Temptalia's Spring Makeup Edit (2019)

Here are my personal picks for spring; they’re shades that I’d put in my dream springtime makeup bag to wear and love during the season specifically based on how I’m feeling about this spring’s vibe, what’s been calling to me, and so on.  I tend to think about more recently reviewed products as that is what is most accessible to me (both physically but in my memory), but there are some longer-term favorites sprinkled throughout.

If there was one type of makeup product that I had to declare an everlasting love for… it would be eyeshadow.  It was what made me fall in love with makeup, and it’s my favorite part of applying makeup 15 years later.  These days, realistically, I tend to reach for pre-made eyeshadow palettes and recently-reviewed singles (often more arranged in a color story, whereas singles in the archives are organized by color across dozens of palettes) over anything else.  They’re the easiest to reach for when there are moments to wear something I’m not testing for review (I’m usually after something I can apply easily for a lot of swatch photos or for date-night makeup that I’ve applied after testing other things all day).

I find myself often pulling Natasha Denona’s Lila palette out and pairing it with some of the warmer tones from the Gold palette or keeping it in the purple-vein with either the Cranberry or mini Lila palettes.  When I want something warm, bronzy, sparkly, and easy, Pat McGrath’s Bronze Seduction and Kaja’s Orange Blossom would keep me covered!  (I have also been pulling mattes in from the Biba palette, but I feel like I could probably get away with the mattes included in the palettes listed already.)

I love colored eyeliner and often apply eyeshadow to my lower lash line, so I’ve really enjoyed more matte (but colorful) eyeliners on the waterline/lower lash line so I can add shimmer using eyeshadow.  Shades like Torch and Grapevine pair well with the palettes I’ve shared above, while Whirl(pool) offers great contrast and Peridot is one of my favorite springtime shades–such a happy, uplifting green that’s pastel-esque.

The struggle for me to narrow an edit is that… I love wearing ALL tones and types of shades! I’ll wear purple, green, bronze, and everything in-between, so I need to cover a good spectrum of undertone and depth to give me some warmer and cooler, deeper and lighter shades to work with–then I’ll often layer with highlighters to get the exact tone I’m after.  Shades like Flesh & Fantasy and Pink-Champagne are pretty much in my arsenal year-round, and I’m certain Hologlam will be a shade I reach for often throughout the year but it’s new-ish to the vanity for me.

My cooler-toned favorites for spring are Celestial, which is the lightest and works well to add coolness to any shade, and Lilac Lust is more of a highlighting-blush.  A shade like Bronze (03) work well to add lots of warmth (without adding orange tones) to any blush, and then Dew You and Light (01) are my-skin-but-better kind of shades that are more low-level in sheen. Superb I can wear as a highlighter as well as a subtle, highlighting blush/bronzer.

Rebel is a year-round staple for me, as it pairs well with warmer and cooler looks, especially when I layer a gloss on top make it warmer or cooler depending on the look I’m after–wish Urban Decay would make it permanent!  Spark and Electra are nice pops of color and shimmer, and Electra gives me something richer/deeper if I want something extra.  Madame Greige is a bit cooler and more subdued, so it can be more my-lips-but-better as I need it.

Fu$$y is a nice, easy-to-wear gloss that enhances the natural pink tones of my lips on its own but also to add a high-shine finish to any lipstick.  It’s hard not to reach for Bite’s shimmery glosses over and over again because they feel great but are also very transformative!  For spring, I think I’d get the most use out of Pink Pearl (adds coolness), Rose Pearl (adds depth, redness), and Gold (adds brightness, warmth).

Product List

20 Comments

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Denise S. Avatar

Great picks! I own most of them already and love them. I’m considering getting Natasha Denona’s Biba palette during Sephora’s sale but like you I have multiple mattes to choose from other palettes. I added Ciate’s Spark lip stick to my cart, I’m enjoying the Jessica Rabbit one.

Genevieve Avatar

I really LOVE your choices here Christine. I am a sucker for gold eyeshadows and I just find myself really wanting that ND Gold palette. These are all great spring palettes.
As for lipsticks, the PMG Electra is such a beautiful shade that could be worn all year round.
Your blush and highlighter favourites are stunning too and remind us of all the past products that have stood the test of time. Especially the MJ Peridot eyeliner that I know you love.
Thank you Christine, I really appreciale this collection.

Nancy T Avatar

This was so nice of you to put this together for your readers, Christine! Many of these are either on my WL or I’m fortunate enough to have them. True fact: when I brought each of my two kids to a different concert each, one of the e/s palettes in your Spring edit was one I used for the event! ND Lila Mini for the Evanescence/ Lindsay Stirling concert, and PMG Bronze Seduction Mothership for Muse/ Walk The Moon.
I’m seriously eyeing the ND Gold Palette for May 1st….?

Odielle Avatar

Thank you for all the great recommendations Christine, I love them!
Do you think ND Lila palette is worth the money?
I haven’t tried any of her palettes before, but since I absolutely love purple eyeshadows, I thought this would be the best pick for me, but it gets a B+.. So I sure am in doubt.

Christine Avatar

I really enjoy it, but I’m not personally comfortable telling someone what’s “worth it” when are talking about a luxury product – it’s more about each person’s budget, how and what they’d use, what’s more important to them, etc.

Wednesday Avatar

I do not have ND Lila palette, believe it or not, but I do have the mini. I’ve had that palette in and out of my Big S shopping bag so often. I grabbed the ND Star palette ages ago and found I never reached for it because I found it tricky to apply. I think that is what turned me off. The 5 pans, I always wait for your review before purchasing.

Pretty Vulgar Lilac Lust has been one of my go-to’s this spring as well. I use it as a hybrid over my cheek colour.

Madame Griege is a holy grail lipstick for me, but so is Natasha Denona Shiny Lip Colour in Natural Lilac Rose. .. not so much about the formula as it is about the colour. I feel like I’ve been hunting this particular lipstick shade forever and finally found it. I don’t know exactly what makes it so special and imagine it would be very non-descript on some others, but for me it’s perfect.

Carla Ceretti Avatar

Dear Christine,
I always love your recommendations and these are not the exception, you have a great taste.
Now that the monochromatic look is being more trendy, what products would you recommend for spring and summer?
Thanks in advance.
Carla Ceretti

Jessica Avatar

These are some really great picks. I’m going to have to reach back in my stash and pull out some of these palettes that I’ve been neglecting due the amount of choices I have.

I really want the Lila palette but I have the dupe for it so I don’t need it, but for some reason I have a mighty want for it. Which is ridiculous b/c I don’t even reach for the dupe.

I’ve been reaching for Smoke by Hourglass a lot. I can grab any palette and lightly blend a shadow in my crease and then just dab it on my lid and have an instant glamorous, spring look. Lately, I’ve been pairing it with the Gemini palette, going back and forth between either the browns or the greens. I first did it b/c I was in a rush and they were both right in my line of sight. Now, I just find it really easy and pretty.

I’ve been loving Diamond Milk by Fenty, Fenty Glow by Fenty, Attitude by Pat McGrath, and Juicy Date by Bobbi Brown. All with a generic brown lip liner.

I reach for the ND Bloom Blush & Glow palette, the ABH Nicole Guierro palette, Sinamon & Rum by Fenty, the Pat McGrath highlighter trio, Suva’s liquid highlighter in Trust Fund, and Laura Mercier’s Glow Powder in Medium Deep. It’s a really pretty natural looking highlighter. I do like to mix the tiniest drop of it into my matte translucent powder to get a very subtle all over glow and/or dust it over my matte bronzer to get a bronzy glow. It’s a really versatile product.

Once I get out of my makeup rut, I feel like I’m going to bring the shimmer matchstix back into my life heavily. Ridiic, Yacht Life, and Chili Mango are going to be perfect blushes for this spring and summer. I’ve really found myself getting more into cream products, which I never thought would happen since I’m so oily.

Hayley Ostronic Avatar

Can you do an affordable version of this post including maybe some drugstore or indie options that you love for spring? I’m sure a lot of readers would really enjoy that!

Christine Avatar

These were my personal picks – literally my favorites for ME and only me – was sharing them with readers who were curious 🙂

I already did a post with options with more generalized spring picks! https://www.temptalia.com/spring-is-for-pop-sparkle/

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