5 Winter Skincare Strategies that Are Hurting Your Skin

Wintertime presents many skincare challenges to women of all ages. If you follow a routine and haven't had any luck with it, you may be making the problems worse. Learn about the five most common skincare strategies used in the cold-weather months that actually hurt your skin.

1. Over-Washing with Moisturizing Cleanser

Moisturizing cleanser is a must-have in any cold-weather skincare regimen. However, many women assume that it is OK to wash at the same frequency as they did in spring and summer. This couldn't be further from the truth. In the winter, you should limit the amount you wash your face. Even the most moisturizing cleansers still take away your skin's natural oils which are critical for combating dry and flaky skin.

2. Using the Same Moisturizer

If you have found your go-to moisturizer for warm weather, you may be tempted to continue to use it through the cold months. Instead of doing this, use an oil-based or other type of moisturizer that is specifically designed to combat dryness and redness. Moisturizers with thicker formulas and more intensive moisturizing agents act as a protective barrier over your skin while lightweight formulas cannot hold up to the cold.

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Riche Facial Cream (Intolerant Skin to Dryness)

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Riche Facial Cream (Intolerant Skin to Dryness) is a gentle moisturizer for dry, sensitive, intolerant skin. Its rich, creamy texture provides immediate comfort. Free of fragrance, preservatives, alcohol, and parabens. Safe for sensitive skin.  

3. Exfoliating Too Often

Exfoliating is critical because it removes dead skin, revealing healthier, more youthful skin underneath. However, it should only be done one or two times a week during the winter. Over-exfoliating your skin can make it drier and tight, resulting in redness and uneven texture.

4. Using Harsh Makeup Remover

Makeup remover is a great way to avoid over-washing your face. However, many makeup removers use harsh agents that can leave your skin feeling dry. Instead, consider using a moisturizing product such as cold cream.

Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm

Clinique Take The Day Off off Cleansing Balm provides a comfortable touch to the skin with its fine texture. The creamy lotion converts into oil upon application to eliminate facial makeup. Can be used to remove full or partial makeup.

5. Skipping Night Cream

If you have a habit of forgetting to put on your night cream, your skin is missing out on much-needed hydration.  Night cream helps to restore and revitalize your skin while you sleep, so you can wake up to a more youthful-looking complexion each morning. Regenerating serums are also worth looking into if night creams aren't ideal for you.

L'Occitane Immortelle Biologique Precious Night Cream

L'Occitane Immortelle Biologique Precious Night Cream is a silky smooth cream that offers triple action to make skin firmer and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Immortelle stimulates collagen production to fill in deep wrinkles while Achille extract accelerates skin cell renewal and reinforces the skin network for a firmer look. In just one night, skin looks incredibly younger.

Clinique Turnaround Revitalizing Serum

Clinique Turnaround Revitalizing Serum is a fast acting and high-performance serum that optimizes cell renewal to continually reveal fresher, healthier-looking skin. It instantly creates a luminous-from-within radiance, unveiling skin that is brighter, healthier, more uniform. Oil-free and suitable for all Skin types.

You can beat the cold-weather blues this year by adjusting your skincare routine to fit the climate. By following the tips provided, you can maintain healthy-looking and -feeling skin all through the winter.

Stop Regretting Your Holiday Photos: Makeup Tricks to Look Your Best on Camera

With the holiday season comes the need for countless photos documenting family time, parties and other occasions. Whether you have a shutterbug in your family or at your workplace, you may be nervous about unflattering photos. 

However, armed with these tips and tricks straight from professional makeup artists, you can put your fears aside.

Use Primer

Foundation primer is a must for photographic makeup because it smoothes out rough skin and fills in fine lines. In turn, your foundation will look smoother and more even on camera. For the best results, use a smoothing primer with a silky finish.

Shiseido Glow Enhancing Primer

Shiseido Glow Enhancing Primer enhances skin’s clarity with a silky smooth touch, leaving the skin supple and well-moisturized. Formulated with Shiseido's exclusive light technology, it optically transforms your skin into the ideal surface for diffusing light, creating a pure and clear finish. Suitable for various foundations.

Go Matte

Matte full-coverage foundation is the best kind for photographs because it does not reflect light. This factor eliminates the need to worry about overly white or reflective-looking skin in pictures.

Embryolisse Artist Secret Compact Foundation Cream SPF 20

Embryolisse Artist Secret Compact Foundation Cream SPF 20 is a surprising cream that turns into a powder when applied and sublimates your complexion with a natural, luminous and matte makeup effect. It is enriched with triple skincare ingredients of hyaluronic acid, vitamin E and SPF 20, in addition to light-reflecting pigments that blur fine lines and pores.

Use Shimmer Sparingly

Shimmery products such as lip gloss, eye shadow and highlighting powder can make you appear overly shiny and even sweaty in pictures. They can also make your face look larger than it is. Pick one area of your face to use shimmer, such as the lips, eyes or cheeks and stick with matte products for the rest of it.

LANCÔME Hypnôse Effortless 5 Eyeshadow Palette

  
LANCÔME Hypnôse Effortless 5 Eyeshadow Palette revolutionises the colour universe thanks to super-smart “Wet” technology that can apply both wet and dry for different intensity. It creates mesmerizing eyes with its subtle shimmer and saturated color.  

Contour Lightly

There is no better time to contour than for photographs. However, don't overdo it. Use a contour powder no more than two shades darker than your skin tone. Apply it along your jawline, temples, and on the sides of your nose. Once you are finished, dust off any excess product with a clean and fluffy brush.

Guerlain Terracotta Light Sheer Bronzing Powder

Guerlain Terracotta Light Sheer Bronzing Powder is a light bronzing powder with a unique combination of five shades warmed with subtly mixed golden particles for a delicate tan.
Endlessly adjustable, they ensure an incredibly natural result. The complexion is sunny, subtly iridescent, sheer and luminous.

Stick with a Neutral Theme

Holiday pictures are not the time to test out new makeup trends. Stick with a neutral and timeless theme such as a dark lip, smoky eye or cat eye. This doesn't mean that you need to sacrifice your individuality. If you have a signature look such as a bold lip, you can still flaunt it. Just be sure to keep the rest of your makeup to a minimum to balance it out.

Look your best in your upcoming holiday photos by following our techniques. As an added precaution, practice the look you want to achieve ahead of time and take a couple photos to see how it appears on camera. This way, you can be confident that you look your best when picture day rolls around.

How to Have Luscious Lips in the Fall and Winter

The fall and winter months can do a real number on your skin. One of the most sensitive areas of your body, your lips, may react to wind and colder temperatures by becoming dry and chapped. But you can take many steps to ensure your lips appear healthy, luscious, and kissable by using some of these effective techniques:

1. Drink lots of water. 

Your body requires a considerable amount of water to make it through an average day. Consume at least 64 ounces daily to keep your lips and body hydrated.
  

2. Use lip balm daily. 

Find products that contain shea butter or other soothing ingredients for your lips. Even when you're staying inside, applying lip balm throughout the day helps to combat cracked, dry lips.

Chanel Rouge Coco Baume Hydrating Conditioning Lip Balm

3. Obtain a humidifier. 

Most furnaces keep you warm by blowing warm or hot air, which is not conducive to keeping your lips moist. Therefore, using a humidifier will counteract your furnace's deleterious effects. Many furnaces now have built-in humidifiers, but if yours doesn't, you can purchase a small appliance humidifier that you fill with water each day. Your lips will thank you.

4. Keep those lips covered. 

When you're outdoors, your lips are exposed to elements that can chap them, like cool air, frigid temperatures, and gusty winds. Holding your gloved hand over your lips when you're scurrying from your car into work provides a bit of protection for them. Also, consider wearing a winter muffler that you can pull up over your lips as a safeguard against the lip-damaging elements.

5. Apply a lip primer before putting on lipstick. 

Primers not only aid your lipstick in staying on longer, they provide much-needed moisture for your lips. Primers are the bomb, use them.
  

6. Buy lip products that contain UV protection. 

Even though it's fall or winter time, the sun is still shining through. And that sun might be aging your beautiful lips. Keep the sun's damaging rays off your lips by applying some UV protection.

7. At night, apply petroleum jelly. 

Petroleum jelly provides a thick protective coating over your lips that guards against further drying and chapping and lasts all night. When you wake up in the morning, you'll be pleasantly surprised by how smooth and moist your lips are.
  

8. Avoid licking your lips when you're outside. 

Wetting your lips outdoors means your lips will become drier and more chapped when the cold and wind hits them.
  

9. Seek lip products that nourish skin. 

Evaluate ingredients listed on any balms or lipsticks you use to ensure you're protecting them. Look for Vitamin C and E in the ingredients list.

10. Keep your lip products handy. 

Place a salve on your nightstand and end table in the living room. Stash some lightly hued lipstick in a kitchen cabinet or drawer. Always have an extra chubby stick or lip salve in your briefcase or bag. When you have your lip balms everywhere you are, all you have to do is apply them. The more you do, the healthier they'll be.

Christian Dior Dior Addict Lip Glow Color Awakening Lip Balm

Orlane Magnificent Lip Balm

Supple, soft, kissable lips can be yours if you follow these strategies. Protect one of the most important assets of your face: your lips.

7 Tips to Keep Your Hair and Skin Healthy and Beautiful This Winter

The winter season has much to offer, but when it comes to your hair and skin the coldest months of the year can be challenging. If you want to keep your skin and hair healthy when the temperature drops, try the following:

1. Utilize Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is well-known for being beneficial to skin, and it makes an excellent moisturizer. Coconut oil can be used many ways; you can add it to bath water to help soften skin that has been dried out by the cold or apply it directly to your face or body as a moisturizer.

2. Use a Humidifier

Many people associate using a humidifier with being sick, but having one in your room while you are sleeping is a valuable beauty secret during the winter. A humidifier can drastically increase the amount of moisture in the air, which can help keep your hair and skin from drying out during the cold months.

3. Don't Forget About Vitamin E

Vitamin E is one of the most important vitamins for soft, supple skin. It is especially beneficial during the winter, when your skin is ravaged by dry, frigid air. Taking a daily vitamin E supplement is highly recommended, but for maximum benefits you can also carefully open up a vitamin E capsule and then apply it to your skin and hair.

4. Pay Attention to Your Pillowcase

Most people do not realize that the type of pillowcase that they sleep on each night can affect the health of their hair. If you want to prevent your hair from drying out, consider purchasing a satin pillowcase. A cotton pillowcase can draw moisture from your hair, which no one needs during the winter, but a satin pillowcase will keep your hair shiny and healthy.

5. Always Wear Sunscreen

The sun may not feel very warm during winter, but it can still do a lot of damage to your skin. Even when it is cold outside, the harmful UVA rays are just as strong as they are at the height of summer. Your body may be wrapped up in layers to keep warm, but your face will still be exposed so always put on a sunscreen or facial moisturizer with an SPF of at least 15.

6. Treat Your Hair to a Hydrating Mask

Conditioner is not always enough to keep your hair healthy when it is freezing out. Take the time to apply a moisturizing and hydrating mask to your hair to keep it looking great. You don't have to spend a lot of money buying a hair mask, as there are a number of DIY masks that you can make with items in your kitchen. Consider an avocado and coconut milk hair mask, or try out a mixture of yogurt and papaya.

7. Adjust Your Winter Skincare Regime

As the seasons change and the temperatures shift, your skin will need special care to remain hydrated and looking its best. During the winter, it is important to focus on keeping your skin hydrated. Use facial products containing plant oils, algae extract, green tea, and crambe oil.

How to Shave Your Legs with Less Irritation and Better Results

You were probably initiated into the female ritual of leg shaving by your mom, your sister or your best friend, or perhaps just by trial and error. Do you still shave using the same techniques and supplies as you did back in the day? Take a look at these tips to see if you can get a smoother, less irritating, and longer lasting shave!

1. Timing is important

Do you shave your legs during a morning shower? Do you do it first when you get in the shower or bath? Consider changing up your routine. Put off shaving until last so your legs get to soak in the warm water. 

This opens the pores and softens the hair. Also, shaving your legs at night gives you smoother skin in the morning. Your skin swells slightly overnight, leaving the cut edges of your leg hairs inside the follicle rather than right at the surface.

2. Prep your skin first

Before shaving, use a mild skin exfoliant to buff off the surface layer of dead skin. The skin underneath is softer and less dry, which will make your legs look and feel silkier when you finish. Removing this top layer also helps cut down on ingrown hairs.

3. Use the right tools

Ditch the cheap single-blade razors, even for one-time use. Opt for razors with multiple blades, and flexible heads that move over curves more easily (because razor nicks on the knee are no fun!). Some women swear by men's razors as being better and cheaper, but Good Housekeeping tests showed the same results from multi-blade men's razors and women's razors. So get what's on sale! 

And be sure to keep your razor sharp -- ten times should be the maximum number of uses before reaching for a new one, less if you use the same razor to shave elsewhere on the body as well as the legs.

4. Skip the soap

Don't use bar soap, or worse, just plain water when shaving. It's hard on your skin and hard on your razor. Soap causes the razor to become dull faster, and shaving without enough lubrication adds to the possibility of razor burn and ingrown hairs. What to use instead? Some swear by the shaving creams made for women, but look for ones that don't have a lot of alcohol or scents that can dry out or irritate your skin. Other possibilities include baby oil or hair conditioner. Try different approaches to find the best one for you.

5. Shave both directions

You were probably told to only shave in the direction of hair growth, not against it. If you shave against the grain, it cuts the hair at an angle that makes it feel more prickly when it grows back, and increases the chance of in-growns. Instead, do one pass downward, with the grain, then take a second pass upwards. This gives your leg hair tapered ends that feel thinner and finer as it grows back.

6. Take time for TLC after shaving

After you finish your shower or bath, make sure to generously moisturize your legs. This will make your legs feel even softer than the shave alone, and your pores will still be open from the warm water, so it will be more deeply absorbed into the skin. 

MOR Essentials Body Butter

Even if you prefer having your legs waxed or using a chemical hair remover, you probably still shave once in a while for "touch-ups". And over half of women who remove their leg hair use shaving exclusively. So take the time to do it right, and enjoy the results more!