7 winter beauty problems

Winter is coming. It’ll bring Christmas, hot chocolate, and… That’s pretty much all I like about winter.

What I don’t like? The freezing cold temperatures and unrelenting chilly winds that cause havoc on my skin and hair.

Gone is the soft, glowy, flawless skin I enjoyed all summer long. In winter, when I look in the mirror, I see a scaly reptilian with dull, flaky skin and lifeless hair. Ugh.

Not this year. I’m determined to tackle all these problems head-on, so I, and you, can enjoy great skin all winter long.

Here are 7 winter beauty problems, solved:

winter beauty problem dry skin

Winter Beauty Problem #1: Dry, Flaky Skin

The cold winter weather robs your skin of the essential moisture it needs to stay soft and healthy. Without it, it becomes all dry and flaky. Hello, alligator! In the worst cases, there’s bleeding too. Ouch!

The solution? Switch to a richer moisturizer. Make sure it’s chockfull of antioxidants too. That way, you’ll keep your skin hydrated and wrinkles at bay. Talk about multitasking!

Best Picks:

Related: The Best Moisturisers For Very Dry Skin


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winter beauty problem flaky foundation

Winter Beauty Problem #2: Flaky Foundation

If you’re having a bad skin day, an acne outbreak or discolourations, you can just put foundation on and… Hello, gorgeous, flawless skin! But when your skin is dry and flaky? Your foundation will go on flaky and crusty too! Ugh, so annoying!

Using a richer moisturizer to fix your skin helps. But, it won’t work overnight. In the meantime, what are you supposed to do?

Switch to a more moisturizing foundation, too. Or, if you don’t need much coverage, a BB Cream, CC Cream, or tinted moisturizer that evens out the skintone while boosting your skin’s hydration.

Best Picks:

Winter Beauty Problem #3: Sallow Complexion

When skin is dry and flaky, it’s not able to naturally slough off dead cells. Instead, they accumulate on the surface, leaving your face dull and lifeless. All the light’s taken out of it.

A little exfoliation can help. My favourite exfoliants contain glycolic acid. They’re multitaskers that exfoliate skin, hydrate it and boost collagen production (bye bye wrinkles!). There’s nothing better for dry winter skin.

WARNING! If you have oily skin or acne, you’re better off with salicylic acid. Unlike glycolic, it gets inside your pores and treats breakouts. You can find out my fave salicylic acid exfoliant here.

Best picks:

Related: The Complete Guide To Glycolic Acid: What It Is, What It Does & How To Use It

winter beauty problem runny mascara

Winter Beauty Problem #4: Runny Mascara

Those chilly winds can make you cry. As those two or three tears trickle down your face, so does your mascara. And, of course, you’re always the last to notice! For some reason, people think it’s more polite to let you go about your business looking like a racoon than gently telling you your mascara has smeared… Go figure.

Unless you dig the raccoon look (raccoons do have their charms 😉 ), invest in a good waterproof mascara. They’re more stubborn and able to resist water, sweat, and whatever you throw at it.

Best picks:

winter beauty problem dry itchy cheeks

Winter Beauty Problem #5: Red And Itchy Cheeks

Brrr! It’s freezing cold outside. And that wind! It makes your cheeks all red. And no, I’m not talking about that healthy I’ve-just-returned-from-a-brisk-walk-in-the-cold rosy cheeks. Nope, this is full on irritation! And there’s nothing pretty about it.

The solution? Toners, serums, and moisturizers full of aloe vera, green tea, allantoin, chamomile, and other soothing agents. They calm down irritations, reduce redness, and help skin get healthy again.

Best picks:

Related: 9 Soothing Ingredients To Calm Down Sensitive And Irritated Skin

winter beauty problem chapped lips

Winter Beauty Problem #6: Chapped Lips

Winter isn’t happy with destroying only your skin. It must cause havoc on your lips as well. Cracks, bleeding, peeling… It’s not a pretty sight. It hurts, too.

Being a lip balm addict doesn’t save you. But switching to a more hydrating, richer formula will. In winter, it’s all about hydration.

Best picks:

Related: 5 Ways To Treat And Prevent Chapped Lips

winter beauty problem sunburns

Winter Beauty Problem #7: Sunburns

I bet you didn’t expect to see sunburns here. Aren’t they a summer problem? Not really. You can get a sunburn all year round. Especially when you go on holiday in the mountains.

You’re way closer to the sun, but the cold temperatures and snowy paths fool you into thinking you won’t get burned. You skip the sun protection. Next thing you know, you’ve got a sunburn.

Luckily, there’s a very simple solution. Pile on the sunscreen! And don’t forget to reapply it regularly throughout the day.

Best Picks:

Related: 6 Things To Look For In A Sunscreen

The Bottom Line

Don’t let winter woes catch you unaware! Follow the tips above, and get ready to rock healthy skin, flawless makeup, and a kissable pout through rain, snow, and hail all winter long.