There are many things about winter I love… Winter fashion, warm fires and listening to stormy weather in bed, but the dreaded dry, dull and flakey skin is not something I look forward to. The cold winter air and piercing winds can wreak havoc on your skin, depriving your body of moisture and so it is vital that you choose the right beauty products to combat this. But it’s not just about choosing the right foundation, it’s what you use underneath that is going to be the key to getting a good, hydrated base.
So, I would recommend investing in a good skincare routine if you don’t already have one, my personal favourite brand is Eau Thermale Avene, which is a French skincare brand that is renowned for having a range of hydrating products for sensitive skin. In Winter I use a gentle gel cleanser and exfoliator 2-3 times a week to slough away those flakey dead skin cells. I then follow that up with a morning and night routine of serum, a moisturiser, eye cream and an SPF 50 sunscreen for during the day, because even in winter it is still important to wear a sunscreen every single day, to protect your skin from those harmful UVA and UVB rays.
Once you’ve got your skincare routine sorted it’s time to choose the right foundation that is going to be hydrating and protecting and will also hold up against the harsh winter weather. So, I’ve picked out seven of my personal favourite foundations that will keep your skin looking fresh and hydrated all winter long.
Giorgio Armani- Lasting Silk UV Foundation, $109
This foundation is a water-based, non-sticky, hydrating formula that will hold up against that harsh winter weather. It has a velvety texture and glides on smooth, drying with a matte finish and with an added SPF 20 for that important UV protection, this foundation is designed to diffuse light to smooth and magnify the luminosity of the skin’s surface.
MAC Face + Body foundation, $62 and MAC Prolong Wear Concealer, $46
This is such a versatile combo and one of my favourites for daily wear all year round. The Face + Body is a sheer foundation that provides light, hydrating coverage but when warmed up in the hands, it becomes a thicker foundation providing a little more coverage. If you mix the Face + Body with the Pro Longwear concealer, it then becomes a medium to full, buildable foundation combo. I like to mix the two on the back of my hand and blend them onto my face for a hydrating but breathable look, where you can still see my natural skin and if I have any problem areas I just dab a little of the concealer over top for more coverage.
Guerlain L’Essential Natural Glow Foundation, $102
This is another of my daily go-to foundations. I love this one so much and tend to opt for it if I am going out at night as it is super long wearing. However, it is also a fab day-time foundation as it doesn’t dry my skin or make it patchy after a few hours of wear! It is a 16-hour long-wearing formula made from 97% naturally derived ingredients which is obviously one of the better foundations to use on your skin and it contains an SPF 20. It has a light to full buildable coverage and the formula really lets the skin breathe. It has a nice finish that sits somewhere between satin and dewy. You will not be disappointed with this product and make sure you pick up the matching brush to apply your foundation with ease.
YSL All Hours Foundation, $101
This is another great long wearing foundation that will hold up against that winter weather. Its formula contains an SPF 20, is full coverage and resists heat, humidity, dryness and is transfer proof. It contains black tea antioxidant complex to fight against external factors and it has a matte finish, without clinging to those pesky dry patches and to top it all off, it has a really lovely floral scent that is signature to YSL products.
Maybelline Fit me Dewy + Smooth Foundation, $26.99
This foundation by Maybelline is a more affordable option but is a great Winter foundation nonetheless. Its formula hydrates the skin and smooths the skin’s texture, while giving you a medium to full coverage without clinging to any pesky dry patches you may have. The dewy finish works well with most skin types but if you’ve got overly oily skin, a little translucent powder on top of the oily zones will do the trick to make it stay in place.
Revlon Colorstay 24 Hours Foundation, $20
Another affordable but fab Winter foundation is the Revlon Colorstay. Its formula is designed for oily to combination skin with a flawless matte finish that lasts up to 24 hours. This foundation is made for shine control so no powder needed to set this product in place.
Bobbi Brown Skin Long Wear Weightless Foundation, $88
My final pick for a great winter foundation is this product from Bobbi Brown. Once again it has a very long lasting 16-hour wear to it with an SPF 15. It has a buildable coverage from medium to full and has a lovely matte finish, without looking cakey or drying into creases. It has a non-acnegenic formula with sugar cane algae extract and natural mineral powders to help control oil and excess shine with moisture building glycerin to help with hydration all day long.
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