The first thing that lets me know that winter is on its way: the heat goes on, and my annual battle against The Dryness commences. Humidifiers get trucked up from the basement, light summer moisturizers and body washes get swapped out for richer formulas, lip balms start piling up in my handbags, and I become a conveyer belt for glass after glass after jug of water.
The second thing that lets me know that winter is on its way: I start wanting to switch things up a little in the beauty department, usually by focusing more on my skin and on my lips.
1. Skin is such a focal point of this look – but I know better than anyone how hard it can be to keep your skin looking healthy and radiant when the colder months hit. Switch your cleanser to a moisturizing formula like Simple Skincare Moisturizing Facial Wash (which contains soothing Pro-vitamin B5 and moisturizing Vitamin E and won’t irritate sensitive skin), and make sure to use a richer moisturizer than you do in the summertime (I either use Simple Skincare Vital Vitamin Day Cream SPF 15 or – on especially dry days – top the Replenishing Rich Moisturizer with some BB cream for sun protection).
2. Next step: add a rosy flush to cheeks. Go for a slightly deeper shade than you use in the summer – it’s OK if you can tell that you’re wearing blush; just be sure to blend it well. Top with a light dusting of a shimmery powder like Bobbi Brown Shimmerbrick – I love this product to add a little life to my pale winter skin.
3. Keep the eyes relatively clean and graphic: a thin swipe of liquid eyeliner in either black or plum and major lashes. In these photos I’m just wearing Diorshow mascara, but I have to tell you about my new find: I just tried out Too Faced Better Than False Lashes, and was extremely skeptical – since they’re basically advertised as brush-on false lashes (you use one product to build up your lash fibers, and then a second product to add color) – but they’re kind of amazing. It’s a little tough to control where the length goes, but the product totally creates the effect of individually applied lashes.
4. Final step: plum-colored lips. For the past couple of years I’ve been into ruby red, but for this look I thought I’d keep things a little more romantic and soft with a rosy gloss (try Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Violet or – if you prefer a stain – Becca Beach Tint in Watermelon).
For more information on how to protect your skin from the harsh winter weather and sensitive skincare tips, visit the Simple Skincare website.
