winter pretty

Maintaining a clean, dewy, fresh-faced, look in the midst of winter can prove to be quite a feat. Once outside in the winter element in full-on makeup, your skin can begin to look and feel dry, cracked, and lackluster. Am I right?  I'm right.

During the winter months, I rely heavily on three products to create my base look. By base look, I mean a look polished enough to be seen out at the grocery store, the kiss 'n' ride at the school, and for errand running. I trust this look enough to make me feel like I look young, healthy, and pretty. Anything heavier than these three products, and I feel like I'm wearing a mask that is frozen and ready to crack.

After you have cleansed and moisturized your skin (really really well), here is a routine to try:

1. Tinted Moisturizer or a creamy concealer: If you prefer all over coverage, then go with the tinted moisturizer. Something that illuminates or has light reflecting pigment is a bonus, but any tinted moisturizer will do.  If you don't need to even out your skin all over, then go with perfectly placed concealer around the nose, eyes, chin and anywhere else you have a bit of redness.  The key is to blend well and keep the layers looking light and soft. Products to try: Laura Mercier and Stila for their illuminating tinted moisturizers and Bobbi Brown for her selection of concealers and colour correctors.

2. Highlighter: Highlighting over the cheekbones, under the brow and in the inner corner of the eye has always been a makeup artists go to trick - so why not do it all the time? I prefer creamy highlighters before a powdered highlighter because they are easier to blend.  Look for soft pink, gold or champagne highlighters that provide a gentle sheen - NOT sparkle or glitter infused. Products to try: Smashbox Halo Highlighting Wand or Benefit's High Beam (a longtime favourite)or Girl Meets Pearl or NARS The Multiple in Copacabana.

3. Cream colour for lips and cheeks: An all over cream colour is the ideal product to add a bit of colour to the face while still looking natural.  Pinks, whether soft or deep are usually a sure thing.  Rosy pinks are my favourite. I'll apply a bit over the cheeks for colour and blend upward and outwards towards the temple and hairline. Then I'll pat some colour over the lips too for a stained look, but still soft and touchable. Since I already applied some highlighter, I tried to avoid cream colours with shimmer, but that's just a matter of preference. Products to try: Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge, Stila Covertible Colour or NARS The Multiple.

You can add to this a bit of lip gloss for shine and of course some mascara ... but I find these three products are all I need to feel pretty in winter!

-s-