Our beauty team ring in spring with our ins and outs for the season ahead

Out – Complicated routines

"I could harp on about sunshine, buds and blooms, but if I’m truly honest, spring 2026 is a season of chaos for me because I’m temporarily vacating my house while renovation works kick off. Exciting times, of course, but between spending every spare minute researching plug sockets and living out of a suitcase for weeks on end, an intricate multi-step makeup routine is laughably unrealistic. Instead, I’ll be using anything that’s fast, lasts the day, and if it does two jobs at once, so much the better. BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Blonzer ticks all the boxes, giving my cheeks a perky flush, a hit of sunshiney warmth and a fresh-faced finish that belies my true knackered nature."

Out – Neglecting top-ups

"As a beauty editor, I know the drill: Wear sunscreen every day. Even when it’s cloudy. Even when it’s a named storm outside and the closest you get to the sun is watching an episode of MAFS Australia from under a blanket. But to continue my honest streak, during the winter, I sometimes don’t wear SPF, and when I do, I almost never top it up after the initial application. Whether or not that’s considered gross misconduct in my job remains to be seen, but alarmed readers will be glad to learn I’m stepping it up for spring, and Garnier Super UV Mist is the easiest, most unobtrusive, least makeup-messing way to do it. There’s redemption for me yet."

Out – Dry, scaly shins

"Despite my deep affection for the proverb "Ne'er cast a clout till May is out" (the clouts are your warm clothes) I routinely cast a clout from April onward. Primarily because I’m so bored of my big coat, I’ll happily risk a chill to get my warm-weather garb in the rotation. However, on my ankles’ first outing in a pair of cropped jeans, I noticed the horror that was my pale, scaly shins. Scales! This has never happened before, but time catches up with us all eventually, so I’ll have to start treating my body with even 5% of the care I show my face. A good scrub followed by deep hydration will do the trick, and happily, NEOM Real Luxury body scrub combines both with loads of gorgeous oils and sugar granules to help me shed my winter coat like a squirrel. Very springlike."

Out - Inconsistency with my skincare routine

"I'm getting married in a month, so naturally, I'm in full skin prep mode and trying to stave off spots and texture where I can. One way I'm doing this is by being consistent with a gentle but exfoliating toner. Medik 8's Press & Glow tonic was actually recommended to me by my bridal makeup artist, who told me that the glycolic acid I was previously using was probably too harsh for my sensitive skin. And after swapping in this one, I can already tell that she was right. Instead of leaving my skin feeling stripped and causing it to purge, like my glycolic one, this PHA toner feels gentle - with no major breakouts or irritation to report - and I've had quite a few glow-related compliments lately that I'm owing to this toner."

Out - Rushing my AM skincare routine

"In the past, I have been known to speed through my skincare routine, slapping on my serums and moisturisers to ensure maximum makeup time, but after adding these Korean toner pads to my lineup, which you can actually let sit on your face, almost like a face mask, instead of quickly swiping over your skin (though you can do that too), I've really come to love the ritual of it all. My evening routine used to be where I'd slow down, but lately, I've been really enjoying letting these cooling, ultra-hydrating pads marinate on my face while I sip on my coffee and apply my eye creams, deodorant, and so on. As for the product itself, I have dry and sensitive skin and find these Mediheel pads so nourishing, plumping and glow-boosting - they've made such a difference to the overall glassy gleam of my complexion - as well as how my makeup sits."

Out - Stubborn to blend blushes

"Anyone who knows me will tell you that blush is my favourite product and step in my makeup routine. What I don't love, though, is blush products that take forever to apply and blend out because they're either too pigmented or not pigmented enough. Thankfully, those days spent meticulously blending are over for me, having discovered Chanel's Lip & Cheek balm, which just melts into your skin, affording the most natural and dewy looking flush in moments. I just dab a dot on each cheek with my finger (I use the shade Berry Boost) and then use a stippling blush brush to tap it in. In about five seconds, it looks seamless, like it's my own, rosy glow, with no patchiness or pilling in sight. It's stunning, and looks great on the lips too."

Out - Mascara

Now, I need to preface this by saying that this is a pretty big change, as I'm someone who heavily prioritises mascara within my routine. However, after a recent Korean Lash Lift, I've found myself no longer reaching for my mascara. While the effects of my lash lift may no longer remain, I've been searching for a product that will give me similar lifted, lengthened and natural-looking results. Enter, The Ordinary's Lash Curl Finisher. Unlike clear mascaras, this formula boasts a thicker gel-like texture with film-forming technologies that coat each lash for an enhanced and awakened effect.

Out - Powder blush

In the spirit of letting my skin breathe, I've been opting to wear less makeup; that's not to say that I don't want a formula that will give my complexion a pick-me-up. This has meant that I've subbed my heavy powder blushes out for a lighter alternative – namely, Jones Road's Miracle Balm. This formula delivers the 'my skin but better' effect that I've been seeking, with a natural-looking flush and a healthy, dewy finish. While it's on the sheer side, making it great for close-to-no-makeup makeup days, it's still buildable on the days that you want more pigment.

Out - Excessive heated hair styling

I put my strands through a fair bit of heated hair styling throughout winter, from using curling irons to the best hair straighteners to mimic my faux blow dry. So, when spring appeared, I noticed my hairline was experiencing some breakage and fallout; therefore, in need of some serious TLC. And what better time to start the hairline growth process than in spring? After I received some friendly advice to place my hair serum amongst my skincare products in order to remind myself to apply it daily, I've been squeezing UKLash's Hair Growth Serum on each and every day in hopes of encouraging stronger, healthier new hair growth.