Let your skin shine this Winter
A change in season means a change to your wardrobe, your make-up bag and your skin.
It was a short lived summer this year but as we head for our heating and pop on our chunky knits we can already see the toll the colder weather is taking on our skin; pink noses and dry, pale, dull skin tightening on our faces and body.
Hot cloth polish cleansers are a great product, especially during the cold months, these are oil based cleansers that come with a muslin cloth which, when used with the cleanser polishes and exfoliates the skin.
Many premium cosmetic brands such as Liz Earl, Eve Lom and Emma Hardi are well known for their hot cloth polish cleansers. They are brilliant in the winter to balance out the skin without striping it of its natural oils. It is also ideal for exfoliating and eliminating dry skin and plumping out wrinkles.
A good cleanser is essential all year round but an oil based hot cloth is perfect in the winter as the warm water combined with the cloth opens the pores and removes all the darker pigments of your winter make up. Exfoliating the skin is something I recommend to men as well as women as it will help them achieve a much closer shave and prevent any ingrown hairs.
My favorite bargain hot cloth cleanser is the NSPA Hot Cloth Cleanser from Asda at just £7. This is a lovely range which I wrote about when it was first launched.
It’s also a good idea to invest in a good night cream at this time of year. A lot of people ask me why you should have a separate night cream as well as a day cream, it’s because night treatments can repair the skin; they contain mild exfoliates and higher retinol which aren’t used in day creams because they can leave the skin exposed to the elements which can cause damage.
I prefer to use a night oil rather than a cream; oils tend to sink into the skin’s deeper layers and the aromatic oils can help you to relax before bed.
Oils are best used at night as they can be too greasy to wear in the morning, especially before make up. Clarins do a few night oils designed for different skin types which vary in price. Their Blue Orchid oil is for dehydrated skin so it’s suitable for people with combination skin. It is designed to balance and hydrate the skin, whilst protecting it against the elements.
It smells amazing at £32.
A cheaper alternative is the new No.7 Youthful replenishing facial oil, which I think is a great product. You can use it alone or put a few drops on your skin before you moisturise. Always remember to apply it all the way down into your decollate as this is one of the first places that tells tales about your age.
Plus your skin around that area is thinner than that on your face skin. Both products are handy to have when skin needs that little extra.
Make up
Warm, dark coloured lips were a big trend last year and it’s set to continue this winter. This is probably due to the constant show of contoured skin and perfectly sculpted lips on social media. I generally think it’s best to highlight the skin rather than over contour it in the winter; adding a glow into your foundation or highlighting the cheeks will stop the flat dull dry skin look that I often see.
Try using a liquid highlighter such as Benefit High Beam which comes in a great Christmas gift set along with a Hola Bronzer and a few others, the colours are perfect for warming up and highlighting winter skin at £39.50. You could also try a powder highlight like the Sleek Highlighter Palette for only £9.99 from Superdrug. A strong lip looks stunning next to a fresh skin. Teaming a strong lip with a heavy foundation can border on Halloween make up and can reveal that you’ve spent hours in-front of a mirror.
My friend Becky has beautiful skin and it always looks fresh. She was introduced to a lip colour she wouldn’t normally wear; a stunning warm berry colour with a subtle
sheen; a colour crush lipstick, Damson in Distress from The Body Shop, £10 and I noticed it straight away. Next to her beautiful skin it looked effortless yet chic. If you’re not quite brave enough to go dark or bold try lip liner to enhance the lip moreand apply a little underneath.
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