Spring Training

Local beauty and style experts weigh in with tips to get you head-to-toe fabulous

Hair

The look: Long, glossy locks.
Ryan Thomas of Ryan Thomas Hair Studio in Encinitas (760-436-4247; ryanthomashairstudio.com) looks to European runway shows to glimpse the future in hair trends. The look of spring locks? Long, sleek and shiny. “Glossy textures coupled with strong, clean perimeter lines lend the foundation for spring’s longer mod shapes,” says Thomas. “Think flower child meets (flatiron) junkie.” But he warns: “Hair health and integrity should not be sacrificed for length or density.” Thomas recommends Hairdreams extensions to add not only length but also fullness. He achieves the polished look for clients using Shu Uemura products, which can be found at his studio. (Use the Depsea Smoothing Foundation and White Tea Polishing Milk for medium to coarse textures or Silk Therapy Fluid for finer textures.)

Nails

The look: Flirty shades of red, burgundy and pink.
Sara Elizabeth Skincare in Mission Hills (619-977-7546; saraelizabethskincare.com) performs manicures and pedicures using SpaRitual’s vegan, nontoxic polishes and products. SpaRitual’s spring line, dubbed Awakened, includes six new shades showcasing the hot hues of the season: creamy nude, soft petal pink, flamingo pink, tangerine, classic red and deep berry. “A creamy, neutral tone on clean, natural nails is always in fashion,” adds Sara Elizabeth Kuite.

Shoes

The look: Sporty, preppy play dress-up.
Seems Oprah is a huge fan of Gordon Thompson’s designs. Having spent 13 years at Nike and seven years at Cole Haan as creative director, Thompson, a native San Diegan, knows a thing or two about fashion, especially as it relates to shoes. “One thing we’ll be seeing this spring is the evolution of a sporting look. How will designers bring the sportif world closer to fashion? Add a wedge or a high heel to the sporting design.” Thompson also says we’ll see a reinterpreted return of prep, with floral prints and bright colors updating classic preppy designs. And look for the evolution of the ballet flat—another ever-changing trend.

Makeup

The look: A clean glow with rosy cheeks and lips to match.
Less is more this season, with make-up trends going au natural. “Spring makeup will be clean with rosy cheeks,” says San Diego–based freelance makeup artist Mary Erickson (877-242-6878; themakeupartist.com). Cheek stains are in; Erickson’s top choice is Tarte’s stain in Flush and Blushing Bride, which can be found at Sephora and tartecosmetics. com. “My favorite foundation for beautiful, glowing skin is Face Atelier, found at CameraReadyCosmetics.com,” she says. “It’s the newest buzz in foundation among makeup artists.” For the rest of the face: “Out is the lip pencil, so pack those away until next fall. For lips, rosy yet natural stains and sheer colors are in for spring. Eyes are natural, and shadows are earthy and subtle.”

Jewelry

The look: Bold colors, layered chains and silver.
“This spring, it’s all about brights,” says Christie Thoene, owner of Christie’s Boutique (619-293-0800; christiesboutique.com) in Mission Hills. When deciding on jewelry for her shop, she selects designs that complement current trends in clothing: “feminine, Jackie Kennedy–inspired silhouettes” and “a return to Bohemian influences in denim and embroidered T-shirts.” She pairs both trends with simple chains layered with bright gemstones, lots of silver and just about anything with stud detailing. “We’ll also continue to show simple hoop earrings [like these from Gorjana]—they seem to work with everything we sell,” says Thoene.

Threads

The look: Interplay of bold colors, metallics, cropped pants.
Donna Marsh, who recently opened her 5,500-square-foot shop in La Jolla (858-454-3003; donnamarshlajolla.com), says a hot item for the spring is a Cynthia Steffe dress that represents the trend toward “color blocking,” or the juxtaposition of bold, vivid colors (think hot pink, sun yellow and royal blue) in lieu of prints. Marsh also says the fall trend in metallics will be carried into the spring (check out the Debra Deroo metallic jacket), as will the trend in clothing “accents” like “big, fun buttons on jackets.” You’ll also be seeing the spring trend of cropped pants and wide-legged jeans in Marsh’s store, which carries more than 120 top brands, including Badgely Micshka, Marc Bouwer-Glamit, Trina Turk and emerging designers like eco-friendly Zooey, and designer denim lines such as Paige Premium Denim, Habitual and celebrity favorite Rich and Skinny.

Skin

The look: Fresh, dewy skin.
“Fresh” is the buzz word when it comes to spring skin, says Heidi Olden, owner of Urban Calm spa (619-236-1395; urbancalmspa.com) in the East Village. “Think spring cleaning for your skin. We need to shed those layers of dead skin as we prepare to bare fresh-looking, refined skin for spring.” Her remedy for tired skin is a deep-pore cleansing facial with a light enzyme peel. She also advises weekly exfoliation (try Enessa’s Bio-Exfoliant). For head-to-toe exfoliation, use an invigorating sugar or salt scrub like Enessa’s Body Polish. Other Enessa products in Olden’s arsenal include the new Shea Body Soufflé, an organic combo of African shea butter and coconut oil that hydrates and nourishes skin deep down, and the potent Rescue Blemish Control spot treatment to zap pesky breakouts.

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