Ah, winter—the season of perpetually dry skin. Let’s just say that can severely hinder your makeup application (and its staying power) if you don’t have the right tools and hacks. Especially if you live somewhere like Los Angeles, the weather can be a bit unpredictable (colder in the morning, hot in the afternoon). Not to mention that some of us with acne-prone skin need noncomedogenic products that still meet our winter needs. Adapting is the name of the game, my friends, and celebrity makeup artists are here to help you do it.
I asked three of them to reveal their tips and tricks of the trade that truly help makeup last its longest during the winter. A little tidbit of what they had to share? You guessed it: Hydration is key. Your makeup will look its best when you make good skincare a priority and prep your canvas nicely with a moisturizer and primer. Mix these elements together, and you’ll have a seriously flawless finish. If you’re curious about what makeup artists think are the absolute best winter makeup products to help you achieve this, keep reading below for all their insight.
Celebrity makeup artist and Color May Vary founder Renée Loiz keeps a look extra crisp during the colder months by prepping and setting with this dual-action spray. “It thoroughly hydrates skin and makes for a great primer before applying makeup. To keep makeup fresh and glowy, I spray it a few more times on top of the finished look. It also gently sets the makeup, giving you a natural, long-lasting look.”
To freshen up midday makeup, Loiz will use a cream blush (a few different ways) like Fenty Beauty’s (her favorite shade is Rosé Latte). “I use this blush for cheeks, lips, and eyes. The creaminess of the product just melts into your skin. It gives cheeks a wintery flush, a soft, just-bitten stain to the lips, and a bronzed smoky look to the eye.”
Loiz loves to add an inky-black mascara to any look. Her go-to is Pat McGrath’s FetishEyes.
Celeb makeup artist Jen Tioseco can’t stress the importance of skin prep enough. She always keeps a good moisturizer on hand for any winter makeup look—but not just any moisturizer. “I love Augustinus Bader’s Rich Cream. It adds the perfect amount of moisture to the skin and makes your foundation blend like a dream!”
“To keep my foundation in place all day, I use Charlotte Tilbury’s Flawless Airbursh Powder. It sets the skin but still leaves it looking luminous!”
For some real high-quality hydration, Tioseco goes all out. “To refresh my makeup throughout the day, I’m obsessed with the Refa Mist Spray. Its C02 cartridge infuses the skin with moisture so when your foundation needs a little pick-me-up, spray, and then dab with your beauty blender. Your skin will look good as new!”
Makeup artist Carolina Dalí loves a good DIY facial for extra hydration. “Giving yourself a mini at-home facial will help reveal a more radiant complexion and help remove those pesky dead skin cells that make our complexion look dull and dry. Not to mention it’s super relaxing. I steam my face for 10 minutes, then follow with an exfoliator and mask. I’m obsessed with the Dr. Dennis Gross Pro Facial Steamer.”
Dalí’s holy-grail exfoliator is Sisley Paris’s Gentle Buffing Cream, a formula rich in botanical extracts and other soothing ingredients.
“I leave this mask on for 15 minutes and remove it using a muslin cloth dipped in warm water. I then massage the mask off in a circular motion. The muslin cloth is a natural exfoliant, and it’s reusable. It’s great to do this once a week.”
To prep her skin before makeup, she uses this hydrating hyaluronic acid serum from Dr. Barbara Sturm.
She also opts for a hydration boost from Augustinus Bader, but this time, The Rich Cream’s less overpowering cousin (a good option for those who have oilier skin).
For a budget option, Dalí loves this vitamin- and antioxidant-infused moisturizer to boost the skin’s suppleness.
“If your skin is extra dry, mix your moisturizer on the palm of your hand with a drop of the Augustinus Bader Face Oil. Massage it onto your face, neck, and décolletage for a major hydration boost.”
Her choice SPF is Chanel because, duh.
After your skincare and makeup are all set, Dalí recommends using this as a refreshing finish. “This mist is hydrating and helps makeup stay looking fresh. It also gives the skin a subtle, natural glow.”
This primer is weightless and oil-free (great for acne-prone or sensitive skin) but still keeps your face totally hydrated. It’s the perfect product to start any winter makeup look.
Laneige’s Cream Skin Toner & Moisturizer is loved by estheticians, and you can’t go wrong with a good hybrid product, right? The white leaf tea water in it (rich in amino acids) strengthens and soothes the skin barrier while providing deep hydration.
Okay, prepare yourself. This product is not two but a three-in-one toner, serum, and moisturizer. It also has zero pore-clogging ingredients for my acne-prone and sensitive-skin folks.
This moisturizer is rich in antioxidants, smoothes out fine lines, and strengthens the skin’s barrier. It’s truly the only winter makeup companion you’ll ever need.
