Banish dry skin with these winter skincare and makeup tips
If you have dry skin, keeping it in tip-top condition and your makeup looking flawless can feel hard enough to achieve even when it’s sunny outside and skin is naturally more glowy. Finding a routine that is ideal for you isn't easy. However, if you follow a daily routine that is meant to help your skin, you will see results quickly. This will help you regain your confidence, making your skin shine.
At this time of the year, when dry air sucks away any remaining moisture, leaving skin flaky, red and dehydrated, it can feel impossible to achieve dewy skin. However, here are a few tips that will bring a glow to your skin any time of the year, but especially during the colder months. If your skin is looking extra dry, and as a result your makeup is sitting on your face like spackle, you need to read on!
• First off, prepare your skin by gently exfoliating it. Sounds painful, but trust me, you won’t feel a thing! Makeup loves flakes and will cling to them for dear life; exfoliating your skin will remove flakes and create a smooth base on which to apply your makeup.
• Next, moisture, and it’s time to get serious with your moisturizer. Forget light, gentle lotions (if you’re dry you shouldn't be bothering with them anyway!) Winter calls for something more heavy-duty. Get thee to Boots and find a nice, thick cream that your skin will drink up. Eucerin do some lovely ones. Your skin will thank you, and you can thank me later.
• Now that you’re nice and hydrated, it’s time for foundation. There are many creamy, hydrating foundations on the market, and this is the time of year when they are the best choice (though if you’re really dry, you may find they are ideal year-round). If you still have the odd dry patch, don’t fret. Apply the foundation with your fingers and push the product into your skin. This way, the foundation is less likely to sit on top of your skin and advertise your flakes for you!
• For eyes and cheeks, cream products are nice this time of year, as they naturally make the skin look more hydrated. Go for a nice cream eye shadow (Maybelline Color Tattoos are an excellent choice; they’re comparable to higher end products, with a fantastic price point) and creamy blusher.
• There are some beautiful darker shades of lipstick available this season, in varying shades of red, plum and purple. However, they will look anything but beautiful if applied on top of dry, flaky lips! Prepare your lips first, either by gently buffing away dead skin with a damp flannel, or by applying a sugar scrub. These are easy to make at home, using sugar and olive oil. Just put a bit on your finger and rub gently. If DIY skincare isn't your thing, LUSH also do a range of sugar scrubs that you can lick off your lips once you’re done buffing! Apply a thick balm when you’re done (my new favourite is the amazing Nuxe Rêve De Miel, available from M&S) and your lips will be lipstick ready!
Follow these tips and your skin will look and feel more radiant and hydrated and ready to face the cold months ahead!
Lucy Palmer is a freelance makeup artist and writer based in Exeter.
lucy.palmer.richeson@gmail.com
Photo credit to Roberto Condado
https://www.flickr.com/photos/condadoconde/
