six spring 2012 beauty trends

I don't know about you guys, but here in Texas, spring has definitely sprung. I walked outside this weekend and it was 75 degrees and sunny, flowers were starting to bloom, and all I could think about was... lipstick.

No, seriously. Because you can get away with smokey eyes in charcoals and browns all winter, but come spring? That's when you've got to step up your beauty game.

So I wanted to put together a cheat sheet for you guys of my top six beauty trends for this spring and summer -- from the everyday-achievable porcelain skin to the seriously stunning bold and bright lips that rolled down so many runways in New York, Milan and Paris. While make-up can cause potential skin flare-ups, if you use the right products, you’ll be sure to look fabulous without any skin blunders! If you're looking to update your makeup cabinet in the next few months, here's what you should be buying:

Bold Lips

Some girls gravitate to this look naturally, and I will freely admit that I am not one of them. In fact, I put this first on the list because it's probably the toughest one for me to conquer, which means that it should be first on my list to try.

Bright reds, pinks, fuchsias, and oranges are the name of the game this spring, and I'm not talking about gloss. Matte lipstick is your best friend for this look, in part because it'll stay put longer without losing the dramatic effect. If you're feeling daring, go for an orange or purple tone, but if you want to stay current and still feel like yourself, pick out your favorite red and wear it proudly.

Bright Blushes

Just when you think you've conquered bold makeup colors, the bar gets raised. Those same pinks, fuchsias and corals you just got used to wearing on your lips... are now for cheeks! Don't be afraid to play around at a makeup counter until you find one you're comfortable wearing -- I've fallen in love with Tom Ford's blush in Wicked for this trend (very similar to the photo above), but it took me a little bit of time to get used to it! The best thing about a bright blush -- you don't have to reapply a hundred times a day!

Dewy Skin

As trends go, this is probably my favorite. It's achievable on just about every skin type, incredibly flattering, and only requires a few products. The key here is twofold: you want moisturized, healthy skin, and then you want to get that sun-kissed, slightly bronzy look.

To pump up the moisture in your face, cleanse and nourish skin with Simple Skincare's Moisturizing Facial Wash, and then add 12-hour moisturization with the Simple Skincare Hydrating Light Moisturizer. Both of these are terrific beauty products for sensitive skin, so you can get that glowing, dewy-fresh look.  On top of that, skip your foundation -- use a tinted moisturizer or just concealer and a liquid bronzer to even out problem areas. You want those freckles showing! Cover with an illuminating powder (not a matte powder) and head out to the beach!

Porcelain Skin

This is the look for those of you who aren't big makeup-wearers -- because this is less about makeup and way more about skincare. To get radiant, porcelain skin, you probably need to start with a gentle cleanser and then keep your skin protected from the sun. A great cleanser for sensitive skin that I love (so much that I got this in January and already need another bottle) is Simple Skincare's Refreshing Facial Wash Gelwhich leaves skin cleansed and revived. Follow up with a moisturizer with SPF that protects skin all day like Simple Skincare's Vital Vitamin Day Cream, and keep your makeup in varying shades of nude -- light peach blush, taupe shadow around the eyes, and a clear gloss. Let your skin be the star!

Pastel Tones

This looks so pretty when it's done right! Keep everything minimal with this look, and then add a swipe of pastel blue, purple or green to your eyelids. It goes perfectly with the porcelain skin above! If you can't bring yourself to try a pastel color, you can also do this look with a light silver shimmery shade -- it's a little more muted and easier to pull off, but still looks fresh and modern!

Strong Brows and Lashes

Stop plucking! Right now. Strong brows are everywhere this spring -- those over-tweezed, plucked-into-oblivion brows are no more, and I, for one, am pretty happy they're gone! Fill yours in until they grow back -- a strong brow is nature's way of framing your pretty eyes. And for eyelashes, if yours aren't as long as you'd naturally like, fill them in with DIORSHOW mascara and add a few individual falsies at the end.

There you go!  What's on your Spring makeup wish list?