with my sunscreen and applied it with my blender starting in my T-zone (where I like the most coverage) and gently working my way out. I added a tiny bit of concealer under my eyes and at the corners of my nose. Then I moved on to the serious business: eyebrows. I love a strong brow. Before I started on my eyeliner, I swept a little bronze eye shadow over my lids. I use oils as part of my skincare routine, so this helps ensure nothing gets smudgy and also adds a nice hint of color. My trick to getting the liquid eyeliner right is to first and foremost find a formula that’s easy to apply, like the Exhibitionist Lash Enhancing Liquid Eyeliner ($8). Then start with whichever eye feels more awkward. (It will be easier to match if you do your stronger side second.) For this double-winged look, I like to start at the inner corner and do one “tick” on each side before going for the second. Then I finish with one long sweep to create a (hopefully!) smooth and seamless line. Last but certainly not least is the Exhibitionist Stretch & Strengthen Mascara. I started with the primer to get a really thick lash for a mod ’60s look. My final step is lipstick—but on my cheek as a cream blush. It makes the overall look feel fresh and perfect for spring.
Why are the eyes so fun to focus on?
For some reason, any color on my lips only tends to last about five minutes. So if I’m going to have fun with makeup, a bold eye is where it’s at. I have super-long eyelashes, but they’re blonde at the tips, so the right mascara really packs a punch, especially if I apply it to my upper and lower lashes.
What do you love most about the Exhibitionist Stretch & Strengthen Mascara?
I love the shape of the brush. it’s extra grippy, so I can really feel it tugging and lengthening every single lash.
“I like to help people express themselves through fashion and beauty, but I’ve always loved the natural look more than anything,” says associate editor Sierra Mayhew. “It comes off as very effortlessly chic. Makeup makes me feel like a polished version of myself. But to me, no makeup is just as beautiful. This mindset has helped me see makeup as an embellishment and a way to build confidence.”
What spring beauty trend are you most excited about?
I’m loving Y2K everything right now, and watching my favorite beauty trends make a comeback has been so fun. Pink is the color I associate with the early ’00s, and I feel like a pop-culture icon when I let the color inspire my look. I love the way pink makes me feel, so channeling that energy while getting ready is very fun.
How did you create this look?
I turned on some Y2K hits and got to it. I love a lightweight foundation like the Clean Fresh Skin Milk Foundation ($8), so I started by delicately patting my face with this cloud-like concoction that Covergirl whipped up. Blush is the best part of makeup in my opinion, so I raced to the apples of my cheeks next and brightened them up with the Clean Fresh Blush Palette in Dream in Pink ($12). The deep pink shade is my favorite, but mixing and matching shades is always a good idea. Lip gloss is so fun, so that’s what came next. (I work in a unique order, so bear with me.) Of course, it had to be pink. Then I created an eye-shadow look with the palettes that glimmered and shined. I primed my lashes and brushed them with just a bit of the Exhibitionist Stretch & Strengthen Mascara and had lashes for days.
Why are the eyes so fun to focus on?
It may be cliché, but I do believe they’re the windows to the soul. The first thing I notice about someone is their eyes, so I love playing up mine with mascara and fun eye shadows.
What do you love most about the Exhibitionist Stretch & Strengthen Mascara?
Instant volume and length are right up my alley. It only took one coat of mascara for my eyelashes to be completely done, and they’ve never looked more fabulous.
“I write about fashion and beauty for a living. My everyday makeup look typically revolves around fresh skin with a touch of bronzer, blush, highlighter for some extra glow, and lashes,” says senior editor Kristen Nichols. “Makeup is all about self-expression, and I consider it to be a form of self-care that makes me feel like my most confident self.”
What spring beauty trend are you most excited about?
While my go-to over the last couple of years has been a no-makeup makeup look, I’m very ready to start playing around with fun looks again. What’s one that I can’t get enough of right now? Smokey bronze eyes. A shimmery lid using the TruNaked Eye Shadow Palette ($10) adds just the right amount of playfulness that’s perfect for both the daytime and an evening out. It’s all about layered shades of shimmering eye shadow and punctuating the look with layers of inky mascara. It immediately brightens your eyes.
How did you create this look?
I started out with foundation all over my face and neck. Then I added concealer under my eyes, down the bridge of my nose, and along my chin for a brightening effect. I penciled in my eyebrows for some definition and curled my lashes. I used a brush to apply bronze eye shadow along my lid, starting with a darker shade and layering a lighter bronze on top. The lashes are arguably the most important step. I applied mascara primer and several swipes of mascara for a stretched, lengthening effect. Lastly, I applied a swipe of the Clean Fresh Lip Tinted Lip Balm in Made for Peach ($5). I always keep my lips simple when I want to draw attention to my eyes.
Why are the eyes so fun to focus on?
I tend to keep my skin looking pretty clean, so my eyes are where I add some fun elements to my makeup look.
What do you love most about the Exhibitionist Stretch & Strengthen Mascara?
I’m a big mascara person, so I never feel like my makeup is finished without a swipe of a super-inky formula. The Exhibitionist Stretch & Strengthen Mascara truly stretches your lashes, creating an extension effect without having to actually get extensions.
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