At this point in the year a rotation of cashmere sweaters and wool coats has been dutifully adopted and our colorful cast of sundresses and strappy sandals are safely hibernating in storage. So our wardrobes are armed and ready for colder temps and harsh gusts of wind, what about our faces?
Before dry air and overpowering heaters threaten damage on complexions across the East Coast, take action to tweak beauty regimes which will sidestep the painful, flaky side effects of winter weather. Since prevention is necessary, if slightly uninspiring, we also included a few easy ways to add a little dose of pretty, with minimal effort.
Clarins Mission Perfection Serum
That delightful summer glow, which was likely achieved after countless weekends spent on the beach this past August, has already faded by the first week of November. However, sun damage from those hours spent in the sunshine is still visible and still miserable. Slather on a layer of this Clarins Mission Perfection Serum each morning and evening to reverse dark spots and dullness. The light formula layers easily with moisturizer or foundation and instantly adds a layer of sheen to the skins surface. The gentle fruit acids delicately exfoliates dull skin cells while gingko biloba extract adds a necessary dose of radiance.
$72, ClarinsUSA.com
Clark’s Botanicals Deep Moisture Mask
I’ll be honest: I’m truly a sucker for items that are multipurpose. So when I tried out this Clark’s Botanicals super hydrating mask, I loved that it could also be used as a daily moisturizer. As a face pack, it absolutely got the job done of calming red skin and reducing inflammation in 10 minutes, thanks to extracts of algae and comfrey root. As a nighttime moisturizer, it absorbed quickly and I woke up with smooth skin the following morning. Plus, this tub seems to be the perfect size to last through the last March freeze.
$72, ClarksBotanicals.com
Blushington Lash Extensions
I thought everyone would notice that my eyelashes magically doubled in length and thickness overnight after I spent two hours getting eyelash extensions glued to my eyelids. However, only one of my friends noticed a difference. But no matter, the added length and curl of the individual silk lashes made me feel made up, even if I didn’t have a drop of makeup on. It also shortened by morning beauty regime, allowing me to skip the steps of curling my eyelashes and applying mascara.
$175, Blushington at Le Parker Meridien, 119 West 56th Street
PHYTO Phyteol Oily Hair Purifying Scalp Exfoliating Shampoo
Dandruff is not the most exciting (or sexy) beauty topic, but let’s be real, it is an actual issue. And as a sufferer of a flaky scalp, I’ve had to contend with countless shampoos that were less than successful at preventing my black sweaters from being covered in embarrassing white flakes. While this particular shampoo hasn’t entirely removed dandruff from my life, it has greatly improved the rather itchy issue. It helps that I actually read the instructions that came with the Phyto bottle, so I lather once with the minty solution, rinse it out and then lather again. I let the shampoo sit on my scalp for two to three minutes et voilà, the process is done. While this formula is made for oily scalps, they also offer one that caters to those with drier locks.
$26, Sephora.com
Glossier Boy Brow
There’s no denying the fact that full eyebrows are having a real moment right now. With the current spate of powers, pencils and even Keratin fibers that promise to build up face framers, we really like Glossier’s iteration. Inspired by hair pomade, the tiny tube, and even tinier spoolie brush distributes subtle color across brows, while holding the hairs in place. One or two swipes of Boy Brow provides equally-distributed definition and after the damp formula sets, the pigment stays in place all day long, without that cringe-inducing drawn-on eyebrow look.
$16, Glossier.com
