15 Late Winter Makeup Tricks for When Skin Looks Dull

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Hydrating Primer for Smooth Base

Winter’s dry, cold air can often leave the skin feeling rough and parched, making it essential to start with a hydrating primer. A hydrating primer works by creating a smooth base, ensuring your makeup glides on evenly and doesn’t settle into dry patches. It helps lock in moisture, making the skin look more plump and youthful. For those dealing with winter dryness, a hydrating primer also prevents foundation from looking cakey or patchy. A good primer can boost hydration, creating the perfect canvas for makeup to last all day while giving a soft, radiant finish.

One of the best products to consider is the Smashbox Photo Finish Primerizer ($42). This primer offers the ideal balance of hydration and smoothing, making it a must-have for winter. Its glycerin and vitamin B content lock in moisture, leaving the skin soft and dewy, ensuring a smooth base for makeup.

Radiance-Boosting Foundation

Cold weather often causes skin to lose its natural glow, leading to a dull complexion. To revive this, a radiance-boosting foundation is essential to bring life back to your skin. Look for foundations that contain light-reflecting particles to create a healthy, luminous finish. These foundations not only hydrate the skin but also provide coverage, helping to even out skin tone and texture. Radiance-boosting foundations are perfect for the winter months when skin can appear lackluster, as they help to brighten and refresh the complexion.

The NARS Sheer Glow Foundation ($47) is an excellent option for adding a natural, healthy glow to the skin. It provides medium-to-buildable coverage with a luminous finish, making it perfect for combating winter dullness while keeping the skin hydrated and glowing.

Illuminating Concealer for Bright Eyes

In winter, the delicate skin around the eyes can look especially tired, and dark circles become more prominent. Illuminating concealers work wonders by brightening the under-eye area and masking signs of fatigue. These concealers often contain light-reflecting pigments that not only conceal but also refresh the eyes. A good illuminating concealer helps to mask puffiness and brighten up the entire face, giving you a more awake and refreshed appearance. It’s perfect for combating the dull, lifeless look that can often accompany winter skin.

A great product to try is the Tarte Shape Tape Concealer ($27). This full-coverage concealer brightens and smooths the under-eye area, offering both coverage and luminosity. It ensures that your eyes appear refreshed and well-rested, even on the most tired winter mornings.

Cream Blush for a Natural Flush

Winter can cause skin to look sallow, and powder blush can sometimes accentuate dry patches. Cream blushes are an excellent alternative because they add moisture and a soft, natural flush. They create a more youthful appearance by mimicking the natural flush that occurs when you’re warm or active. Cream blushes are perfect for dry, winter skin as they blend seamlessly and provide a hydrated, fresh look. They are buildable, so you can layer the color for a more intense effect without it looking too heavy.

The Glossier Cloud Paint ($18) is a lightweight, buildable blush that offers a natural, dewy flush. It glides on effortlessly and blends seamlessly into the skin, making it ideal for a soft, radiant look during the winter months when skin tends to be drier.

Hydrating Setting Spray

In the winter, your skin can feel dry, and regular setting sprays can sometimes make it look matte and dull. A hydrating setting spray, however, locks in your makeup while adding a refreshing burst of moisture to keep your complexion looking healthy. These sprays help set your makeup and keep it in place, all while providing a natural glow. A hydrating setting spray not only ensures your makeup lasts all day but also prevents the dry, tight feeling that can often accompany winter weather.

Try the Morphe Continuous Setting Mist ($16), which provides a fine mist that locks makeup in place while adding a subtle, dewy glow to the skin. It hydrates and refreshes your complexion, perfect for those chilly winter days when your skin needs a little extra moisture.

Highlighter for a Luminous Glow

A subtle highlighter can instantly brighten your complexion and make dull winter skin look more radiant. A soft highlighter adds light to the skin, giving it a natural, healthy glow without the over-the-top shimmer that can feel too heavy. Highlighting the high points of your face, such as the cheekbones, brow bones, and cupid’s bow, enhances your bone structure while providing a radiant, dewy finish. A good highlighter can be your secret weapon against winter dullness, giving your complexion an instant boost.

The Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter ($38) is a favorite for its smooth texture and soft-focus glow. It enhances your skin’s natural radiance without being overly glittery, making it ideal for achieving a fresh, luminous finish during the colder months.

Vitamin C Serum for Healthy Skin

A dull complexion in winter can often be a result of lack of sunlight, which is why incorporating a vitamin C serum into your skincare routine is essential. Vitamin C is known for brightening the skin, evening out skin tone, and providing antioxidant protection. It helps reduce the appearance of dark spots and promotes a healthy, glowing complexion. Using a vitamin C serum regularly can boost the skin’s radiance and give your face a fresh, youthful look, making it a great prep step before applying makeup.

For a highly effective vitamin C serum, try the SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum ($166). It’s packed with potent antioxidants that protect the skin from environmental damage while brightening the complexion. This serum is perfect for revitalizing dull winter skin, giving it a fresh and radiant look.

Illuminating Powder for a Subtle Glow

Setting powders are a staple in most makeup routines, but in winter, opting for an illuminating powder instead of a matte one can keep your skin looking fresh and glowy. These powders are often light-reflecting and give the skin a soft, dewy finish. They are perfect for those with dry or dull winter skin, as they add a radiant touch without looking overly shiny. Illuminating powders can blur imperfections while enhancing the skin’s natural glow, ensuring that your makeup stays in place and looks fresh throughout the day.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder ($48) is a luxurious illuminating powder that creates a natural-looking glow. It diffuses light, making the skin appear smoother and more radiant, perfect for winter when skin can look dull and lackluster.

Lip Balm with a Hint of Tint

Winter weather often leaves lips dry and chapped, but a hydrating tinted lip balm can provide both moisture and color. These balms not only keep your lips soft and nourished but also give them a subtle hint of color that brightens the face. Tinted lip balms are a quick and easy way to add some color to your lips without the heaviness of lipstick. They also offer sun protection, which is important during winter as UV rays can still cause damage.

For a nourishing tinted lip balm, try the Fresh Sugar Tinted Lip Treatment ($24). It provides a smooth, moisturizing formula that nourishes lips while delivering a soft, sheer tint. This balm is perfect for keeping lips hydrated and colorful during the colder months.

Nourishing Face Mask for a Quick Skin Boost

When your skin looks dull and tired in the winter, a nourishing face mask can provide a quick pick-me-up. These masks deeply hydrate the skin, restoring moisture and leaving it looking refreshed and revitalized. A face mask can boost your skin’s radiance and ensure a smooth base for makeup. It’s ideal for dry, tired skin that needs an extra boost of hydration before applying foundation or concealer.

The Laneige Water Sleeping Mask ($25) is a great overnight hydrating mask that works while you sleep. It deeply replenishes moisture, leaving the skin plump, radiant, and ready for makeup the next morning.

Exfoliating Scrub for Smooth Skin

Winter often leaves skin looking dull, especially if dry patches have built up. An exfoliating scrub is an essential step to slough away dead skin cells and reveal a brighter, smoother complexion. Gentle exfoliation removes dead skin without stripping moisture, giving you a fresh base for makeup. Be sure to choose a scrub with fine, non-abrasive particles to avoid irritating dry, sensitive winter skin. Regular exfoliation helps prevent makeup from settling into uneven textures, leaving you with a smooth and even finish.

For an effective exfoliating scrub, try the Clinique Exfoliating Scrub ($27). This scrub offers a gentle yet effective exfoliation that sloughs away dead skin cells without irritating the skin. It leaves the skin feeling soft and smooth, perfect for creating a fresh, radiant look.

Gel-Based Blush for a Fresh Look

Gel blushes are a great choice for achieving a fresh, natural flush during winter. Their lightweight formula blends effortlessly into the skin, providing a soft, dewy finish. Gel blushes work especially well for dry skin, as they tend to hydrate and add a healthy glow. Unlike powder blushes, which can sometimes look cakey on dry skin, gel blushes create a smooth, natural look that lasts throughout the day. They’re ideal for adding a touch of color to your face without the risk of patchiness.

The Stila Convertible Color Dual Lip & Cheek Cream ($25) is a popular gel-based blush known for its versatility. This product can be used on both the lips and cheeks, providing a natural flush of color that’s buildable and hydrating, perfect for winter makeup.

Hydrating Under-Eye Cream

The under-eye area tends to show the first signs of fatigue, especially during the winter months when skin can get dry and dehydrated. A hydrating under-eye cream can help reduce puffiness and dark circles while keeping the delicate skin nourished. These creams often contain ingredients like hyaluronic acid and peptides, which hydrate and tighten the skin, providing a more youthful appearance. Regular use of an eye cream can help prevent makeup from settling into fine lines around the eyes, keeping the area smooth and refreshed.

The Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado ($50) is an excellent option for dry, tired under-eyes. The rich, creamy formula is hydrating and nourishing, leaving the skin feeling smooth and plump. It’s perfect for combating winter dryness and ensuring that your under-eye area stays fresh and hydrated.

Lip Scrub for Smooth, Soft Lips

Chapped lips are a common issue in winter, but using a lip scrub can help exfoliate and remove dead skin, leaving lips smooth and soft. Lip scrubs are typically made with sugar or other fine exfoliants that gently buff away dry patches. Regular use ensures that lip balms or lipsticks glide on effortlessly, creating a smooth base. A good lip scrub can also help restore moisture to the lips, preventing cracking and flaking that is common in colder weather.

The Sara Happ The Lip Scrub ($24) is a highly rated lip scrub that combines sugar crystals and natural oils to exfoliate and hydrate the lips. It’s perfect for restoring softness and preparing your lips for lipstick or lip balm.

Face Oil for Extra Hydration

In the winter, the skin can become very dry, leaving it looking dull and flaky. Face oils are an excellent way to lock in moisture and give your skin a healthy glow. Face oils are especially beneficial for those with dry or combination skin, as they provide intense hydration and nourishment. They work well as a last step in your skincare routine, sealing in moisture and leaving your complexion looking radiant. Face oils can also create a dewy base for makeup, ensuring that your foundation applies smoothly and evenly.

The Tatcha The Oil ($85) is a luxurious option for those looking for a nourishing face oil. This oil is infused with camellia oil, which hydrates and soothes the skin while leaving it soft and dewy. It’s a great choice for dry, winter skin that needs extra hydration.

This article originally appeared on Avocadu.