Can I just pause for a second to say how I just loooove makeup! No matter how big or small I get, makeup always fits :)

Anyway, spring is here which means summer is right around the corner! Yay! It’s time to not only transition your wardrobe into lighter and brighter clothing–it’s also time to do the same with your makeup stash. I’ve got you covered with many options $20 or less.

Check it out:

1. Lighten up your foundation load. Warm weather and thick base just don’t go together. And who wants to have your foundation drip off your face and leak on your crisp spring brights? Go for tinted moisturizers or more sheer foundations (try Maybelline Mineral Power Liquid, $8.04) set with loose powder (try MAC Select Sheer Loose Powder, $22) or just go with concealer (try Milani Secret Cover Concealer Stick, $4.29) where you need it set with loose powder. Setting your foundation or concealer with powder is essential to blot out shine. And you want to go with loose powder wherever possible since on average it contains less oils that its pressed powder cousin.

2. Grab some bright blush and bronzer. I L-O-V-E the look of bronzer and blush on brown girls. LOVE it! And apparently so does supermodel and entrpreneur Iman who has a HOT bronzer/blush combo available in her Iman Cosmetics collection (Iman Sheer Finish Bronzing Powder in Afterglow). First apply the bronzer on your cheek bones and then apply the blush on top. Or if you go with the Iman bronzer/blush duo, just swipe your blush brush over the product and apply to your cheek bones. Either way the result is a gorgeous sun-kissed glow that will make you mesmorized by your own reflection.

3. Put some color on those lips. Gone are the days of brown girls being steered away from bright lip color. As a quick rule, the darker your skin the brighter you can go with your lip color. It’s time to pop out the pinks, oranges, and reds. Knock ‘em dead and don’t look back.

Try MAC Lipstick ($14) in Lady Danger, Girl About Town, Show Orchid, Violetta, or Morange.

4. Grab a waterproof eyeliner. Who wants sweat to ruin a thing like the perfect line? Grab a waterproof liner like Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes ($17). It comes in over 20 colors so you can easily add a pop of color to your look.

Or try a stay-put liquid liner like mark On the Edge Hook Up Liquid Liner ($6)

5. Get rid of the fuzzies. If you want smooth, soft skin, next time you shave try using Avon Skin So Soft Fresh and Smooth Silky Stay Shave Gel ($5).

For um, “more intimate areas” try a bikini wax at your local salon. Be sure to keep pesky ingrown hairs away with Tend Skin ($20).

6. Paint your fingernails in spring’s soft shades. One look we’ve seen since winter that will take us into spring is the taupe nail. The color can look bland in the bottle, but looks striking against all tones of brown skin.

Try: Essie Nail Polish in Mink Muffs ($8), OPI Nail Polish in Over the Taupe ($7.50), or YSL La Laque in Beige Chiffon ($20)

And of course spring would not be spring without its usual suspects of pastel nail colors. Hot colors to try: mint green and lilac.

Try: Essie Nail Polish in Lilacism ($8), Essie Nail Polish in Mint Candy Apple ($8), or YSL La Laque in Mauve Silk ($20).

What are your favorite winter to spring beauty routines?
~Danielle