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Now is the time to give your makeup kit an overhaul for two very important reasons:
a) sometimes a full beauty change is much better than a rest
b) lets face it, we could all do with a bit of mood-boosting every now and then. Bright things is the easiest path to some heartfelt joy. It's practically medically official.
Benefit The Bronze of Champions Kit, £26.50
More bronze than bright, but it will make you feel SO much better to override a greyish winter complexion with sunkissed imaginings that you'll get a bit of a pink flush of joy for free
Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner in Cobalt, £13
This is a limited edition tube of on-trend joy. Perfect for creating illuminating and elongating eye looks that will perk up your whole face. Get. it. quick!
Nars Nail Varnish in Madness, £14.50
We're in love with this shade for nails. Erring toward a true cherry red but so much more interesting
L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Nails in French Riviera, £4.99
A perfect softly grey blue that will complement a paler skin tone at this time of year, and then become a whole different shade against a gentle tan come summer too. Win win!
DANIEL SANDLER LUXURY MATTE LIPSTICK in GIGI & RED CARPET, £13.50
All the best lipstick boxes ticked: velvet texture, perfectly matte, interesting but beautiful shades, amazing staying power, feels lovely to wear. Just a question of which one to buy (hint: buy both)
Bourjois Cream Blush in Healthy Glow and Lip Boost in Orange Punch, £15.98
This is Beauty Directors choice for the best combo of skin enhancing peachy blush - its the perfect shade for winder skin - plus complimentary peaches n cream lip crayon. She says its pretty much all she has been wearing since Christmas, but we've definitely spotted some mascara and the occasional bright red lip too... (lipstick addict)
Daniel Sandler Sheer Satin Shadow in Rose Shimmer, £10.25
Just sheer enough to be the most beautiful flattering rose shimmer on your eye. Yes your eye! This is the perfect hue for our new season obsession with pink. (plus you can double it up as a subtle blush too)
L'Oreal Paris Infallible Eyeshadow in Sahara Treasure, £6.99
Perfect blue-grey shade for smudgy smokes or a line of colour just above the lash line. versatile, budge-proof, amazing
New CID Cosmetics I-Blossom, £16.65
New CID is a hidden gem in the ELLE office. The products may be slightly under your radar but they're definitely on ours. Easy to use and amazingly effective, this gorgeous spring shade is like a colour stamp for your cheeks. Sweet and fool-proof
Nars Guy Bourdin Blush in Coeur Battant, £21.50
From the eponymous and highly collectable Guy Bourdin collection (our absolute favourite of 2013), this shade looks slightly intimidating but just try buffing into pale winter skin on the apples of your cheeks only and you'll be sold. It's beautifully warm, striking and so feminine. We can't live without ours
PIXI ENDLESS SILKY EYE PEN KIT, £16.50
The most important trick to keep bright eyes sophisticated is a line through the lashes and in the waterline. These minis cover off any colour shadow, skin, eye colour, and you can even smudge to create your own darker smoke too. Multi-tasking magic
Nails Inc Crackle Nail Polish in Shoreditch £7.80
Floating nail art is a big thing right now and this is an easy cheat, plus the electric neon purple shade makes it mood-boosting enough to battle the worst Monday you ever had.
Stila Countless Colour Pigments in Light Show, £14
A one of a kind artist palette of an eye product. There is any number of brightening colour combos to create here, or you can just gaze at the baked kaleidescope of colour and let that lift your mood for you
RMK Airy Matte Eyes in Airy Light Green, £18
Team ELLE can't get enough of this ethereal misty green shade. It's dead easy to scribble on for beautiful milky lids with a spring twist too. It's love
Nails inc Lollipops Collection, £30.79
An entire wardrobe of spring/summer fun for your fingertips. This is a huge value kit that'll take you right through to next year
Feeling buoyed by all the bright? A little insider tip on ensuring an excellent mood at least once a month: Subscribe to ELLE now to get it delivered straight to your door/ipad/desktop/tablet - wherever you like! You'll get a brilliant beauty treat for free at the same time. Double happy-whammy...
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