Ah, spring…

It’s getting closer by the minute. Yesterday I noticed a tree on my street, which doesn’t usually bloom until April, already has flowers on its branches, and this morning on the Today Show the hosts were saying that much of the country has been having an unseasonably warm winter.

But it’s not all good. They say it’s confusing some crops and bird migrations.

I think it’s also confusing my sense of smell. This winter, I’ve been reaching for the heavier perfumes I tend to wear this time of year less often than usual, and opting for lighter, fresher fragrances like the new Burberry Body Mist ($50) more often instead.

I almost wore out the original Burberry Body last fall, and I like this new, limited edition spin on the scent just as much.

It seems more dainty and delicate than its sibling, yet still retains the rosy, feminine feel that made the original Burberry Body a hit with me.

Burberry Body Mist

“Dive into a sensation of green freshness with the fruity accents of peach and the sensuality of freesia. This fragrance blooms with light floral notes of rose petals and iris, gently combined with the captivating signature of sandalwood. The cashmeran base blends with soothing vanilla, amber, and musk to reveal the unique character of this seductive woman. A new way to experience Burberry Body, this mist is formulated without alcohol and can be used all over the body and hair.” – Sephora.com

• Top notes: fresh green absinthe, peach and freesia
• Middle notes: Rose absolute, iris and sandalwood
• Base notes: wood cashmere, creamy vanilla, amber and musk

It reminds me of a lighter version of Lancome’s rosy Tresor, but with stronger notes of iris and freesia, and I think it’s just so girly and sweet that it compels me to don a pink dress, pearls and heels.

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Wearing Burberry Beauty Lip Glow Gloss in Nude Rose No. 14

If the punchy pink Lip Covers Burberry bestowed upon counters for spring/summer 2012 were a little too pigmented for ya, not to worry, Burberry beauty. The line’s added two new long-wearing Lip Glow glosses ($27 each) that sheer look neat.

Semi-sheer Hibiscus No. 13 and sheer rosy pink Nude Rose No. 14 are like tropical waterfalls, drenching lips in moisture and shine, and what they may lack in pigment (say, compared to the epic holiday Lip Glows), they make up for in casual elegance.

I like wearing them on top of the Lip Covers for added shine and to extend the staying power of both products, but I also like how uncomplicated and pretty they look on their own.

Hibiscus No. 13

Lip Glow Natural Lip Gloss in wands in Hibiscus No. 13 (left) and Nude Rose No. 14, $27 each

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Wearing Burberry Lip Cover in Tulip Pink No. 27

You know you’ve seen one too many episodes of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills when the first words out of your mouth after seeing these new Burberry Lip Covers are, “Man! Lisa Vanderpump would cut a b*tch for these pinks!”

If you don’t watch the show (it’s like Twinkies for my brain), Lisa is the resident Queen B, and she happens to love everything .

As do I (but not quite to Lisa Vanderpump’s level).

The color plays a major part in Burberry’s new Spring/Summer collection, which, by the way, I’m currently lurving (have you met Pale Barley yet?). Three of the four silky new Lip Cover Lipsticks ($30 each) in the release are shades of playful pink, while the fourth is a peach called Golden Peach No. 29.

If you like your pink lippies light, smooth and moisturizing like a fine silk slip, ding ding, ding! — we have a winner here.

The Burberry Lip Cover Lipsticks: 3 New Pinks for Spring and Summer

• Tulip Pink No. 27 — To my eye, Tulip Pink No. 27 is the lightest of these pinks and has the coolest tones, but Burberry was careful not to lower the color temperature so far that warmer-toned gals (like moi) wouldn’t be able to pull it off. I think it’s a perfect pink nude lip to pair with smokey eyes.
• Devon Sunset No. 28 — Compared to Tulip Pink, Devon Sunset burns hot. It’s a creamy pinkish coral with a dash of warming yellow, and I swear I feel brighter when I have it on my lips. Cuties who love coral may want to add it to their list.
• Primrose Hill Pink No. 30 — While bright for Burberry, I still think this hot pink stays true to the collection’s overall aesthetic. It has a soft shine that keeps it from overstepping its bounds, and I think the finish gives it an air of elegance. Plus, it matches my hair.

Devon Sunset No. 28

Primrose Hill Pink No. 30:

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Their love was forbidden, but they could no longer deny their passion.

By day, they sat across counters from one another, so close but yet so far, sneaking glances here and there whenever no one was looking. But at night, after the store lights dimmed and while the other eyeshadows slept peacefully in their pans, MAC Pro Longwear Eyeshadow in Sweet Satisfaction would sneak over to the NARS counter to meet Cyprus Eyeshadow, her one true love.

It was a clandestine affair, and it continued until Sweet Satisfaction started showing signs of a telltale bump…

Knowing that their families would never accept their cross-counter love, they boldly left the worlds they knew and sought refuge in a place called Burberry Beauty.

Burberry Beauty’s family had only settled the region in July of 2010. They did not yet have a competitive wall like the older, more established lines, but they greeted Sweet Satisfaction and Cyprus with open arms, making them feel at home.

Several months passed, and then, in the spring of 2012, Sweet Satisfaction gave birth.

She and Cyprus decided to raise the lovechild as a member of the Burberry Beauty clan, dressing the little one in Burberry Beauty’s distinctive family garb — a gunmetal case with a check pattern — and when they asked the Burberry elders to christen her, they agreed.

They named her Sheer Eye Shadow in Pale Barley No. 22 ($29) and added her to the spring/summer 2012 collection.

Burberry Beauty Sheer Eye Shadow in Barley No. 22, a new shade from the spring/summer 2012 collection

From the left: MAC Sweet Satisfaction, Burberry Beauty Pale Barley and NARS Cyprus

Swatches from the left: MAC Sweet Satisfaction, Burberry Beauty Pale Barley and NARS Cyprus

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Slip on your favorite belted trench, Burberry beauty babes, and walk with me while we take a peek at Burberry Beauty’s collection for Spring/Summer 2012.

Since entering the beauty biz in July of 2010, Burberry’s beauty products have emulated their iconic fashion sense with clean, classic, timeless colors and packaging that smacks of class. Look elsewhere for crazy Kesha glitter, because this look is all about natural beauty with elegant pops of panache.

This season, the brand celebrates summers in Britain with shiny, bright, warm shades for lips, neutral colors for eyes and dewy finishes for faces and cheeks. The 12-piece collection showcases seven new shades and three re-promoted colors, and it’s available now online and at select Nordstrom stores.

FYI, San Francisco Bay Area Burberry fans, a new Burberry Beauty counter is coming to the Walnut Creek Nordstrom store, opening in mid-to-late February, so you won’t have to trek all the way to Union Square in San Francisco to get your Burberry on, yay!

Here are pics and swatches of six of the seven new shades. If you frequently fancy Chanel and Trish McEvoy, you may find yourself craving these products as well, especially if you like neutral eyes and pretty pink lips (that here seem a little bit brighter than usual for the brand).

Stay tuned for looks and detailed reviews over the next few days, but for now, let me know what you think.

Lip Cover Soft Satin Lipsticks from the left: Primrose Hill Pink No. 30, Tulip Pink No. 27 and Devon Sunset No. 28, $29 each

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