Elizabeth Arden Limited Edition Radiant Bronzing Powder, $38
Even though I fully embrace my paleness, sunny spring days leave me craving a hint of bronze. This powder is perfect because it's subtle enough for my skin tone, and it's a bronzer, blush, and illuminator all in one. The brown, pink, and beige shades blend together so you don't need three separate products -- and if you want more of one color, you swirl your brush over it. I especially love that the daisy print from the case is also embossed on the powder.
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Clarins Eye Quartet Mineral Palette Collector Edition, $42
If the looks on the runways are any indication, purples and blues are going to be popular this spring. Clarins nailed the trend with a spring makeup collection inspired by irises. This flower-embossed shadow quartet is my favorite because each of the four shades is wearable -- so you won't end up with one empty pot and three colors you'll never use.
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Paul & Joe Spring Creation Cheek Color, $18, and Compact, $8
These off-white lacquer-like compacts have a pretty chrysanthemum design, which is almost as gorgeous as the two-toned powder that goes inside. There are 10 color combinations, and they're all fantastic. I'm going with Gigi -- a bright fuchsia paired with a pale, shimmery pink.
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Nail Rock Nail Wraps in Chelsea, $6.65, and CK One Color Street Art Limited Edition Nail Polish Strips, $12
I'm not into nail art. I'm going to have to agree with my colleague that it's on its way out. However, I also have to admit that I'm obsessed with these floral nail stickers. They're just so springy! I'm leaning towards the feminine version from Nail Rock, but I know there's a girl out there who's going to flip for the graffiti-inspired CK One Color version.
Drew Barrymore is practically the celebrity ambassador of flowers. Her production company is called Flower Films and her new beauty brand, available exclusively at Walmart, is named Flower. Most of the products in the line are either reminiscent of blooms or have floral names, but my favorite for spring is this lip trio. It's called Petite Fleurs (little flowers), and it's three tinted balms in one tube.
Spring makeup is rarely controversial. While fall trends can border on Goth or grunge -- and make me roll my eyes and say "never going to happen" -- spring trends are just plain pretty.
French macaron-inspired nail polish shades? Yes, please. Eye palettes that look like Easter egg coloring kits? I'll take two.
Right now, my desk has piles of cotton candy pink and robins egg blue makeup -- and nothing makes me happier...except the collections that are covered in flowers. They make me downright giddy.
Give me eyeshadows embossed with lilacs and blushes stamped with roses, and I'm in love. Sure, it's not the most original concept, but let me tell you: The new spring makeup for 2013 raised the bar on flower-inspired makeup for years to come.
Here are the prettiest bloom-ified spring makeup products (and some floral nails, and makeup brushes just for fun). After all, when it comes to spring makeup, there's no such thing as gilding the lily.
