As the temperature dips and the days get shorter, your beauty routine may need a makeover. Here are ten winter beauty blunders and how to fix them.
1. Skipping the sunscreen
Shelving your sunscreen is asking for accelerated aging. Winter sun is as dangerous as summer’s stronger rays. Sunlight reflects off the snow in colder climates too, further increasing UV exposure.
Never, ever skimp on the sunscreen. Apply it to combat aging no matter what the weather brings.
2. Bare, brittle nails
Maybe you can’t show off your polished pink piggies, but going bare is a big mistake. Harsh winter weather ravages your nails, leaving them dry, brittle and broken.
Moisturize daily with a vitamin-enriched lotion, massaging into cuticles. Apply polish and refresh it every few days. The two steps together stop weather from stripping your nails of moisture, keeping them long and strong.
3. Raw, itchy skin
Colder air carries less moisture, making dry, scratchy elbows and ashen skin your prime accessories this winter. Rubbing a rich moisturizer all over after a hot shower guarantees a soft, dewy epidermis instead.
4. Too blonde highlights
During the winter a beachy blonde ‘do screams for a muted makeover. Take a tip from nature and tone it down. Choose warmers colors, accentuating the lighter complexion your fading tan leaves behind.
5. Rocking the wrong foundation
A two-toned complexion created by too dark foundation just doesn’t get it done. Determine whether your summer color still matches your skin tone. If not, consider something lighter.
6. Sticking with static
Fly-away hair and clingy clothes caused by static electricity sinks an otherwise polished appearance. Tame unruly locks with a quick swipe from a dryer sheet. Spraying Static Guard between layers keeps clothes swishing freely.
7. Breathing bad air
Acne, eczema, or worse; what you breathe in shows on your skin. A filthy furnace filter leaves air-borne toxins free to circulate and seep into pores. Help keep skin clear by changing the filter as recommended by the manufacturer.
8. Rudolph’s red nose
Nothing ruins a perfect face faster than a raw, red nose. Regular hand washing and supplementing with vitamin C keeps colds at bay, and reduces symptoms if you do get sick.
9. Chapped lips
Cracked, chapped lips are nothing to laugh at, and it’s hard to smile when it hurts. Nix chapped lips with a nourishing balm, like Burt’s Bees.
10. Slacking on sleep
Does your holiday schedule sap your strength? Sleep deprivation causes dark under-eye circles that are hard to hide with concealer. Pack in at least 7 hours of sleep nightly to keep a fresh face this season.