With the bright lights and joyous feel of the festive season rapidly fading into the past as the end of January fast approaches, things can often start to feel a little gloomy come this time of year – and with the dark evenings rolling on, plus colder and drearier weather to deal with, you’d be forgiven for wanting to stay in bed.
But whilst rising early to get ready for the day can feel like more of a chore than ever at winter’s peak – particularly with the bitter winds and falling temperatures wreaking havoc on your skin and hair – in reality, the best thing you can do for yourself is to leap out of bed and spend a little extra time pampering yourself each day. Why? Because if you look good, you’ll feel good, too – and let’s be honest, we could all do with a little more pep in our step to get us through until the spring.
Prepping your skin and applying your makeup might seem like a tougher and less fruitful task when you’ve got dry skin, cracked lips and a dull complexion to contend with, but thankfully, some easy makeup tips will help you get back to your best in no time. All it takes is an extra five minutes each day to add some secret weapons into the mix, and you’ll be good to go and ready to take on the day.
Foundation
You know that one about never putting liquids on top of a powder? Well don’t listen, because the professionals certainly don’t. The secret with foundation is to achieve just the right balance between textured and smooth to look natural – neither artificially even or obviously cakey. The best thing you can do is to apply a layer of a high-quality primer first, followed by a very thin dusting of powder over the top, followed by your regular foundation. Hourglass’ Veil Mineral primer smooths visible blemishes and contains SP15, minimising pores and concealing redness whilst also keeping your foundation in place all day.
If your skin is in need of a little extra TLC due to the colder weather, choose a moisturising cream to hydrate and allow it to sink in before applying any makeup. We love Charlotte Tilbury’s amazing Magic Cream, which promises a healthy, glowing complexion whatever the time of year.
Eyes
Want to know why professionally applied eyeshadow always looks flawlessly smooth and even? Simple – pros never apply eye make-up without first using a primer. It really is that straightforward.
Start with a light layer and allow it to dry before going in with your eyeshadow, then pick out your favourite luxury quad and prepare to give yourself the five-star treatment! Opt for a wash of a neutral shade over the lids, and blend a darker shade into the crease to add dimension and add a little drama to your look. The key to this simple yet effective technique is to blend, blend, blend – and don’t forget to highlight your brow-bone with a light, shimmery shade to finish.
For evening, add a slick of liquid eye-liner if you fancy it – or, to up the drama to the maximum, choose some fluffy false eyelashes to create that fluttery effect. London Pride Cosmetics do a good selection. Finish with lashings of your favourite designer mascara and you’re good to go – our favourites are Lancome Hypnose or Chanel Volume de Chanel.
Lips
Achieving that perfect pout this winter is about more than applying a quick layer of that luxurious lipstick, and a quick and simple daily routine can make all the difference – keeping your lips in tip-top condition and creating the ideal base for a flawless finish.
First off, be sure to exfoliate regularly. Lips can quickly become dry in the winter, and nothing ruins a smooth finish quite like a smattering of flaky patches. Using a simple home-made scrub made from sugar, honey and olive oil twice a week will remove dead skin and create a blank canvas ready for your masterpiece.
Next, apply lip balm directly to your lips to prevent them from drying out, then apply a layer of your favourite matte designer lipstick to ‘stain’ the colour into your lips. To finish, add a generous layer of Charlotte Tilbury’s Collagen Lip Bath for a smoother, plumper finish.
There’s no need to compromise on looking god, no matter what time of year it is – so take the opportunity to splurge on some new makeup and feel better than ever this winter.
