Cold Weather Beauty Tips

Home > Beauty and Cosmetics > Cold Weather Beauty Tips

Cold winter weather can do a number on your hair, skin and overall beauty routine. Try these tips to keep yourself looking pretty and refreshed all winter long.

Snow. Sleet. Sub-zero temperatures. These are some of the things many of us get to look forward to as winter approaches. But wait, there’s more - dry skin - static ridden hair and a pale, pasty complexion.

While some people love the winter weather, there is no disputing the fact that it can do a number on your hair, skin and overall beauty routine. Luckily, there are some tricks that can keep you looking pretty and refreshed no matter how cold the weather is.

Taking Care of Your Skin

Dry indoor heating, cold outdoor temperatures and blustery winds can really dry out your skin. You should exfoliate your skin at least once a week in the wintertime. Exfoliation will get rid of all of the dead skin cells and leave you with a bright, clear complexion. You may also want to use a weekly facial mask. There are some wonderful heat-activated masks on the market that will warm up your skin on those cold winter nights.

Be sure to moisturize you face every day and wear a night cream to bed. For maximum moisturizing benefits, it is best to moisturize your skin right after you shower. Avoid skin care products, such as toner, that contain alcohol which is very drying to the skin. Also, keep your skin hydrated by drinking plenty of water every day.

Winter weather can bring on chapped lips, so keep lip balm in your purse at all times. For super moist lips, be sure to slick on some lip balm or petroleum jelly before you go to bed as well.

Just because you’re not wearing open-toed shoes is no reason to neglect your feet. Treat yourself to a wintertime pedicure and paint your toenails a pretty, cheerful color. Between pedicures, use a pumice stone while in the shower to remove dry, dead skin from your feet.

The sun doesn’t hibernate in the wintertime and just because it's not hot outside doesn’t mean the sun is safe. Always apply a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more before you head outdoors.

In the winter time your hair may seem like it has a mind of its own.

Nothing is worse than static filled wintertime hair – and putting a hat on only makes it worse. Try spraying on a leave-in conditioner to tame unruly tresses. You can also try spraying a little hairspray or Static Guard on your hairbrush and brush it through your hair to help eliminate static and “flyaways.”

Deep condition your hair once a week and then rinse it with cold water. This will make your hair shine.

That “snow” on your shoulder may be dandruff! That’s right, with the winter weather you may notice that you have a mild case of the white stuff so try switching to a dandruff shampoo for a few weeks.

Get regular trims, at least every 4 to 6 weeks, to cut off all of the dry, split ends.

Show your hair some love. If you’re not going out, give your hair a break from the blow dryer once in a while. The heat from your blow dryer just adds more damage to your already stressed-out locks. It will do your hair some good if you let it air dry every so often.

Wintertime Makeup Help

Check your foundation shade. Unless you are a tanning booth goddess, your skin is paler during the winter months and your foundation color should be a shade or two lighter than in the summertime. You should test your foundation shade along your jaw line. Make sure it blends in with your natural skin tone. If possible, try to purchase a hydrating foundation with sunscreen protection.

If you want to give your face a sun kissed glow, try using a bronzing powder on your cheeks, forehead and chin area. Don’t be heavy handed with this, however, or it will make your face look ruddy. Just a light swoop is all you need. If you don’t like the look of bronzing powder, try sweeping on some rosy colored blush instead. It will give you a healthy, outdoorsy look.

Try using some cream eye shadow on your eyelids this winter. Like the rest of your skin, your eyelids are drier this time of year and the cream shadow will help to moisturize them.

It’s okay to add some shimmer for the holidays. Shimmer and frosty lipsticks and eye shadows are fun to wear, especially if you’re going out to a holiday celebration, but don’t over do it. Too much frost will make your face look shiny. If you wear frosty lipstick, opt for matte eye shadow and vice versa.

By making a few changes to your beauty regimen, you can look great even in the dead of winter. And don’t fret. After all, it will be Spring before you know it.