Oscar Caballero

It may still be winter, but the good news is spring is just around the corner, and it's time to start planning. As we began mentally preparing for the warmer months, we looked to our favorite beauty guru, Oscar D. Caballero, for his advice on how to make our faces as soft, fresh, and dewy as spring flowers.

First and foremost, Caballero said that we should make a smooth transition into the season with hydrated, glowing skin; make sure you are exfoliating and using a richer cream right now, in order to save your delicate skin from the cold, wind, and dry indoor heating. "Think of your skin as fashion," Caballero says. "You have to change textures according to the seasons."

Next, we asked Caballero for two different makeup looks that we could add to our spring repertoire, exemplifying the season while giving us different options (after all, it's a girl's prerogative to change her mind!)

For a simple, nude bronzed face, as seen on Nicole:
Oscar says: A great tinted moisturizer on top of your daily cream gives a sheer coverage and beautiful glow.  Try NARS tinted moisturizers or Natura Bisse Sheer Cream.  They both even out your skin without that foundation look.

For the extra benefit of the sun-kissed look in winter/early spring, avoid bronzers that are too deep in shade. I opt for Givenchy Bronze Douce Croisiere in #2.  It just gives a golden glow to the skin.

Eyes should be brighter as well, adding a pop of shadow, such as Surratt Beauty in Chamois, which is a natural peach. Dust some of the bronzer on the lid, a highlighter under the brow, and you're done.  I prefer an intense black mascara, such as the Givenchy Noir Couture, and a good brow filling. My favorite brow pencil is Kevin Aucoin. Then pop a nude gloss or lipstick, and the look is complete! It's all about light textures. The result? Glowing!

For the pink and nude glow, as seen on Emy:
Oscar says: If you want a heavier coverage, try Armani's Luminous silk foundation, which gives a beautiful glow with the added benefit of the coverage. Quick tip: keep on pressing the foundation in areas you want more coverage. Sheer it down where you don't want as much.

With this face, I like to contour and highlight a bit more.  My go-to highlighter and contouring powders for this look are Surratt Beauty (always!). I love their textures.  Just make sure you are blending.

For eyes, a pink base works beautifully for a softer look; apply highlighter after—all over the eyes with a few coats of mascara.  You can add a taupe eye shadow to the crease for depth.  Adding a white or flesh tone to the water line will brighten your eye as well. Experiment and have fun with it.

Do a soft contouring: pop the cheeks with a pink blush.  A creamy texture like the Memoire De Fome by Givenchy gives a rosy glow to the apple of the cheeks. I love gels in the colder months for the added hydration. Hint: these textures can always be used on the lips too; just add a clear gloss on top to make it pop.

If you wish to make the lips the focus, use a creamier lipstick with a gloss.  On Emy, I loved using Chanel's Rouge Double Intense.  On one end it's a lip stain for very long wear and at the other end a beautiful clear high gloss—perfect for a night out. Why should you worry about reapplying?

About the artist:
Oscar D. Caballero has been a makeup and beauty expert for over 15 years. He was a senior makeup artist at the Victoria's Secret flagship store, and was part of the team for the runway show in 2013. He honed his skills alongside celebrity makeup artist Sue Devitt—who's defined Sarah Jessica Parker's looks on the red carpet—and Oscar managed Devitt's beauty line at Barneys.

He's worked with the luxury skincare line Natura Bisse for over ten years (a Beyonce favorite), and as a result learned the rare art of using products to accentuate a woman's natural beauty—not cover it up.

Oscar's work has been seen on four billboards in Times Square (for Taku Saki), in the Ralph Lauren Midnight Romance ad campaign, and on the faces of Miss Universe Gabriella Isler, Miss Universe Paulina Vega, and several of the Real Housewives. He's an artist in every sense of the word.