SPRING is upon us, and like many women, you are anxious to pull out your linen dresses and strappy sandals. Spring is a time of renewal, which includes renewing your spirit, your wardrobe, your complexion and your makeup routine. Get into the flow of the season by revamping your makeup to create a `new' you for the season of renewal. The eyes should be soft and bright, lips full and luscious, cheeks contoured and rosy or peachy, brows playful or sculpted, and of course, you'll need a dab of powder to give that matte all-day finish.

Red continues to be a hot color this spring, and it looks great on the hues of the Black woman's complexion. In addition, softer colors so en vogue. Earth tones with a touch of frost are still strong, as with Fashion Fair's toasted bronze lipstick and bronze lip liner. Plums and mauves can be worn alone or mixed with reds, bronzes, pearls and sheer glosses (such as sheer gold and sheer bronze automatic lip color) to create a shade that is totally you.

Vicki Cochran, Fashion Fair Cosmetics makeup artist and national trainer, offers the following makeup tips to get you into the swing of spring.

* FOUNDATION AND POWDER. Before putting on foundation, cover the dark spots and area around the eyes with a concealer. This will help hold your eye makeup in place for hours and hours. Depending on your skin type, select a foundation for oily, dry, combination or sensitive skin. Select a color that blends into your neckline. Dot the foundation on at strategic points of the face, then blend it into the hairline and neck area. The foundation should look natural. If your skin is basically flawless (lucky you!), skip the foundation and Simply dust with powder that complements your complexion. If you aren't sure which foundation suits you best, get help at the makeup counter in your favorite department store.

* SEDUCTIVE EYES. After applying concealer and foundation, apply a light to medium eye shadow color directly below the brow, then move down to the crease or middle-eye area and apply a warm medium color. Blend the two colors. For evenings out, apply a navy, charcoal, black or brown shade to the lower lid for a seductive look. Line the eyes with a black/brown finer across the top lid. Enhance brows with an eyebrow powder or pencil.

* SENSUAL MOUTH. The mouth defines overall facial features. To keep color from bleeding, line the lips with a lip pencil in a shade close to your lipstick color, whether that is matte or gloss. Use it lip brush to fill in lips with your favorite color. (For more lasting color, cover entire lip with lip pencil before applying lipstick.) This spring, highlight lip color with a matte gold for a sultry shimmer.

* CHEEKS. Choose a blush color that complements your lipstick. For a polished, professional look, add check color with brush strokes just below the check bone. Then blend in with facial powder for a soft, natural look. For evening, dust cheeks with gold highlighter.

Applying makeup does not have to be a long, drawn-out ordeal. With a little practice, you can learn to apply your makeup like a pro. Makeup should look natural and enhance your appearance. Too much makeup is just as bad as not wearing any at all.