Cultural Scents
The English countryside and the art, music, and literary figures associated with it inspired the nine new fragrances included in LUSH Cosmetics’ Gorilla Perfumes line. Father-and-son team Mark and Simon Constantine create scents from their seaside studio in Poole, England, and their perfumes are always made from the raw, natural ingredients around them. In addition, eight of the nine perfumes created for LUSH are vegan. For spring, we like the aptly named The Sun, with hints of orange, tangerine, and sandalwood. Meanwhile, Furze—named after a British plant known for its mystical properties—carries a tropical feel with warm coconut and vanilla notes. However, not all of the perfumes are light and cheery: the beatnik-inspired The Voice of Reason features French Gitanes cigarettes and espresso as two of its main ingredients, and the tuberose-vanilla mix in Sikkim Girls oozes sensuality. The perfumes start at $14.95 for a 0.3-ounce bottle and are available at the LUSH Vancouver store (1020 Robson Street) or online at www.lush.ca/.

> Michelle Da Silva

Flower Power
Switch up the jewel-tone nail polishes you’ve been rocking all winter for light pastel colours that reflect spring’s blooms. Estée Lauder’s new nail polish collection, Heavy Petals ($25 for 8.9 millilitres each at Holt Renfrew [737 Dunsmuir Street] and the Bay [various locations]), was inspired by springtime in Paris—namely flower bouquets, macarons, and candy-coloured children’s carousels. Estée Lauder creative makeup director Tom Pecheux has designed five whimsical hues: Narcissist, Lilac Leather, and Coral Cult are perfect for women who prefer soft pink nail colours, but we love the more offbeat cotton-candy-blue Dilettante and Absinthe for its slight edginess. If you’re hesitant about rocking full blue or green digits, pair the nail polish with a more subdued neutral tone and use the flash of colour to highlight an accent nail.

> Michelle Da Silva

Butter Body
Local, organic, and vegan are just a few of the words used to describe Whistler Naturals, a skincare line co-owned by B.C.–based Lisa McGregor and Christie Angeloni. The 15 unisex products included in the line, which range from facial cleansers and toners to body exfoliators and moisturizers, are 100-percent organic and free from preservatives, parabens, synthetic colours, animal products, and GMOs. To achieve baby-soft skin, start by using the Vanilla Silk Sugar Body Scrub ($17.96 for 120 millilitres at Nesters Market [4475 Main Street] and Save-on-Foods [various locations]) in the shower. Raw plantain sugar helps exfoliate skin, while coconut, avocado, and soy butter leave skin feeling moisturized. Follow the body scrub with a dollop of the Naked Apricot Lily Body Butter ($17.98 for 120 millilitres), which smells fresh and sweet with hints of citrus, ginger, jasmine, and vanilla.

> Michelle Da Silva

Liquid Brows
The thick, bold eyebrows trend isn’t leaving the beauty landscape anytime soon. Luckily, even if you weren’t blessed with Kardashian-style brows, there are plenty of ways to fake it till you make it. Geisha Ink—the cosmetics line best known for its precise and smudge-proof liquid eyeliner—has added a liquid eyebrow liner ($29 for six millilitres at Noir Lash Lounge [various locations], BeautyMark [1268 Pacific Boulevard], and Kiss & Makeup [925 Main Street, West Vancouver]) to its collection of eye makeup products. The 24-hour waterproof and quick-dry formula is available in two shades—light and dark—and is applied using a microfibre brush. If you’re worried that liquid eyebrow makeup will make your brows look too strong or painted on, rest assured that the liquid flows gently from the brush and any excess makeup can be easily wiped away with warm water. The advantage of using liquid makeup instead of a pencil to fill in eyebrows is that there are no harsh lines or chalky residue, and the colour doesn’t fade over the course of the day.

> Michelle Da Silva

Metal Wings
Journalists called the models “techno butterflies” when they fluttered down the runway at the spring 2013 Paris and New York fashion shows held last year. This was in part a reference to the “wingy” eye shadows they were wearing: huge swoops of bold colour extending past the eyelid and up into a point. Maybelline’s new Eye Studio Color Tattoo Metallics 24HR Cream Gel Shadows have the right intensity for the cool new look ($8.99 at most major drugstores and makeup counters). Daring shades like Inked in Pink, Gold Rush, and our favourite, Electric Blue, will help you take wing—and they won’t be rubbing off anytime soon. It goes without saying that the style demands more neutral lips.

> Janet Smith

Pucker Precision
This spring’s intense new lip shades, from hot pink to film-noir red, demand a steady hand. NARS’s new Satin Lip Pencils give a perfect, tailored look without drying out your pucker. They’re packed with moisturizers, as well as long-lasting, rich pigments. We like bold shades like Yu’s shocking pink and Hyde Park’s true cardinal red. For a more neutral look, try Floralies’s pale apricot or Isola Bella’s peach beige (all $30 at the Bay and other locations). For extra precision, finish things off with NARS’s new Light Reflecting Setting Powder, a screen-ready mineral powder that comes in either loose or pressed formulas (both $39 at Sephora and elsewhere). Think flawless femme fatale.

> Janet Smith