Read on for our tried and tested beauty tips for staying gorgeous and glowing all through winter!
Even if you haven’t been lucky enough to spend weeks sunning yourself on an exotic beach somewhere, chances are the naughty summer lifestyle has left your face dry, with fine lines appearing like haywire, and as the weather gets colder those problems will only intensify. If it’s also caused some pesky blackheads and blemishes to sprout, start by using a gentle exfoliator. We recommend Exfoliating Blemish Treatment Gel by Murad, £39.50 for 100ml. It contains Arnica, Grape Seed extract, Orange, Witch Hazel and Glycolic Acid to reduce pore-clogging bacteria and promote healing – it works really well but also feels gentle. Then get your glow back with an ultra-moisturising mask like Express Facial Treatment Masks for Face and Eyes by Champneys, from the Collagen Plus Range. They’re super pampering, saturated with marine collagen to revitalise and plump skin.
In the colder months, it pays to switch to a slightly heavier moisturiser too. For a decadent moisture hit, try Rodial Glam Balm, £62.00 for 50ml, www.rodial.co.uk. The 2in1 wrinkle eraser and lip plumper plumps up the collagen in your skin, neck and lips (you can literally see and feel it working), smells divine and leaves you feeling absolutely gorgeous. And to get rid of those fine lines that may be creeping up, use a gentle eye cream like MD Hydra-Pure Firming Eye Cream, £68.90, www.skinstore.co.uk. It feels really cool and luxurious, with wrinkle-fighting ingredients to build collagen and lift the skin without harming the gentle eye area – it literally is like botox in a bottle.
When it comes to make up, it’s not hard to let go of summer’s bronzed look with the gorgeous trends on the horizon. This autumn, it’s all about glamorous old-school Hollywood red lips, or exotic lined eyes – never both.
For come-hither eyes that would make Cleopatra jealous, go for the rock-chick look with lashings of smudged, messy liner, or be bold a la Amy Winehouse with a big block of liner on your upper lid. Get the look with TIGI Bed Head’s Big Fat Fun Smudgie, £8.90. The brand’s just released its fabulous new make-up range, but I’m already wandering what I did without this gorgeous kohl liner. It’s super soft and easy to glide on, with Jojoba Oil to moisturise and a sponge tip to help you smudge. Next, layer eye shadow in grey, brown or purple – the colour of the season – on your upper lid. We recommend Jemma Kidd Eye Wardrobe Colour Quartet in Limited Edition Enchanted Summers, £16.00. The colours are specially chosen to compliment each other, and work to highlight and shade, and take you from day to night. They’re moody enough for winter, but will keep you thinking of – you guessed it – enchanted summer nights! Top with loads of mascara. Add some nude lippie or gloss and you’re good to go! Go for Korres’ stunning new Cherry Full Colour Gloss in Nude_23, with Cherry and Jojoba oils for a hydrated, luminous effect. It’s super moisturising without being sticky.
This autumn, we’re also lusting after luscious scarlet lips, and daring lipstick is the only way to go – gloss just won’t cut it for this trend. Luckily for beginners, there’s a new, achingly hotlippie collection from Lipstick Queen, www.lipstickqueen.com, out now. Each colour comes in a Saint (sheer) and Sinner (opaque) variety, so you can decide just how daring you’re feeling and pucker up accordingly. With lips centre stage, you don’t need much else to complete the look – just a slick of mascara and a touch of blush. For extra glamour, try Jemma Kidd Crème Blush Duo, £13. The dual colours allow you to add a rosy flush to the apples of your cheeks, and sculpt killer cheekbones by blending the bronze colour into the natural contours of your cheeks.
For more gorgeous tried and tested products to keep your body and hair glowing throughout the chilly season, Click Here.