It’s that time of year again, the nights are drawing in, the temperature is dropping and we start to spend more time in doors with the central heating on. When we go out our skin is faced with the constant assault of changing temperatures, which play havoc with our skin. We then expect our make-up to do a little more for us as our skin starts to look somewhat duller and paler than it did in those now dim and distant Summer months. It is time for a make-up and skin care overhaul.
Great make-up starts with great skin and it’s all about looking after your skin throughout the Winter months to keep skin glowing and looking good and thus providing the best possible base for make-up. As Winter sets in skin becomes drier and is often more sensitive so often it is worth switching to products that little bit more gentle on your skin. Cleansing is key to keep skin at its optimum health, for those liking wash off cleansers, cream and oil cleansers are a gentle alternative to gels although they will still suit those with oilier complexions. Exfoliation is important for radiant skin as it helps to rid impurities and dry flakes keeping skin smooth and receptive to moisture. Moisture and hydration are important more than ever during Winter months with many skins changing with the new season. The answer is to switch to a richer moisturiser, if you used a lotion in the Summer, you could switch to a cream in the Winter and you may also feel the benefit of a night cream. There are some great hydrating creams and lotions around if you suffer from dehydration, these really plump up the skin and are great bases for make-up.
Some fabulous hydrating products to try are:
Chanel Hydromax cream £43
Bobbi Brown Hydrating Creams, face £33 and eye £23
Vichy Aqualia Thermal Balm £16.50
Estee Lauder Hydrationist £32
One of the biggest anti-aging weapons is to wear a sunscreen in Winter as well as Summer, often something we overlook, so look for a cream with an SPF in. Many of the hydrating moisturisers don’t offer sunscreens so it is important to wear this on top. Layering products is very “now” and adding a serum before your moisturiser is particularly beneficial, particularly for your main concern, lines, hydration etc.
Try
Bobbi Brown Protective Face lotion £31
Dermalogica Matte Sun Block rrp £35.50
Last but not least are eye creams and lip balms, often the first places to show signs of dryness and aging are the under eye area and the lips. No amount of concealer or lipstick will look good on dry skin or chapped lips so invest in a good eye cream and use that lip balm frequently.
Try
Chanel Hydromax Lip Balm £26
Carmex Lip Balm £2.59
Clinique Super balm Lip treatment £10
Blistex Relief cream £2.19
Your skin is now prepped and ready for the Winter season and it’s time to consider your make-up. Picking the right foundation both for your skin type, the correct colour and the coverage you require are the major considerations. Firstly analyse your skin type and then select a foundation that works with your skin. Oily skins are best suited to oil free formulas so as not to add extra oil to the skin and keep the skin balanced, often these contain mattifiers to prevent unwanted shine which is always the exasperation of an oily skin particularly on the t-zone (forehead, nose and chin). Drier skins should steer clear of matte and powder foundations and select those which are moisturising which are sold as such, also satin and luminous foundations are great for adding radiance to drier skins as many have light reflecting properties which give a really youthful look. Mature skins tend to be drier by nature anyway and so will find these same products suitable, there are also line minimising and firming foundations available. Combination/ normal skins, which tend to have some dryness on the cheeks whilst having oil on the t-zone, should look for foundations to suit all skin types avoiding the extremes of the different types of foundations; those made particularly for oily or dry skin formulas.
Texture and coverage are important to all of us, firstly consider what type of texture you like, as you can have fluid, varying in consistency from thinner to quite thick with different coverage, creams which feel richer than the liquid products, cream compacts, foundation sticks, cream to powders and powders, we all have our favourites.
There are so many choices, so here is a guide to the different types of foundation available.
Tinted Moisturisers: suitable for all skin types wanting light coverage. Good for teens and mature skins where less is more. They are ideal for even skin tones that don’t require much coverage and the Summer months when you want to wear less make-up. A bonus is that many skin types don’t need to wear a moisturiser as well. Drier skins may need an additional moisturiser or can try a tinted balm that is a richer product. Oiler skins may find some tinted moisturisers too rich. Laura Mercier does a tinted moisturiser for especially for oily skins.
Luminous Foundations: suitable for all skin types except very oily. They give a radiant and dewy complexion and are often moisturising and so are great for dry and mature skins. Many are quite sheer in coverage; some of these you can apply more by layering and building the coverage if you wish. There are some foundations like Chanel Pro Lumiere; a semi-matte foundation that also has light reflecting qualities giving a flawless glowing look.
Moisturising and Satin Foundations: suitable for normal to dry skins, these foundations add hydration and moisture to the skin giving a smooth satin finish, not as glowing as luminous foundations but not matte.
Oil Free Foundations: suitable for oily skins and some combination skins, many of these contain ingredients which will absorb oil and give the skin a matte effect, reducing any unwanted shine. Many oil free foundations tend to be matte or semi–matte.
Anti-aging Foundations: suitable for mature skins or those concerned with aging. These foundations offer lifting, firming and minimising of lines and are similar to the luminous foundations as they have light reflecting and hydrating qualities to keep the skin looking youthful.
Balancing Foundations: suitable for combination skins needing moisture in some places and absorption of oil in others, they can also be oil free.
Compact Foundations: there are various types of compacts available, good for those who like a portable product. Cream compacts do normally tend to be for normal to dry skin, although Bobbi Brown have a cream compact for oily skin which is oil free. There are powder compacts and also some cream to powder compacts and these tend to be more suitable for oiler skins.
Stick Foundations: suitable for most skin types, although some are not suitable for very oily skins. They give good coverage and often double up as a concealer and are very portable so ideal for touch ups.
Mineral Foundations: these are the latest in foundations and are available in liquid, creams and powders within the different brands. They are made of natural elements and are intended to be good for the skin. They may or may not be oil free. Many are suitable for all skin types and some powder ones like the Laura Mercier mineral powder give a glow to the skin, which you don’t normally get from a powder foundation as they are normally for an oiler skin.
Popular Foundations
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser, also available in oil free £32
Clinique Moisture Sheer tints £20
Bobbi Brown SPF 25 Tinted Moisturising Balm £32
Nars Sheer Glow Foundation £29 (Luminous Foundation)
Chanel Vitalumiére Foundation £31 (Luminous Foundation)
Chanel Pro Lumiére Foundation £31 (Semi Matte and luminous)
Bobbi Brown Moisture Rich Foundation £26 (Moisturising)
Diorskin Nude £29 (Hydrating)
Estée Lauder Doublewear £25 (Semi Matte and long lasting)
Mac Studio Fix Fluid £19 (Matte and long lasting)
Clinique Super Balanced Make-up £20 (balances out oily and dry areas of the skin)
Estée Lauder Resillience Lift Extreme Foundation £28 (lifting, hydrating, moisturising & light reflecting)
Mac Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation £19 (a powder and foundation in one with a matte finish)
Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick £26 (foundation, concealer, touch up in one)
Laura Mercier Mineral Powder £30
L’oreal Mineral Powder £13.99
Once you have narrowed it down to your formula and texture the next decision is which colour do you choose, all reputable make-up brands will want you to be happy with your foundation and will assist you to find your perfect match.
You are likely to need a lighter shade in the Winter; often it is worth having different foundations for different seasons to meet your skins changing needs. The best way to test your foundation colour is to try it on your face, never on your hand, as they won’t be the same colour. Remove any existing make-up on the cheek, then swatch your likely colour on your cheek to your jaw line, try another couple of shades either side, one lighter and one darker. The colour that disappears will be the correct one. Don’t be tempted to go darker or lighter than your natural skin tone as this will look obvious and false, your foundation should even out your skin tone and not mask it. Many brands have make-up artists who will assist you and apply it to your whole face so that you can see the full effect. Have a look at your foundation in natural light to check that the colour looks good on you and that you have the effect you were after; more or less coverage, luminous or matte. Remember your skin will be different to your friends so what looks good on them might not on you, try it for yourself.
Finding the perfect foundation can take some time but it is worth the effort as the right foundation coupled with great skincare will take years off. A great time of year to have a fabulous foundation with Christmas parties and lots of socialising, your skin will then be ready for party make-up….to be covered next.
Always check the individual foundations suitability to individual skin types as they do vary from brand to brand.
© Copyright Catherine Cliffe ~ All About Style 2010
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