We've had our first few flutters of snow, so it's official: winter is well and truly here. I love the cold weather, Christmas and snuggling up in cosy jumpers, but the one downside to winter is the effect it has on the skin. I think we've all experienced our skin getting drier because of exposure to harsh weather conditions and then wacking the heating on inside. It's all a bit of a shock to the system, and even more irritating when you find that your usual beauty products aren't looking the way they usually do. I thought I would come up with an edit of products that are great to for dull, dry winter skin.
Starting off with complexion products, of course hydration is key so making sure your moisturiser game is strong is paramount. The Estée Lauder The Illuminator Primer* is amazing for adding an extra dose of hydration as it feels like a second layer of moisturiser. As the name suggests, it is also packed full of pearly pigments which give a lit from within glow to the skin. I love to use this around the perimeters of my face which tend to be the driest. For lazier days, I really enjoy using a tinted moisturiser as it doesn't suck all the life out of your face the way that a heavy matte foundation does. The La Roche Posay Effeclar Duo+ Unifiant* has a light coverage to even out the skin whilst looking really light and fresh.
The cold really has a habit of sucking all the colour from the complexion (unless you're faithful to the faux glow) so a great bronzer really is your best friend this time of year. One of my best beauty discoveries this year has been the Lord & Berry Cream Bronzer*. I have the shade Amber Medium, which I believe is the lightest, and this is perfect for warming up the skin. I apply with the buffing brush that I use with my foundation and it just blends so seamlessly into the skin, adding depth and dimension. It adds a lovely sheer sunkissed glow to the skin, although it is quite warm-toned so wouldn't be so good for contouring (I really hope they bring out come contouring shades in the same formula!). It's so easy to apply and blend out that you could do it with your eyes closed (although don't hold me to that!).
I'm not always faithful to blush, but in the winter I find it makes such a difference to the way your skin looks. It actually makes you look fresh and healthy and not y'know, dead... The Lord & Berry Cream Blush* in Orchid has that gorgeous berry tint that fakes that 'just been out in the cold' flush (not that we need to fake it in this weather!). On my fair skin, this shade is seriously pigmented so I have to go in with a really light hand (In hindsight I should have gone for a lighter shade but I couldn't resist that berry hue). I apply onto the apples of my cheeks with my fingertips and blend out with a beauty blender if I've gone a bit too OTT. Both this and the bronzer have a similar formula, delivering soft and sheer pigment without being heavy or greasy on the skin. I also really enjoy the Glossier Cloud Paint formula, which is a doddle to apply with your fingers and the shade Dusk is the perfect no-blush blush shade to liven up dull winter skin.
You really can't afford to say no to the glow in the winter, and I need all the help I can get. The Glossier Haloscope has been my cream glow-giver of choice, and the shade Quartz adds a stunning champagne-hued sheen to the high points of the face. Patted on with the fingertips, it just makes your makeup look so much more natural and takes away the 'mask' that foundation can often give. The Haloscope formula also contains a core of coconut oil, so it doesn't dry out the skin like a powder highlighter can.
The icing on the cake (mmm cake...) is lipstick and with the harsh weather drying out the lips, sometimes you just can't deal with a matte liquid lipstick that is going to give you that cat's butthole look. I like my winter lipsticks to multi-task, so choose hydrating sheer types that feel like a lip balm but also add a nice hint of colour. My favourites are the ever-luxurious Chanel Rouge Coco Shine (in shade Boy) and the YSL Rouge Volupté Shine* (in Nude Lavalliere), but a great budget option is the Essence Sheer & Shine Lipstick, which is just £2! I have quite a few shades now and I've been wearing 09 I Feel Pretty a ton recently as it has a lovely deep rosy shade that works really well in the winter, but my all time favourite is All About Cupcake which is a lovely peachy colour and has unfortunately been discontinued.
What are your favourite makeup products to use when it's cold?
- Post contains PR samples (*) -
- Post contains PR samples (*) -
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