Dry skin? Breakouts? Expert tweaks for your best skin this winter

Everything foundation-based begins with a good skincare routine and in winter it’s about intense moisturisation to help create a dewy, flawless finish. Spend extra time massaging moisturiser into your skin to help boost circulation and create a glow, and don’t neglect your neck. Try Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Nourishing Cream ($33).

Cream-based foundations are best in winter. Credit: Getty Images

Next, get your hands on a shimmery primer that will create a delicious luminescence while adding an extra layer of hydration. We love Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer ($75).

For winter coverage, try a cream-based foundation one shade lighter than your summer foundation; we love the velvety Chantecaille Future Skin Foundation ($143) and Revlon’s Illuminance Skin-Caring Foundation ($43) which contains super-hydrating hyaluronic acid. Creamy bases are best applied using a damp sponge. Squeeze out the excess moisture, then dip it into foundation placed on the back of your hand; this will ensure an even distribution of your base.

If you want to boost your skin’s glow, try applying a liquid highlighter. One favourite is Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer ($65), a warm nude that’s perfect on the cheeks or mixed in with foundation. For a gentle reminder of summer, try Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops (mecca.com.au, $60) mixed with your foundation.

If you notice your make-up drying out, keep a facial mist on standby. “Spraying your face helps to set the make-up and provides a little extra moisture,” says make-up artist Nicole Thompson. Keep Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Miracle Hydrating Mist ($42) close at hand.

More hot winter picks include IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream ($71) which gives lightweight coverage and a dose of glow to the skin, plus it has an SPF50. Best on a budget is Maybelline Fit Me ($22). It goes on smoothly, is completely buildable and comes in myriad shades. For skincare-meets-foundation, we like Clinique Even Better Clinical Serum Foundation ($66) – it gives a natural semi-matte finish that makes skin look plump and dewy. And for sensitive skin try Avène Eau Thermale Day Protector Tinted BB Cream ($36), perfect for dry, reactive skin.

A final tip: always try foundations on your jawline when looking for the best colour match, then go out into the sunlight with a mirror for a true reading on the shade as the fluorescent lights in-store can distort the hue.

Ask Steph

Why is my hair getting frizzy as I get older?
As we age, the amount of oil produced by our scalp decreases and our hair becomes drier, coarser and thinner. Try using a finishing product such as Virtue Un-Frizz Cream (adorebeauty.com.au, $32)
to tame flyaways.

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