Believe it or not, Spring is on it's way. The evenings are lighter and the temperature is sneaking it's way into the double digits. With it comes the end of a makeup rut that I seem to have landed myself in over the past few weeks. There's nothing wrong with a makeup routine but for weeks I was feeling uninspired and found myself reaching for the same things, day in day out. For me makeup is all about having fun and experimenting with different looks, even when I find a selection of products that work well for me. But over the past few weeks I have switched things up a bit and started to enjoy applying my makeup again. 

All I want, along with the rest of the population, is radiant skin that doesn't require hundreds of products or hours in front of the mirror in the morning to achieve. The products I have introduced this Spring are very much in the low-maintenance, easy to apply category. They're quick, long lasting and help to give that "enhanced" look, rather than looking too made up. 

First off is the Hoola Quickie Contour Stick from Benefit. This matte bronzing stock is the perfect way to add a touch of warmth to the skin without looking over done. There is no shimmer in the formula to you can achieve a natural looking sculpted look but still leave your skin looking radiant. Although the formula is matte it isn't flat or heavy on the skin, it melts into the skin with fingers or a fluffy brush with ease. I've found the best way to apply this is to swipe your brush over the top of the bullet gently, take off the excess and blend in gently, building up as you go for a more natural finish. Blended with a brush or gently with fingers I've found this doesn't disturb my foundation underneath and works well alongside it to give a more flawless finish without it looking as though you have applied layers and layers of bronzer. 

Keeping with the complexion products, next is possible the most intense yet gorgeous highlighter I have ever come across; the Iconic London Illuminator Drops. The glow these give is unrivalled, and yet it doesn't look heavy, chunky or too obvious on the skin. Yes, of course it looks like you are wearing a highlighter but this is much more on the pearlescent/radiant side that heavy and shimmery. The tiniest bit goes the long way, a small drop blended between my ring fingers and then pressed into the tops of my cheekbones seems to work best. Any excess is applied across my brow bones, down the bridge of my nose and my cupids bow. Again, when applied with fingers these don't disrupt my foundation, it is worth noting though that I apply both of the drops and Hoola before setting my face with powder. 

Mascara's are notoriously tricky and finding one that give volume and length in a formula that lasts all day but isn't waterproof is difficult. The new Maybelline Total Temptation Mascara has managed to deliver all of this and gives a beautiful fluttery effect to the lashes. The brush is a thick and full bristle brush which helps to deliver the formula evenly across the lashes and grip to them to give more definition. The formula is relatively dry to it can be built up to give a full effect that doesn't look chunky or too overdone whilst the shade is intensely black so gives incredible definition to the lashes. Work out how best to negotiate the brush and you're ready to go. 

Finally comes the lip option. More and more recently I have been steering away from liquid lipsticks and traditional lipstick formulas in favour of something lighter and more hydrating. I have  had impossibly dry lips over the past few months so the idea of applying a heavy lipstick to already-chapped and dry lips has not felt overly appealing. The Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfectors are a classic product, but applier alone shade 6 gives the perfect "something" to my lips, taking them from dry to naturally glossy and full in a matter of seconds. On the days where I feel I still need a little more definition I run the Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Liner in Cappuccino over the top for a little added colour and definition but more often than not this handbag-friendly lip gloss has been my go to all on its own. 

That laid back, simple but radiant make up is always my favourite look, dispersed with a bolder eye and brighter lip here and there for good measure. Day to day these products have been helping to give me the perfect basis for any other look I go onto create as we edge into the slightly warmer weather and can start to day dream about beautifully bronzed skin and golden tones.