Is wintry weather causing a make-up mayhem? With the frosty season approaching, it is often difficult to know which colour palate to use and how to cover up pale, dry and often reddening skin. These tips and tricks will help you perfect a stylish winter look whatever the weather.
Hydrate your skin:
In the dead of winter, dry, flaky skin is often a by-product of cold weather and little humidity. This produces a less than radiant look! Hydrate your skin from the inside out by drinking at least eight cups of water a day. Also remember to moisturise before applying primer and foundation. It is especially important to use an extra-moisturising emollient on blustery days as this helps to create a barrier between the wind and your face. I would recommend an oil based moisturiser rather than a mineral-based moisturiser this season, as added oil will create a fresh and dewy finish so that your skin glows throughout the winter months. Minerals, on the other hand, can dry skin and they don’t offer the same level of protection against low humidity.
Top tip! Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean SFP isn’t important! UV rays are present all year round, and are particularly damaging to the skin when reflected off snow. Opt for a moisturiser with a minimum of SPF 30 in it.
We recommend: Olay Complete Radiance Illuminator Moisturising Cream (£9.99)
Foundation:
Your skin produces little oil in winter, so a tinted moisturiser, or a mix of half moisturiser, half foundation is your best bet. If however you want more coverage, a silicone based foundation works wonders as it provides great resistance against the cold. Cream foundation often cracks in lower temperatures, powder takes away from a dewy look by drying out the face, and liquid can disappear in cold weather, so avoid these.
Top Tip! If redness is a problem in the cold weather, opt for a green-tinted moisturiser or foundation. As a complementary colour, the green will help camouflage inflammation.
We recommend: NARS Luminous Weightless Foundation (£32 and available in 20 shades)
Brighten up your complexion:
Blush is a must: it will give a pale and winter washed face a little extra sparkle and life. Use soft, peach tones on fair skin or warm, burnt sienna hued blush on darker skin. Circle the blush into the apples of your cheeks, then blend the remaining colour upwards and outwards towards your cheekbones. A light bronzer with a touch of shimmer will also add a subtle illuminating shade to brighten the face.
We recommend: Sleek Face Contour Kit (£9.99)
Eye make up:
Go for neutral hues. Light browns, pinks, and greys in matte suit this time of year perfectly. With paler skin in winter, gentle, satiny colours are simple yet striking. The one exception to the rule is silver! It adds a wintry sparkle to your eyes, especially if applied to the inner corners to open up the eye. Don’t forget also to counteract the effects of winter by applying a light concealer on your under-eye circles. Opt for a shade two tones lighter than your actual skin to cover and brighten.
Top Tip! Wintry weather can cause make-up mishaps! Avoid the sleet, snow, and winds causing smudgy eyes by using a waterproof mascara. As mascara goes dry quickly in the winter, it is advisable to invest in a new mascara rather than one which has been used excessively and has already dried.
We recommend: Revolution Essential Mattes 2 (£4.00) and Barry M Dazzle Dust Eye Shadow in Eos (£4.59)
Lips:
Like the skin, lips can often be an unfortunate victim of dry weather. A tinted lip balm with SPF is a handbag essential to keep lips plump, smooth and subtly coloured throughout the next few months.
Top Tip! Don’t be afraid to use a darker hue on a night out. Mahogany, merlot and garnet coloured lippies are perfect, however be careful to keep these colours deep and rich to execute an exquisite wintry look, rather than bright. Post-box red, for example, should definitely be avoided.
We recommend: Burt’s Bees Tinted Lib Balm (£5.99) and Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Black Cherry, Spicy Cinnamon and Raisin Rage (£7.49).
Grace Braithwaite
Image Credits: NARS cosmetics, Sleek, Revlon, Revolution, Alfons Mucha
