Winter has left you and your looks dull and down in the dumps? These easy beauty tricks will quickly put the spring back into your skin.

Rethink your skincare routine. Skin changes throughout the year, mostly due to seasonal factors. Has winter left you parched? Invest in a hydrating serum. Or are you looking a little closer to your age? It may be time to up the anti-ageing ante. If you don’t know where to start - beauty can be a confusing and cluttered world, after all - book yourself in for a rejuvenating facial with a therapist you trust. A thorough extraction, stimulating massage and professional-strength peel will work immediate wonders for your complexion. It’s also an opportunity to get some pro advice on what skincare you best need now.

While you’re at the salon, get a brow shape and tint. It’s a no-fail way to open up your facial features and bring out and brighten up your eyes. Fair-lashed? Get a lash tint as well.

Start mixing a dollop of fake tan into your night cream - you’ll wake up each morning with a natural-look glow, no matter how many hours’ sleep you’ve had. You may find, by sustaining your tan during spring and summer, that you won’t need to wear as much base as usual. Either buy a tinted moisturiser that matches your new skintone - the best kind of base for giving a dewy look - or add a little bronzing cream into your usual foundation to custom-match the shade to your complexion.

A peach or apricot blush in a creamy formulation is a must-have for spring - or any time you just want to look healthier and fresher. Try: Stila Convertible Color in Gladiola ($45 from Mecca Cosmetica).

Brighten your eyes. Start with a new mascara - they need a change-over after three months anyway. Try an eye-opening lash-curling formula. Or switch to a dark jewel shade for a change - a great way to pick up the various flecks in your irises and make your eye colour pop. If you want to experiment a little more with colour, use a dampened liner brush to etch a purple, green or blue shadow along the upper lashline. A bit too scared for bold hues? Just as effective at brightening eyes is a gold shimmer dust, doused all over lids. Finally, use a pale-toned liner to colour the inner rims - this instantly makes eyes look livelier and larger.

The prettiest lip look is a lip gloss in a fruity shade of tangerine, cherry or berry. It adds glow to your overall look and a subtle burst of colour. One of the best ranges out there: Lancôme Juicy Tubes ($44 each, from department stores).

Finally, don’t let your hair let down your new look. Book yourself into your salon for more - or lighter - highlights, or for a richer colour rinse. While you’re there, splurge on a glossing treatment to really play up your colour and amp up the shine. Consider also if it’s time for a more drastic change - whether going short, cutting a fringe, or adding more layers. At the very least, get a trim to lose some of that dead winter weight.

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