Change Up Your Beauty Game With This 21-Day Challenge

POPSUGAR Photography | Mark Popovich
POPSUGAR Photography | Mark Popovich

Like clockwork, the approach of Spring means an influx of new beauty trends. And while they're inspiring and fun, they can also be a little overwhelming. Our solution? A challenge. This month, we're daring you to take things up a notch by following along with our 21-day beauty calendar. It's the perfect opportunity for you to test the waters with new trends and products — minus the stress. Everything from deep cleaning your face to rocking the season's hottest eyeliner trend is fair game. Stay up to date with a small challenge each day for three weeks, and you'll be feeling fresh faced and energized right in time for Spring.

01
March 13, Day 1: Dust on a finishing powder for a poreless complexion
POPSUGAR Photography | Dean Lipoff

March 13, Day 1: Dust on a finishing powder for a poreless complexion

Ease into the challenge by putting your best face forward. Finish off your makeup with an airbrush silk pressed powder to blur pores and imperfections.


02
March 14, Day 2: Try a primer
POPSUGAR Photography | Benjamin Stone

March 14, Day 2: Try a primer

Layer a primer underneath your makeup today. Not only will it help keep your makeup in place all day long, but the right one can also help hydrate, reduce redness, and control oil.


03
March 15, Day 3: Replace contouring with strobing
POPSUGAR Photography | Benjamin Stone

March 15, Day 3: Replace contouring with strobing

Strobing isn't as intimidating as it sounds! Using a highlighter palette, illuminate your cheekbones, nose, tail end of your eyebrow arch, and cupid's bow to achieve a dewy, chiseled complexion — no contouring needed.

04
March 16, Day 4: Illuminate your eyes with a shimmery shade
POPSUGAR Photography | Dean Lipoff

March 16, Day 4: Illuminate your eyes with a shimmery shade

For a dewy Spring look, apply a glimmer eye shadow to your entire lid for a vibrant, lit-from-within glow.


05
March 17, Day 5: Exfoliate your lips
POPSUGAR Photography | Dean Lipoff

March 17, Day 5: Exfoliate your lips

Give your lips some love tonight with an exfoliating lip scrub. They'll be extra soft and smooth for when you apply a sheer, richly pigmented lipstick to plump your lips.


06
March 18, Day 6: Whip out a Clarisonic
POPSUGAR Photography | Dean Lipoff

March 18, Day 6: Whip out a Clarisonic

It's time for a little deep-cleaning action. Today, skip the washcloth and use a Clarisonic to gently clear your pores for an instantly smoother complexion.

07
March 19, Day 7: Cleanse your face using a muslin cloth
POPSUGAR Photography | Mark Popovich

March 19, Day 7: Cleanse your face using a muslin cloth

Tonight, wind down from the first week of the challenge by washing your face using a hot muslin cloth. The loose-weave cotton cloth is gentle on the skin and works more effectively than your hands to mildly exfoliate. Use small, circular motions to buff, and you'll reveal a properly cleansed, brighter, smoother complexion.

08
March 20, Day 8: Use a 4-in-1 foundation for a flawless finish
POPSUGAR Photography | Dean Lipoff

March 20, Day 8: Use a 4-in-1 foundation for a flawless finish

Start week two fresh with a multitasking powder foundation to correct imperfections, smooth fine lines, plump and lift the skin, and balance out skin tone.


09
March 21, Day 9: Let your lips do all the talking
POPSUGAR Photography | Dean Lipoff

March 21, Day 9: Let your lips do all the talking

Get an instantly full pout with a plumping lip gloss. The serum glides on as a clear gloss and works to provide moisture and high shine, while boosting collagen.


10
March 22, Day 10: Try a fresh lip color
POPSUGAR Photography | Benjamin Stone

March 22, Day 10: Try a fresh lip color

Whether it's a poppy coral or a raspberry rouge, throw on a bright lip color you normally wouldn't wear for a fun pop of color.

11
March 23, Day 11: Lighten up your nail color
POPSUGAR Photography | Benjamin Stone

March 23, Day 11: Lighten up your nail color

Spring is all about pastels. From ultraflattering nude to cool, crisp white, opt for a lighter tone for your usual mani.

12
March 24, Day 12: Switch out your heavy moisturizers
POPSUGAR Photography | Benjamin Stone

March 24, Day 12: Switch out your heavy moisturizers

Now that Winter is gone, leave your heavy face moisturizers behind and switch to lightweight formulas to reflect the change in weather.

13
March 25, Day 13: Perfect your brow game
POPSUGAR Photography | Dean Lipoff

March 25, Day 13: Perfect your brow game

Make a statement today with bold brows. Using a pencil with a vitamin- and emollient-rich formula, define, color, and shape your brows for a striking look.


14
March 26, Day 14: Mist your stress away
POPSUGAR Photography | Dean Lipoff

March 26, Day 14: Mist your stress away

A good facial spray not only hydrates your skin and sets your makeup, it serves as a great pick-me-up for when you're feeling worse for wear. So today, bring along one that's infused with aloe and rose water and mist generously.


15
March 27, Day 15: Expand your brush collection
POPSUGAR Photography | Dean Lipoff

March 27, Day 15: Expand your brush collection

Using the right brush to apply your makeup is just as important as the makeup itself. Start week three strong and reach for an all-over shadow brush to apply color evenly from lash line to brow bone.


16
March 28, Day 16: Customize your facial with a multimask
POPSUGAR Photography | Benjamin Stone

March 28, Day 16: Customize your facial with a multimask

Target your problem areas tonight with a multimask. Whether you're treating breakouts, dryness, or puffiness, layer your masks to get the best results all at once.

17
March 29, Day 17: Even out your skin tone by color correcting
POPSUGAR Photography | Benjamin Stone

March 29, Day 17: Even out your skin tone by color correcting

When it comes to balancing out your complexion, foundation may not be enough to conceal dark spots and discoloration. On these days, color correcting is crucial. Want to neutralize redness? Try a green-based formula. Looking to reduce noticeably blue veins? A yellow concealer or primer is the way to go.

18
March 30, Day 18: Up the wow factor with sultry, smoky eyes
POPSUGAR Photography | Benjamin Stone

March 30, Day 18: Up the wow factor with sultry, smoky eyes

Amp up your look today for a seductive vibe. Use a palette with easily blendable shades to enhance and define your eyes.

19
March 31, Day 19: Go bold with blue eyeliner
POPSUGAR Photography | Dean Lipoff

March 31, Day 19: Go bold with blue eyeliner

Make your eyes pop with a fun dash of blue on your lids. Take a waterproof eyeliner in a vibrant blue hue, and draw an exaggerated cat eye for major impact.


20
April 1, Day 20: Experiment with blush
POPSUGAR Photography | Dean Lipoff

April 1, Day 20: Experiment with blush

Get creative with your blush for day 20 and dust it on everything from your cheeks to your lids and even your lips. Use a silky powder in a versatile hue and dab it on your lids for a barely there flush and on top of your lipstick to create a long-lasting, matte finish.

21
April 2, Day 21: Wind down with a detoxifying scrub
POPSUGAR Photography | Benjamin Stone

April 2, Day 21: Wind down with a detoxifying scrub

Finish the challenge strong and deep clean your face and body with a detoxifying scrub to slough off dead cells and rinse away impurities to reveal brighter, smoother skin.

Discover More at Ulta Beauty
Ulta Beauty

Discover More at Ulta Beauty

Beauty’s Biggest Event, Ulta Beauty’s 21 Days of Beauty, is happening now through April 2, so don't miss out. For 21 days, you can get Beauty Steals each and every day, up to 50% off of favorites from Tarte, bareMinerals and more. There are also free gifts and Try and Play Days, where the experts let you get your hands on what’s hot now. Click here to get your tried-and-true products and maybe even find some new favorites!

Ulta Beauty. All things beauty. All in one place.