5 Winter Makeup Tricks You Need to Know if Your Skin is Dry AF

dry winter skin makeup tips

 

Cheap and easy makeup tips for monstrously dry winter skin when it’s just so darn COLD…

If some magical ghost writer was to translate my life into a fairytale, I reckon it’d go a little something like this:

“Once upon a time, there was a badass chick who longed to have hair like Rapunzel and a cool seashell bra like Ariel. She had a nice life… Until one day, her house froze over and she died of hypothermia. The end.”

Seriously, it is absolutely baltic here at the moment.

I’m talking sub-zero. Blue toes.

My hot water bottle and I have morphed into a single entity (you’d need the jaws of life to separate us at this stage).

Besides the fact that it’s too cold to want to do anything other than hide under the covers and eat cheesy potato based products – my skin is having none of it.

Cold temperatures and dry winter air are super abrasive on facial skin – and mine’s already sensitive on the best of days. NIGHTMARE!

I often find that the usual ‘tips and tricks’ for dry skin don’t do the job for me, which is what led me to create my own super simple (but seriously effective) 5 step programme to keep my skin looking awesome all the way through winter.

Here you go lads and lassies:

5 Winter Makeup Tricks for Skin that’s Dry AF

1. Exfoliation is Key

I realize I may be preaching to the choir here, but there’s a reason I put this baby at numero uno.

The odd day that I forget to exfoliate (when I say ‘forget’ I really mean ‘am way too lazy’) I notice the difference right away. Patchy foundation, flaky finish, and general fish scales effect. Wonderful…

via GIPHY

via GIPHY

The saving grace? This is such an easy problem to mitigate.

Choose a gentle exfoliating wash and give yourself a good scrub twice a week – any more than that and you risk damaging your skin. Personally, I also use a warm, damp washcloth to rub off any tiny excess flakes each day when I wake up in the morning. That way when I eventually get to the stage when I’m putting on foundation, I’m sure that it’ll go on smoothly.

But there’s a few more things to note before that stage…

2. Mix your usual blush with a dab of moisturizer

This is my absolute favourite way of faking a good skin day.

I’m usually a fan of gentle shimmers and subtle matte blushes and bronzers, but when the winter winds wreak havoc on my complexion, these products can start to look sort of garish and unnatural.

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Use the top end of a makeup brush and gently push a little bit of the pigment into the lid of your blusher, then mix it with a tiny dab of moisturizer (or Vaseline). Then apply this straight onto the apples of your cheeks- directly under your pupil.

The effects are amazing, and really long-lasting. You’ll rock a dewy glow all day!

3. Find an awesome lightweight oil

If you’ve got dry skin like me, you’ve probably splashed out on some version of an expensive moisturizer at least once.

Well, it only took me approximately 7 zillion different brands of overpriced cosmetics to come to the realization that most of them don’t do what they say on the tin (at least, they don’t work on me).

tin

I’ve discovered the best way to bust patchy, dry winter skin and ensure that my foundation goes on perfectly every time. Ready for this?

Argan oil.

Actually, any lightweight oil will do. Rose oil, almond oil, jojoba oil- whatever you fancy.

I always have at least one of these oils in my cosmetics bag because they have so many purposes- most magically of all, they can reduce ingrown hairs, rashes, and irritation that often comes with hair removal (you can read more about my hair removal struggles over at the site I edit, Hair Free Club).

So, back to argan oil… Use the oil as you’d use your regular moisturizer. Apply it to your skin after you shower in the evening – you can even leave your skin the tiniest bit damp before you rub it on so that it soaks up some extra moisture.

Add a couple of drops to your regular foundation by mixing the two together on your hand before you apply it. Et voila! Perfect application every time.

4. Remember: primer is your friend

Dry skinned folk know that the hardest thing to achieve when you’re applying makeup is an even, smooth complexion.

That’s where primer comes in!

via GIPHY

Primer literally creates a barrier between your skin and your makeup, evening out wrinkles and bumps (which would only become exaggerated by makeup). Most primers also contain some kind of moisturizing agent – so it’s a no-brainer!

5. Pick your makeup arsenal wisely

Winter weather can cause your skin to break out in flakes and patches like nobody’s business, and certain types of makeup – particularly foundations – can exaggerate these imperfections.

eye shadow

For example, the usual mineral powder foundation that I wear in the summer tends to stick around patches on my nose and forehead during the winter – even if I’ve exfoliated and moisturized impeccably.

During the winter, I tend to opt for a liquid foundation that I can easily blend with a drop or two of argan oil (or primer). Problem solved!

Winter skin is no joke…

… but you’ll be on your way to beating the cold weather blues by choosing your products carefully, prepping properly, and taking the time to care for your skin!