The bone-dry winter climate means static electricity is at its peak. Try using a hair mask once a week to fight flyaways and add moisture. My choice is Scruples Complete Recovery Hair Mask! It's an awesome product for chemically treated hair, but will also nourish, soften and restore elasticity to ANY type of hair, adding strength, moisture and shine. What's not to love?
A side note: Hydration is key any time of year, but especially during the cold, dry winter months.
Get bold with your brows
When it's nasty outside, we tend to wear less makeup and wear a hat, or hoodie, over our foreheads. Both call major attention to our eyebrows. Take the time to keep them clean and polished, even on days when you decide not to wear much makeup. If you have a few minutes, fill in your brows with a powder, pencil or pomade that matches your brow shade. Use short, hair like strokes to fill in sparse areas, but be careful not to go overboard.
Don't forget the primer
Not many take the time to apply primer before makeup. Yet, it's like painting a picture. If you don't prepare the canvas, the paint will look sparse in places and thick in others. "Blistery weather can strip makeup off in an instant, so foundation and eye shadow primer is key," says Los Angeles makeup artist and founder of SkinOwl, Annie Tevelin. Primer will keep your foundation looking fresh and stop cold air from stripping away your preferred coverage.
Be gentle
To fight wind chill, try using skincare and face makeup with healing ingredients like aloe vera and essential oils, and calming ingredients like lavender, chamomile and calendula. It pays to check what it is you are adding to your skin. If your skin is dry from the winter weather, make sure you steer clear of chemical peels, over exfoliation and acidic vitamin A.
Skip the powder
Many loose powders will settle into the pores of our face, causing it to look even dryer. The only people that should use the powder are those with oily skin. It will help control excess oil from floating on top of the skin. But most oily skin, if exposed for periods of time in the cold weather, will take on a dry, rough texture. For dry skin, or weather embattled oily skin, try using cream formulas, water based, devoid of oil. "Winter skin will drink up any moisture it is given. If given cream face formulas, your skin will naturally balance itself out and feign radiance," says GLAMSQUAD Director of Makeup Artistry Kelli Bartlett.
Warm your cheeks
If you have pale skin, use cream blush in a warm rosy tone to instantly warm up your cheeks. Go easy on the bronzer this time of year, which can look harsh and unnatural in the dead of winter. And stay away from lip and cheek colors in brown or beige tones. Without the summer sun, you'll need the boost of a peachy rose to mimic a natural flush.
Showcase your eyes
When you're all bundled up and your face is the only thing showing, your eyes are especially on display. Make them shine with a soft charcoal or dark brown liner on your upper and lower lash lines and add plenty of mascara.
Pro tip: You might be tempted to use waterproof mascara if it's snowing and wet, but if you do, use it very sparingly. Waterproof mascara is very drying to lashes, so it's better to use a smudge-proof option with a conditioning formula.
Avoid lip gloss
When those harsh winter winds blow, your hair will stick right into your gloss — not the best look! Instead go for lip balms, like Argan Balm, product of France, or stains in a creamy color. Blot after applying to maintain color without the stickiness, if choosing the creamy color.
Wash hair less often
Winter can be extremely harsh on hair. One of the best ways to save your strands and preserve color is to wash it less often. When you do wash (about every two days), be sure to use a color-preserving shampoo. They are designed to moisturize your hair and keep it looking fresh.
Avoid excess heat styling
Constantly blow drying and ironing can quickly dry out your hair. “Turn your flat iron down to 250 degrees. Hair can start to burn and break down at 270 degrees,” says celebrity hairstylist Angelo David Pisacreta of Angelo David Salon. And don't be afraid to get creative on “in-between shampoo” days with headbands, clips, hats, scarves and pins.
