The influencer’s best tips + tricks for spring makeup
Words by Kirsten Jacobs | Images: Supplied
With over 44 000 Instagram followers and counting, Refiloe Vera has paved a lane for herself as a bonafide beauty sensation. The content creator is known for her soft glam aesthetic and flawless makeup application that pairs so beautifully with her on-trend style.
As we welcome spring, Refiloe talks us through her tips and tricks to get your makeup looking perfect for the new season and beyond.
With spring comes a more lightweight and natural finish. We’re more at the mercy of the elements and need a foundation that can fight all that the weather throws at us. Enter stage right: Esteé Lauder Double Wear Foundation. Refiloe raves about the foundation’s flawless matte finish. This oil-free foundation has a comfortable 24-hour wear that is sweat-, heat- and humidity-resistant. It’s the perfect spring finish. Apply all over the face with soft stippling motions for an even application that won’t look cakey.
For concealer, Refiloe opts for L’Oreal Infallible which offers a long-wearing, full-coverage finish with a lightweight feel. She applies concealer on all the high points of her face - her under eyes, her nose bridge, her forehead, and just above her cupid’s bow. Pro tip: apply a tiny amount of concealer directly under your inner eye and up from the outer corner of your eye towards your brow bone and then blend upwards. This helps create a lifting effect that both brightens and shapes your under eyes in a subtle yet effective way.
Winter has been rough and many of us haven’t seen the sun in a while, which has had adverse effects on our skin tones. Fake it ‘til you make it by adding warmth and definition to your face with bronzer and contour. Start with a small amount on your outer forehead and under the cheekbones and always blend upwards to create a lifted effect. Contouring the nose like Refiloe helps slim your bridge shape.
What’s a spring makeup look without blush? This is Refiloe’s favourite step for good reason; it instantly brightens and livens up your face. Apply on the apple of the cheeks and pat leftover product upwards along your cheekbones for a natural finish.
Keep in the natural vein with a defined brow that looks like you’ve grown it yourself. The key to a natural brow is to use an eyebrow pencil. The Benefit Precisely My Brow pencil helps you create precise, hairlike strokes that mimic the look of natural eyebrow hairs.
Complete your look with the ultimate ‘90s lip combo: brown lip liner and nude lip gloss. Lightly blend the lip liner into the lips before applying gloss so that you’re not left with a harsh line. Make sure to set it all with a good setting spray. Refiloe loves the Revlon Coloursay Lock Setting Spray.
There are 3 must-have beauty products Refiloe can’t live without: blush, a good setting spray or primer, and lipgloss. “Blush just pulls the entire makeup look together,” she explains. “It’s also important to have a good primer before you put on foundation, that way you can have a flawless base.” She loves lipgloss because it “makes you look super hydrated and gives you a glow.”
Another bonus with these products is that they can serve multiple uses. Blush can also be used as an eye of lip stain, while lipgloss can be used as highlighter or eye shimmer in a pinch.
As we step into spring, Refiloe is making minor changes to her makeup routine. She’s focusing on hydrating primers and light coverage or sheer foundation, with lots of bronzer and highlighter to give her that ‘lit from within’ look that perfectly suits the lighter, brighter season.
Watch Refiloe get ready below: