Beauty Fix: The perfect Spring shades for your hair, lips and skin

How can I counteract brassy tones in my (bottle) blonde hair?
If your blonde hair is looking a little lacklustre and not quite the same flaxen tone you were when you first committed to the bottle, you’re more or less a victim of colour theory. When you colour your hair, there are blue, yellow and red pigments deposited to the hair shaft. When you wash your hair, the blue pigments are the first to wash down the drain, so your hair ends up looking orange or brassy since you’re only left with red and yellow pigments. How do you correct this? Add blue pigments back in with a colour correcting treatment like Dessange Paris California Blonde Brass Colour Correcting Crème ($15, Shoppers Drug Mart). This blue tinted cream deposits blue pigments back into the hair to restore your hair to its intended shade while linseed oil and passionflower extract nourish and rehydrate your strands. For a more thorough explanation of how to care for freshly dyed blonde hair, see our guide to purple shampoo.

Can you recommend a spot treatment that won’t dry my skin out like crazy?
Sudden breakouts call for targeted treatment, but you’re right to be concerned with how badly your skin will be adversely impacted by the zit-zapping active ingredients of traditional spot treatments that contain potentially drying ingredients like benzoyl peroxide. Try a spot treatment that takes gentler approach without compromising on results, like Dermalogica’s new Breakout Control ($60, dermalogica.ca). This lightweight gel can be applied to breakouts to reduce bacteria thanks to the antibacterial properties of colloidal silver and lactic acid. The formula also contains tea tree oil, zinc sulfate and azelaic acid to soothe skin and improve its tone and texture. Tip: Breakout-prone skin can also benefit from a thin layer of this gel all over skin.

What’s the easiest way to give my limbs a bit of colour without the fuss of self-tanner?
That’s a tall order, but it’s not entirely impossible. If you’re in the market for a colourless product that imparts your body with a very gradual but lovely tan, your search is about to end. James Read Tan Sleep Mask Tan for Body ($75, sephora.ca) is essentially skincare for your body that happens to be spiked with a mild dose of self-tanning agent DHA. The formula contains moisturizers and hydrators like hyaluronic acid, cucumber extract, red algae, as well as soothing aloe vera. Limbs are left in a hydrated state with a subtle hint of colour that can be built up gradually. Oh, and there’s no self-tanner smell. Seriously.

What should I use to contour with if I have a medium to deep skintone?
Seeking out the right products to that are deeper in tone to create the right depth of shadow is key for achieving a believable look. Creams can offer a level of blendability that make the contour look more like your own skin, so opt for a stick formulation like Tarte’s The Sculptor Contouring Face Slenderizer in “Park Avenue Princess 3” ($29, sephora.ca). This chubby pencil format makes application incredibly easy and the creamy formula means blending the colour into skin for a seamless appearance is effortless and foolproof. Use this pencil to sculpt your cheekbones, jawline, nose and forehead for more defined features.

What kind of lip colour should I experiment with for spring?
You’d be amazed at what a dash of fuschia lipstick does for the face, spirit and mood and Chanel has just the shade to play with this spring. Chanel’s newly revamped Rouge Coco Ultra Hydrating Lip Colour in “454 Jean” ($42, thebay.com) is a deep fuschia shade that can be dialed up or down depending on your mood. Swipe it on straight from the bullet for a bolder look or press it into lips with fingertips for a softer finish. Don’t fret about lips getting dried out though – the relaunched formula contains three different plant butters (mimosa, jojoba and sunflower) to keep lips comfortable throughout the day. Note: if you’re not ready to delve into colour, then definitely check out this lipstick range’s neutral offering to satisfy any ‘90s lip craving you may be harbouring.

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