Brrrrrrr.....Winter is miserable. Don't you agree with me, Beauties?
I detest this season and all my friends will tell you I go into hibernation. Everyone complains that they never get to see me and if they do, all I want to do is go home early and curl up on the couch under my favourite fuzzy blanket with a cuppa vanilla tea and watch TV series.
Do you blame me? Who wants to be out in this weather? It gives you a bright red nose and I can never feel my fingers or toes. Damn, you bad circulation!
However, here is some good news and my top ten beauty tips for winter.
Lip Balm
An absolute essential in winter is lipbalm!
In our long, dry winters in South Africa its absa lootly essential to get yourself a decent lip balm or chap stick. No one likes to kiss dry, flakey lips and scratch and nip when you lean in for a wet one. In my eyes prevention is the best solution! S-E-R-I-A-S just make sure you slap those smoochers with some moisturising
love. My favourite this winter has been Maybelline’s Baby Lips. You can
pick this up almost anywhere (even Pick 'n Pay has them) for R24.95. Bargain!
Moisturiser
Similar to lip balm, moisturiser is all year round essential. Not only does it help to moisturise your skin, but helps make your skin look
plumper, healthier, dewy and fresh. During winter harsh, cold dry air can quickly dry out your skin.
Remember when choosing a moisturiser is import to choose the right one for the specific body part you want to use it on.
Face moisturisers,
in my eyes, are the most important during winter and should NEVER be skimped on. Get a good quality one that keeps your skin looking fresh and healthy. Also remember that you need one with a high SPF even in the winter! Try Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream (R165 for 30 ml)
And for the rest of my body I use Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula which
again can be found at Clicks or Dischem and most grocery stores for about R55.00
Full Coverage Foundation
Winter is the perfect time of year for flawless skin. If you like
full coverage foundations, during winter is the perfect time to wear
them. Lighter coverage usually means less product or a thinner
consistency which is perfect for summer when you don’t want heaps on
your face to sweat off. On the flip side, if you’re a full coverage
foundation kinda gal, winter is the perfect time to wear it as it looks
in moderation with the rest of your covered up body. I prefer a
foundation with good coverage, but also buildability so I can wear it
all year around. I find this best with my all time favourite foundation;
Revlon Age Defying with DNA Advantage™ which retails for around R255
Darker Lippy
Another perfect make up product to utilise during winter are all
those deep reds, maroons and dark purple toned lipstick shades that you
hardly ever wear. Winter is the perfect time for stark, stand out lip
colour.
Quick tip about dark lips is that they make your
lips look thinner, whilst lighter pinks and nudes give a fuller lip
effect. This sounds like a negative thing but with the right outfit,
dark shades in winter work a treat and bring out your inner vampy sex goddess.
My favourite shade this winter has to be a CoverGirl Lip
Perfection lipstick in “Euphoria”
Vanilla Herbal Tea
Don’t be fooled by the name, herbal teas aren’t as bad as they sound,
and they are incredibly good for your health. Packed full of antioxidants and flavour. They come in every flavour you can dream of, from strawberry to green tea
to lemon or vanilla.
Green tea, is by far the best for you,
by improving your metabolism speed it can help you loose weight and it
is also filled with nutrients and loaded with those all-powerful antioxidants. My
favourite herbal teas include Twinings Vanilla tea
which can be found for anywhere around $1 – $5 for most of their range
of teas.
Smokey eyes
Dark smokey eyes during winter is one of my favourite looks when I do go out at night. It gives a subtle sultry look about you. Puting a slight tinge of colour blended out with a
nice dark black shadow to make your eyes pop. For blue eyes, instead of blending a colour with
black, start by blending brown shades into the crease, adding a darker
shade of brown each time until the illusion of a dark black is made, on
the inner corner try blending in a copper/gold colour that matches the
brown tones you have used.
Face Mask
Face masks are yet another great way to improve your skin and prevent
break outs. Depending on the type of face mask you get, it will have a
different purpose.
Clay masks contain natural clay substances
that deep cleanse by drawing impurities to the skin’s surface as it
dries and tightens. Clay masks are ideal for people with normal to oily
skin who would like to absorb excess oil without stripping their skin.
Peel-off masks come in gel, plastic, or
paraffin wax subtypes, but they’re not as absorbent as clay masks.
Peel-off masks tighten the skin temporarily and some stimulate the blood
supply. They are good for mature and dry skin.
Thermal masks are applied to the face and gradually heat up. They warm surface tissues and encourage the skin to breathe.
Cream masks contain emollient properties
that soften skin. They are ideal for people with normal to dry skin who
want to rejuvenate their facial skin by adding moisture.
Warm-oil masks are usually applied in spas
and contain almond oil, olive oil, or vitamin oil. They are excellent
for dry or mature skin because they soften the skin and increase blood
circulation to the face.
Natural masks are based on the rejuvenating properties of fruits, plants, and herbs, such as cucumber, papaya, and oatmeal.
Water Proof Mascara
Although they are a pain in the arse to remove at the end of the day, they are definitely a must have during
winter. Whether you are one to get caught in the rain a lot or you just
enjoy a good cry at the end of a sappy movie, you need at least one of
these beauties in your collection. Waterproof eyeliners are also a great
idea in winter. My current go-to mascara is
Avon SuperShock MAX Waterproof Mascara Black for R149 and sometimes only R99 on special
Argan Oil Of Morocco
Dry and damaged hair owners have a new BFF in the world of hair care,
Argan Oil of Morocco! Along with dry skin and lips, winter tends to
damage your hair as well. This oil deeply penetrates your roots to
promote growth, renew and create a new softness in your hair whilst
still strengthening each strand. It is quick and easy to use, after you
have washed your hair, put a few drops into your palm and apply to your
towel dried hair working it evenly into the ends of your hair to further
protect it from spilt ends.
You can pick this one up from R149 for 50mls. It also has an equally effective matching
shampoo and conditioner that also works wonders on your mop up top.
Dry Shampoo
My very own Time in a Can!
Although dry shampoo is usually seen as a summer necessity, its
perfect for winter as well. When it’s so cold that you dread getting
into the bath to wash yer locks, because you know that
when you get out you’ll feel an arctic breeze that freezes your naked everything! Or when you've been wearing your favourite winter hat that makes your hair grubby?
Skip the invasive cold and
save time by spraying some dry shampoo in your hair and shake it off, shake it off *singing Taylor Swift song*. Not only does it absorbs the oilyness in your hair, but also gives it a
nice texture for styling and smells soooo good.
The Batiste Dry Shampoo is my new favourite comes in different
fragrances and colours for those of you with darker hair types, for
anywhere between R79.99 depending on can size.
