Four Tricks to Perking Up Winter Skin

Winter has a funny way of sucking all of the color out of our skin, leaving us with a dull pasty complexion. But the way to put a little color back in our faces is a lot simpler than you think! And I'm not talking bronzed or self-tanned skin—which can look orange on most people. Instead, we’re talking about glowy, radiant skin that looks lit from within. The kind of warmth that implies you just sat next to a warm fire or spent the afternoon on the slopes. Here, quick tips for all skin tones that will yield healthy warmed-up looking skin in just mere moments.

Illuminator

Meant to impart a radiant glow, illuminators tend to be loaded with light-reflecting particles that disperse over your skin so light reflects off of it from various angles. They can be worn alone; or they can give your blush a boost when layered overtop. Try L’Oréal Paris True Match LUMI Liquid Glow Illuminator in Rose (for light to medium skin), or Golden (for medium to dark skin tones).

Highlighting Drops

A product like this really puts you in control of how subtle or intense you go with warming up your skin. You can wear them alone for a more subtle sheen, mix a few drops into your foundation to customize your color, or blend them overtop of your foundation for a highlight effect. Try Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer Ultra-Light Glowing Fluid, which comes in 13 shades for every skin tone. If you’re fair, look for one with pink undertones. For medium skin, try something with gold or bronze pigments; and dark skin tones need a bit of coral or red tones to add warmth.

Tinted Moisturizer

When it comes to brightening up, tinted moisturizer is the real winner. Look for one that’s extra light and comes in a few different shades, like Lancôme Bienfait Teinte BB Cream so you can make sure it blends in with your skin tone. Smoothing on just a small amount will not only add a touch of color, but also protect from the sun with an SPF 30 and provide 24-hours of moisture.

Cream Blush

Cream formula blushes sink into skin so the color looks natural and healthy--while powder blushes on top of dry winter skin can just make skin look duller. For more of a flushed look, blend onto the apples of cheeks and sweep back to the hairline. Try swiping on NYX Whipped Lip & Cheek Souffle in Berry Tea for fair skin, Dark Cloud for medium skin and Coral-sicle for darker skin tones. Then rub it in gently with your fingers. The color will melt right into your skin, creating a rosy flush that looks 100 percent windblown.