As temperatures keep dropping, it can be difficult to maintain your regular beauty routine. And in fact, you shouldn’t have to. The trick to winter beauty is to adapt to the season’s demands. Just as you update your wardrobe and styling based on the warmth or humidity of the climate, you should be adjusting for your skincare and makeup habits. Your hair, skin and lips will all need a little more attention in these dryer conditions. So read ahead for some tips to keep looking your best this season with a few weather-appropriate tweaks.
8 Winter Beauty Tips
1. Drink plenty of water: Dryer conditions mean you need to hydrate from the inside out. Complexions tend to dull due to a lack of hydration in combination with the dry outdoor air and exaggerated indoor heat. Make sure to keep a steady water habit to maintain your glow.
2. Update your skincare: You’ll need a thicker, creamier cleanser and moisturizer to compensate for the damage and dryness your skin will experience. (Summer calls for more of a gel type texture.) Whatever you do, don’t stop moisturizing and using your serums. This is the time your skin needs it most.
3. Moisturize all over: Don’t forget about the rest of your body. You’ll need thicker, more emollient body lotion to help your skin recover its moisture. Apply cream or oil as soon as you exit the shower, while you’re still a bit damp, to help it absorb better. For your feet, lather on the thickest cream you can find and put on a pair of socks for overnight therapy.
4. Exfoliate: Dry skin tends to build up and stick around for longer, so do your best to exfoliate about two to three times per week. Then follow up with moisturizer. This works for face, body, and lips.
5. Protect your hair: To control fly-aways and static that can build up due to the dry air, add some leave-in conditioner to your hair. This will help keep it moisturized and in place. Dry oil works well too and often comes in a travel-friendly spray bottle you can stash in your purse.
6. Conceal: Dry, rough patches on your face will inevitably occur in colder climates. Keep concealer handy to touch up red spots, which often occur on the nose. Apply moisturizer first to make sure it stays on for longer.
7. Nails need love too: Just because your hands will likely be hidden away in your pockets or inside gloves and mittens doesn’t mean they won’t be affected by the cold. Pay attention to your nails and cuticles and apply cuticle oil as needed to keep them from peeling back.
8. Wear SPF: Just because the sun’s not shining, doesn’t mean you’re not exposed to harmful UV rays. Be sure to apply sunscreen just as you would during any other season to protect from skin damage.
