When you’re deep into the winter season, lost all hope of retaining any of your Reading Week tan, you’re tired of dealing with people and you’re into your final push of school with course papers due in the coming weeks, you might be feeling fairly lifeless. You’ll need some ways to look alive and feel fresh, even when Casper is looking more tanned than you. When there’s zero chance of the bags under your eyes being designer brand, here’s some products that might pull you through.
First up, we need to start with the basics. Winter weather dries out your skin, and the three sweaters you’re dragging over your arms every morning to stay warm takes a toll on your hands and arms! I am in love with Glysomed’s foot balm and hand cream. Look for the bright green packaging. These can be found in the body cream aisle, at anywhere from Walmart and grocery stores, to drugstores. Putting cream on your feet is the perfect excuse to also get a pair of plush reading socks to lounge in!
Quiz Time! Did you know there is a difference between hydrating and moisturizing?
If something is hydrating then it increases the amount of moisture or water; however, if a product is moisturizing it locks in whatever moisture is already present. This means you must hydrate before you moisturize!
On my face, I use Yves Saint Laurent’s Touche Eclat Blur Primer. It is the perfect way to prep your skin with its silky oils, leaving your face feeling soft yet not weighted down. It’s a non-comedogenic product, so you’re able to apply it worry-free, no matter your skin type. It even has little gold flecks that make you feel extra bougie even on the gloomiest of days!
When you’re not getting enough sleep and feeling drained, it is easy to feel washed out. Liven up your cheeks with a blush! My favourite shade to date is called You Had Me at Merlot, which is a Gen Nude Powder Blush from bareMinerals. Normally, I would opt for liquid products, because powders typically are drying, but this shade is super pigmented and a nice rosy red colour. In the winter, I typically skip baking my makeup and skip pressed powders to avoid the cakey look while my skin is already super dry, no matter the amount of water I drink.
This winter, one of my top obsessions has been the Agave Lip Mask from Bite Beauty. Candy Cane is for-sure my favourite flavour with its minty goodness, but I’ve checked out all the colours/flavours, including Maple and Natural, which are great. The Candy Cane one is slightly tinted, so it makes your lips look super kissable and smooth.
My overall advice would be to use products that you love because those are what will make you feel the best and excited.
Even when I’m in a rush or too exhausted to shower, here is what I do. Check out the other products I prefer by clicking the links!
1. Hydrate and moisturize my body.
2. Prime my face.
3. Dab concealer under my eyes and on any troublesome spots.
4. Curl my upper eyelashes for 10 seconds on each eye.
5. Brush some Buxom mascara on both my upper and lower eyelashes. Remember not to pump the wand in your tube! This pushes nasty bacteria inside, and you don’t need another item on your list to deal with.
6. Define my brows using a power (I use a discontinued brown MAC eyeshadow) and brush #12.
7. Swipe some colour or a mask on my lips!
Finally, don’t forget to clean it all away at the end of the day with your favourite cleanser and makeup remover.
Keeping up your momentum at the end of the semester is tough, but don’t let your daily beauty routine bring you down too. Best of luck, beauty queens!