Snow bunny Jo wants to look her best this winter, and she’s getting ready for a grand adventure on the slopes.
Hiya Karen (oops, feel like I know you!),
I’m about to go skiing for 5 months. I’ve always used cream blush (especially the MAC ones), but now I need one that will give strong color but that won’t rub off too easily with goggles, gloves and possibly snow!
I’m terrified about beauty on the slopes to be honest, so any advice would be really appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
Jo
Hi, Jo. 🙂 Sounds like an awesome trip. I’m really excited for you!
Before we start, I gotta come clean. Snow and I don’t always get along (I’m more of a surfer girl), but here are some things that should help keep your makeup where it belongs.
1. Start with a makeup primer
Primers are typically colorless lotions or gels applied before foundation, blush and/or powder to anchor your makeup in place. It’s simple: when I wear a primer, my blush lasts longer, and I don’t have to reapply as often throughout the day. Take a look at Korres Face Primer; deluxe sample tubes are just $10 at Sephora.
2. Try a layer of powder blush above your cream blush
Whenever I wear a cream blush, dusting a layer of powder blush on top really seems to lock in the color. If you can swing by the MAC counter before your trip, bring some of your favorite cream blushes with you, and ask the MAC makeup artists for coordinating powder blush recommendations. Oh, and if you don’t have one already, shop around for a good blush brush. I really like the MAC 129 ($34).
3. Don’t forget to blot
I’ve noticed that blotting my face seems to greatly extend the wear time of my makeup. I’ll use a tissue and gently blot my eyelids, forehead, nose and chin after I apply my lotion but before primer.
4. Consider a liquid blush
Benefit makes a couple (Posietint and Benetint, each $28) of great ones that both last for hours and deliver strong color on my combo dry/oily skin.
If your budget allows, make room in your shopping cart for the following before you leave…
- A long-wearing, sweat-proof sunscreen like Shiseido 55+ ($37) (also check out this post for more sunscreens that stand up to sweat)
- A waterproof mascara. Consider Stila Lash Visor ($13)
- Moisturizing lipgloss with SPF like Philosophy’s Kiss Me Gloss with SPF 20 ($14)
- A lip exfoliator to smooth cracked and peeled lips. I like Tarte FRXtion ($11)
Let me know how you’re doing between runs and cups of hot chocolate, Jo, and have an amazing time on your trip! 🙂
Snow bunnies, do you have any tried-and-true winter beauty tips for Jo? Let’s trade cool ideas in the comments.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
-M says
November 12th, 2009 at 9:31 amHere are a couple of winter beauty tips from a reader in snowy Scandinavia 🙂
I think you may want to entirely skip blusher while skiing. Cold, wind and bit of exercise will probably give your cheeks (and possibly also you nose and forehead and rest of your face) a natural flush. From personal experience, I can say that adding artificial red on top of that can easily go a bit too far…
In general, I think my best piece of advice is to keep your face moisturized. Being outdoors in wintertime can really dry and even irritate skin, so taking along a heavy-duty moisturizer may be a good idea. Gentle exfoliation helps some people with the possible flakiness but others, like me, just get more irritated skin.
And the point about sunscreen is really good. Since snow reflects light well, you really do get quite a lot of UV exposure from all directions, so remember to protect your face 🙂
Hope you have a wonderful trip!
-M
P.S. I’m a rather long-time reader but this is my first comment ever 🙂 I really enjoy this blog, even though I live quite far away from California!
Roxanne says
November 12th, 2009 at 9:39 amHow about cheek stains/tints? And if that doesn’t help, I’m pretty sure the cold air will give you nice blushing cheeks 🙂
Tavia says
November 12th, 2009 at 9:44 amGreat tips Karen! I know I’ve been spending last winter in Siberia 🙂 and I was very concerned about moisturizers and makeup product, because at -25 degrees nothing is what it seems to be. I never experienced so low temperatures 🙂
.-= Tavia’s last blog post… Bobbi Brown Face Lift – Spring 2010 Collection =-.
Arianne says
November 12th, 2009 at 10:15 amI agree on the liquid blush. Nothing else stays on like my PosieTint.
When I go snowboarding I don’t wear much on my face because I get really sweaty. A waterproof mascara is it, and blush.
.-= Arianne’s last blog post… Majorly Crushing on this Coat… =-.
bisbee says
November 12th, 2009 at 11:16 amJust curious…what does it mean exactly to “go skiing for 5 months”? Is that a 5 month vacation? Is that person working at a ski resort? Is she a professional snow boarder?
Curious minds want to know!
Shannon says
November 12th, 2009 at 11:42 amI’ve heard that Benefit’s She Laq is fantastic for skiing. I have to admit that I haven’t tested it on the slopes myself, but one of my friends in college swore by it’s ability to keep color on all day, especially on her eyes. It basically waterproofs anything, or acts like a primer that you put over your makeup instead of under it. I don’t think I’d use it on my cheeks, though… it tends to stay kind of sticky while it sets (which takes a long time, unfortunately). It can also feel sort of weird, and you have to be careful not to open your eyes before they’re dry, lol… admittedly, I always feel a little silly when I use it. But if you’re looking to keep your eyes and lips perfect, this stuff works.
Glosslizard says
November 12th, 2009 at 12:09 pmI don’t know if you wanted suggestions besides the blush, but don’t forget the fabulousness of waterproof liners (like UD’s 24/7 pencils or Make Up For Ever’s Aqua Eyes! They can be used to line (naturally) but they can also be smudged and used as a shadow themselves or as a long-lasting base for other shadows!
P.S. I don’t know how your complexion is, but I tend to develop pretty rosy cheeks in cold weather! If you do too, you may want to take that into consideration when planning a cheek look! 😉
Megan **** says
November 12th, 2009 at 2:23 pmWATERPROOF mascara! I can’t even describe how terrible I looked after about an hour of snowboarding. I looked as if I had been crying 🙁 Haha.. That, & a moisturizing lip balm/gloss. Those are most definitely my two suggestions for you on your trip. I’d hate for anyone to have to learn the way I did 🙁 Ha! The boys I went snowboarding with asked me if I did my makeup like that on purpose “to look tough” on the slopes. They said because “it looked like I had two black eyes”.. Lol. No bueno 🙁
Heidi says
November 12th, 2009 at 4:14 pmDoes any one honestly need makeup when you’re on the slopes? I always find it puzzling when I see girls all ‘done-up’ on the slopes. It’s a sport and you’re meant to get sweaty and ugly! That’s just how I feel 🙂
Sarah says
November 12th, 2009 at 4:42 pmDefinitely stock up on sunscreen, and be sure to put some on your ears too! They get sunburned easily, just like your face 🙂
Jen says
November 12th, 2009 at 5:18 pmGotta add my two cents! For color impervious to your goggles, try one of Benefit’s fabulous lip/cheek stains: Benetint or Posietint. Once they are applied, they won’t budge! Then again, between the skiing and the cold weather, your cheeks will probably be flushed enough on their own!
amy says
November 12th, 2009 at 5:45 pmI have been going to Whistler/Blackcomb every year for the last 3-4 years, but I don’t wear much makeup because I fall a lot and have snow and water splash on my face constantly! I only wear a tinted moisturizer with SPF 15. I usually stick with lip stains and cheek stains and that’s it. With such a high volume water potentially and constantly anything “waterproof” would eventually wash off. Even waterproof mascara and eye liner is not worth it for me. Just remember to bring a lip balm up there!
.-= amy’s last blog post… LOTD Fun Ways to Wear Medusa’s Makeup Mineral Eye Dusts: As Lipstick/Lipgloss! Pink Edition =-.
Christy says
November 12th, 2009 at 11:06 pmI would stick to tinted moisturizer with SPF, waterproof mascara and a lipstain with a chapstick over top. Count on the apres-ski for the afterglow 😉
.-= Christy’s last blog post… Attention All Sephora VIB’s! 20% off Email! =-.
L says
November 13th, 2009 at 12:35 amI’d guess that once you’re out in the cold, your cheeks will get flushed on their own! Benetint is very natural looking, though, and lasts. When I wear it, it looks like I just got out of the cold 😉
Amanda says
November 13th, 2009 at 10:57 amI totally agree with Heidi-I don’t do any makeup when I’m on the slopes…and just like all the other countless posters I get flushed enough from the cold and exercise. I second the rec for Shishiedo sunscreen. If you really must doll up get a lipstain like stila’s cherry crush, a tinted lipbalm with SPF and some waterproof mascara. I wouldn’t worry about much else.
sunmom says
November 13th, 2009 at 8:47 pmI totally agree with M! but if by experience, you really need to use something for the blushing effect you are looking for, then tints would be the way to go! 🙂
.-= sunmom’s last blog post… Are You Money Wise??? =-.
Jo says
November 14th, 2009 at 5:28 amHi Everyone,
Thanks for the comments- They have given me an excuse to go wild at the benefit counter!
I’m off to the French Alps to work/ski, and want to wear the bare minimum so I thought I’d stick to cheeks. And a dash of (waterproof) mascara. and Tons of sunscreen!
Thanks again- hope you all have a fantastic winter 🙂