The boys in The Hunger Games are a tad underwhelming (sorry!), but one strapping man gives us summer beauty inspiration.

While the other Capitolians sport ridiculous neon-coloured manes, overly manicured talons, and falsies that would make Shu Uemura gasp, Cinna (played by the ageless Lenny Kravitz) is the picture of elegance with his signature gold eyeliner. This simple golden stroke created with Make Up For Ever’s gold Metal Powder is a subtle springtime look, promising to dazzle under the beaming sun rays. We’re opting for a convenient, small purse-appropriate Aqua Liner in Diamond Gold, because something tells us Cinna would approve of minimalism. —Anya Georgijevic

$26 at Sephora, www.sephora.com

Because beauty doesn’t have to cost a pretty penny, we’re spilling the deets on our best-loved drugstore products. Trust us: They are as affordable as they are awesome.

Classic Clip
The Goody ‘Jenna’ barrette, a favourite among beauty editors, has walked countless runways, from Prada and Alexander McQueen last fall to Marc by Marc Jacobs and Ports 1961 (shown) this season. For good reason, of course: this little metal clip makes for the simplest, sleekest pony ever, long or short. $3.99/4 at London Drugs, www.londondrugs.com —Anya Georgijevic, Vancouver beauty editor

Quick Dry
Basecoat is the unsung hero of the home manicure. This one from Revlon dries in a flash, makes my polish last twice as long, and is free of icky things like formaldehyde. Now if only I could figure out how to do my right hand.  $7.99 at London Drugs, www.londondrugs.com — Kelsey Dundon, Vancouver lifestyle editor

Perfect Polish
I won’t lie that I am attracted to the packaging and cheeky language from Soap & Glory products, but the real reason I love this body polish is that it truly is a great scrub. Best used on areas post-wax (to avoid ingrown hairs) and all over before applying fake tan. $18 at Shoppers Drug Mart, www.shoppersdrugmart.ca  —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg, Vancouver fashion editor

Line it up
I do love a good cat eye but creating this look can be rather frustrating. The super fine  applicator on Rimmel's Glam'Eyes Professional Liquid Liner makes it easy to achieve a precise line without too much fuss. Meow!  $5.99 at London Drugs, www.londondrugs.com —Kelsey Mulyk, managing editor

It’s time to stop lugging around that hefty makeup bag—spring calls for tiny purses and clutches.

Flawless skin, some healthy colour, and a bouncy mane are all one needs for the warm season (it’s coming, we promise). Pare down your daytime beauty essentials in three easy steps.

1. Scrap your foundation, moisturizer and SPF for a convenient little triple duty BB Cream by Estée Lauder. $45 at Estée Lauder, www.esteelauder.com

2. Swap your lipstick and blush for a tube that does it all, with Ilia’s freshly launched Multi-Purpose Lip to Cheek Stick. $34 at www.iliabeauty.com

3. Free yourself of that clunky hairbrush and a separate compact mirror and get this smart pop-up brush/mirror combo by Joe Fresh. $10, Joe Fresh at www.joefresh.com

By ditching the clutter, your arms will thank you too. —Anya Georgijevic

Here are the beauty trends we're coveting this season:

Crayola Lips
Think red on acid. The lips at Jason Wu’s spring runway recall the pop art paintings of Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol. Keeping the face fairly neutral, the sole focus is on this bright red/velvety red. The secret to this perfect pout is precisely lining the lips first, and then filling them in with an intense, eye-popping Crayola-like red. Warning: this one is not for wallflowers, so be ready to make an entrance.

Editor’s pick: M.A.C. Lip Liner in Redd, $16.50, and M.A.C Lady Danger, $17.50 at M.A.C, www.maccosmetics.com

Looped Bun
This ponytail/bun hybrid seen at Carolina Herrera is such an ingenious and easy summer hair solution for all us low-maintenance types. Prepped with a dab of hair oil, the hair was blow-dried straight, slicked into a low ponytail, then looped onto itself and secured under the knot with bobby pins. This looped bun might just be my go-to style this season, whether it’s for a casual seawall stroll or for a fashionable night on the town.

Editor’s pick: Couture Colour Pequi Oil Treatment , $32 at www.sephora.com

Tonal Palette
Overly bronzed skin is definitely a thing of the past, but a little bit of sunny glow always exudes seasonal warmth. Skip the shimmery J.Lo bronzers and opt for a subtle tonal look from Diane von Furstenberg’s spring presentation. Using earthy neutral tones, the cheeks are sculpted with a colour slightly darker than one’s natural complexion, adding depth to the eyes by building in a lighter centre of the lids and inner corner area. Easy, breezy, beautiful summer girl.

Editor’s pick: Benefit Cabana Glama Palette, $42 at Shoppers Drug Mart, www.shoppersdrugmart.ca —Anya Georgijevic

Move it! That’s what our running shoes are screaming at us.

Okay fine, we will. But we’re not going to go prancing around town without something to keep our bouncy bits in place. We’ll strap 'em down with the Majestic Bra from Vancouver’s own Tonic Apparel,  which, like us, is made in Canada. It’s rouched in the front so we don’t get the pancake effect, lined so no one can tell if it’s cold out (if you know what we’re sayin’) and crossed in the back because, well… it’s prettier that way.

Ready, set, go! – Kelsey Dundon

Tonic Apparel Majestic Sports Bra, $51 at Barre Fitness, 1038 Mainland St., Vancouver, 604-669-6906, www.barrefitness.com

Dreamy pastels are on everyone’s mind this spring, from the runways of Phillip Lim, to Chanel’s beauty counters.

One Canadian brand, Jacob, serves up the finest confectionary colour palette with a line of affordable and formaldehyde-free nail lacquers. Their freshest concoctions include Retro Chic, a frothy cantaloupe hue, Miss Mousseline, a cotton candy pink, and Sunny Capri, a soft lemon meringue yellow. They might make you crave a cupcake or two, but your nails will look just as delicious. —Anya Georgijevic

$6 at Jacob, www.jacob.ca

The best advice sometimes really does come from around the water cooler.

When a co-worker opened a packet of purple powder and slipped it into her water glass at 3 p.m. on a sluggish workday, I took note and went out to track down my own extra energy supply. My Vitality is a vitamin rich pick-me-up that helps to re-energize while reducing stress levels.  Caffeine-free (it relies on natural ingredients) and flavoured with juice concentrates, this mid-afternoon routine is worth scheduing in, especially if it steers us away from an afternoon snack served from a vending machine.

Drink in the energy boost. —Jaelyn Molyneux

$5.99 per three pack at www.drinkintuition.com

Junk food, we need to have a word with you.

We get it – you’re irresistible. You’re salty, you’re sweet and you’re always there for us when we crave you. But you see, we’re trying to stick to our eat-healthier-and-work-out-more resolutions so it’s time we parted ways. We’re going to opt for plant-based recipes designed for peak athletic performance (or at least the occasional jaunt on the treadmill) instead. While we may not be able to stick to the whole Thrive Foods diet, we love snacking on homemade energy bars instead of, you know, junk food.

So brush that potato chip off your shoulder. —Kelsey Dundon

Thrive Foods by Brendan Brazier ($20.36) www.amazon.ca

Coffee makes the world go round. Well, it does for a certain beauty editor with three cups a day and counting.

The joy of a caffeine buzz aside, my espresso habits have left my formerly pearly whites looking more like muddy whites. Well, thank heavens for electro-ionic technology! Wait, what? Rewind. Meet Tanda Pearl, the newest at-home teeth whitening tray system that uses gentle micro-currents to generate an electro-ionic reaction when combined with a whitening gel. Sounds scary, but the emphasis is on “micro” since one can’t really feel these tiny pulses.

Five days and, um, fifteen espressos later, these pearly whites are back in the game. —Anya Georgijevic

$195 at The Bay, 2nd Floor, 674 Granville St., Vancouver, 604-681-6211, www.thebay.com

If our winter wonderland has left your skin feeling a bit parched, there is no need to worry: you might just need a little oil tune-up.

Adding a bit of oil to your skin routine for the duration of the winter season will help to restore your skin’s lustre without adding unnecessary shine. Just a couple of drops is all you need.

Ren’s sweet-smelling Rose O¹² Moisture Defence Serum improves skin elasticity and provides a velvety base for your moisturizer. Rosehip seed oil contains essential fatty acids that help to repair skin. Bonus: it leaves your skin smelling like a fresh bouquet of roses — irresistible. $87 Kiss and Makeup, H5 - 925 Main St., West Vancouver, 604-922-6292, www.kissandmakeup.ca

This new Biodynamic Herbal Recovery Oil by Eminence contains age-defying clary sage, an ingredient that is also known for its calming properties in case you also need a little aromatherapy. It can be used on its own for those with really dry complexions, or mixed with your daily moisturizer for just a dab. $38 at Spa Boutique, 3630 W. Fourth Ave., Vancouver, 604-734-7114, www.spaboutique.ca

If you are looking for a little nighttime treat, look no further than Dermalogica’s Overnight Repair Serum. This new addition to their Age Smart line combines peptides with Argan oil to restore the skin’s lustre and works against those pesky fine lines. Use under your moisturizer only at night, and you’ll wake up with fresher looking skin. It literally smells like sleep: dreamy and warm. $88 at BeautyMark, 1268 Pacific Ave., Vancouver, 604-642-2294, www.beautymark.ca —Anya Georgijevic