12 Beauty Hacks for Dry Skin This Winter

We bet one of the last things you feel like doing during the winter is applying a full face of makeup. After all, the dry winter air can cause dull, dry skin, which really isn’t all that fun, is it? The reason why this happens: During the colder months, many climates have lower levels of moisture and humidity in the air. This—coupled with the fact that you’re probably spending a whole lot of time in a stuffy room with central heating—can lead to lower levels of moisture in your skin. But what if you have a holiday party to attend that calls for a festive face of makeup?  The good news is that there are some easy beauty hacks—like picking a hydrating facial cleanser to using a charcoal mask to brighten the look of your skin to adding glow drops to your moisturizer—you can try to create the appearance of glowing skin and make applying makeup easier.

dry skin Hack #1: exfoliate weekly to remove dead skin cells

First things first: Exfoliating on a regular basis can help remove dead skin cells that build up on skin’s surface (this pile-up in turn can lead to dull looking skin). Everyone’s skin is different—some people can handle daily exfoliation, while others can only handle doing so once or twice a week. Pay attention to how your skin responds to see what works best for you. Once you know that, pick up an exfoliating facial cleanser, like the L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Exfoliate & Refine Cleanser, which is formulated with three clays and red algae. Lather the facial cleanser into wet hands and watch as it transforms from clay to mousse, then gently massage it onto your skin in a circular motion (avoid your eyes!). Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat your skin dry.

dry skin Hack #2: use a charcoal mask to brighten

Over time, harsh environmental factors, like pollution and debris, can damage skin, leaving your complexion looking dull and tired. Enter our face mask, the L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Detox & Brighten Face Mask. This charcoal mask is formulated to draw out the buildup of impurities, dirt, and pollution and reduce the appearance of dull skin. Immediately, skin looks brighter and glowing and feels smoother. To use this face mask, apply an even layer to clean, dry skin, leave the charcoal mask on for 10-15 minutes, then rinse it off thoroughly with lukewarm water. Use three times a week for best results.

dry skin Hack #3: Buff dry Lips with a Lip Scrub

You know that exfoliation sloughs off dulling dead skin cells from the surface of your skin, but did you know that you could exfoliate your lips? Yep, you can! Look for a face scrub that can also be used on your lips, like the L’Oréal Paris Pure-Sugar Nourish & Soften Scrub, which is formulated with three types of sugar, coconut oil, cocoa butter, and finely crushed cocoa. The face scrub melts into skin for gentle yet effective exfoliation. Smooth a small amount of the face scrub onto dry lips with dry fingers, then use wet fingers to gently massage it over your lips. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water, and use three times a week. Once you’re done, it’s time to move onto lipstick! The L’Oréal Paris Infallible Paints/Lips Metallic is available in foil-like shades that are seasonally appropriate, while the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Shine Lipstick comes in a variety of high-shine shades.

dry skin Hack #4: choose the best moisturizer for your skin type

You know that using a moisturizer should be part of your daily skin care routine for dry skin (in fact, you should be applying moisturizer morning and night!). But come wintertime, you may find that you need to switch out your moisturizer for one that provides more hydration. The L’Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care for Normal to Dry Skin and L’Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care for Extra Dry Skin are both formulated with hyaluronic acid and aloe vera water to help provide long-lasting hydration.

dry skin hack #5: mix glow drops into your moisturizer

Speaking of moisturizer, you can upgrade yours by mixing in a few highlighter drops, like the L’Oréal Paris True Match™ Lumi Glow Amour Glow Boosting Drops, before you apply it. These drops, available in two shades, can also be added to makeup or worn alone.

dry skin hack #6: create A FAUX GLOW with self-tanner

Why is it that you always look more glow-y during the summer? Well, the good news is that you can totally fake it when it’s snowing out with self-tanner. We’ve got plenty of self-tanner options to choose from, including the L’Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze™ Self-Tanning Serum, L’Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze™ ProPerfect Salon Airbrush Mist, and L’Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze™ Self-Tanning Towelettes for Body. Before applying self-tanner, make sure to exfoliate and moisturize. Once you’re done, wait until self-tanner is dry before getting dressed or applying makeup.

dry skin Hack #7: dot on an illuminating lotion

Makeup products with skin care benefits are really on trend these day. Enter our highlighting lotion, the L’Oréal Paris True Match™ Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer, which instantly hydrates and illuminizes for an allover, fresh glow. Apply alone or under makeup. You can use the lighter shade to highlight and the darker shade to contour.

dry skin Hack #8: Apply A radiant-finish PRIMER

If you’ve never used a primer before, you’re missing out, especially if you have dry skin. Primer can help create an even canvas for the rest of your makeup application (that means no more visible dry patches!), as well as allow your makeup to wear evenly. If you have dry skin, look for an illuminating primer, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro Glow Lock Makeup Primer. This primer smooths and refines the feel of your skin, while illuminating and hydrating for a glowing finish. Dot the primer onto your face and blend in an outward motion for an even, allover glow. For targeted glow, tap extra primer onto the high points of your face.

dry skin Hack #9: pick a luminous-finish foundation

Now’s the time to choose a different foundation for the winter season to get a complexion that looks glow-y, not dull and dry. Pick a liquid foundation formula with luminous coverage, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro Glow Foundation, available in 12 shades. This foundation is formulated to be long-lasting for an all-day glow that looks flawless. Simply squeeze some onto a makeup blender, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Blend Artist Foundation Blender, and stipple it onto your skin for a seamless finish.

dry skin Hack #10: embrace the galaxy makeup trend

Glow, baby, glow! Rather than using a powder highlighter over your foundation, which can sometimes end up highlighting (see what we did there?) the look of dry skin, swipe on one of the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Galaxy Sticks instead. Available in three out-of-this-world shades (pink, blue, and gold), this multi-use holographic highlighter can add luminosity and light to your complexion to help make your skin appear more radiant than ever.

dry skin Hack #11: MIST YOUR FACE with setting spray

Setting your makeup is a must—whether you have dry skin or not. But when you do have dry skin, using a setting powder can make dry patches look more noticeable. So, reach for a setting spray, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Spray & Set Makeup Extender Setting Spray, instead. Shake the bottle well, then, holding it 8-10 inches away from your face, close your eyes and spray four to six times using an X and T motion.

dry skin hack #12: REMOVE YOUR MAKEUP WITH MICELLAR WATER

It’s not only how you apply your makeup to dry skin that matters—it’s how you take it all off at the end of the day, too. Use a micellar water in place of traditional makeup remover. Micellar water is made up of tiny micelles—oil molecules—that are suspended in water. These molecules attract makeup, dirt, and oil up and away from your skin—all without rinsing (meaning you don’t have to treat your complexion harshly to get all that mascara off!). The L’Oréal Paris Micellar Cleansing Water Complete Cleanser for Normal to Dry Skin hydrates and soothes. To use as a makeup remover, saturate a cotton pad, then hold the pad over your eyes (they should be closed!) for a few seconds before gently wiping to remove your mascara, eyeliner, or whatever else you’re wearing.

For more advice on taking care of dry skin this season, head over to our articles, How to Pamper Dry Skin This Winter and 7 Skin Care Products to Use on Dry Skin This Winter.