Houston finally cools off, and suddenly the foundation that looked perfect all summer starts clinging to dry patches, settling into lines and looking flat by lunchtime. I see it in my salon every year once the cold fronts arrive and the heater comes on. After twenty-plus years doing makeup on real clients, I can tell you the fix usually isn't a whole new makeup bag. It's how you prep your skin and how you layer what you already love. Here's the winter base routine I use in my chair for makeup that looks smooth, fresh and glowing, not dry or cakey.
When cooler, drier air replaces our usual humidity, skin can lose moisture faster. Indoor heating, hot showers and wind add to it. Skin that feels tight or rough gives makeup an uneven surface to sit on, so foundation grabs onto flaky spots and powder can look heavy. Holiday party lighting and flash photos show every bit of it. The goal for winter is simple: hydrate first, use thinner layers, and powder only where you need it.
Cleanse gently with lukewarm water and pat your face dry rather than rubbing. Apply your usual moisturizer and give it a few minutes to sink in before any makeup goes on. If you have a dry spot or two around your nose or brows, a little extra moisturizer pressed into those areas will help your base go on smoother. In the daytime, finish your skincare with the sunscreen you normally use. Rushing this step is the number one reason I see makeup pilling or sliding.
Primer gives your foundation an even surface to grip. In winter, I like a lightweight, radiant primer rather than a heavy matte one. Our Camera Ready Primer is lightweight and blendable, brightens and evens the complexion and leaves a smooth, radiant finish, which is exactly what tired winter skin needs. Use a small amount, focus on the center of your face, and let it set for a minute.
Thick layers of foundation crack and settle faster on dry skin. Instead, start with a thin layer and build coverage only where you need it. On days when you want easy, glowing skin, our BB Cream gives smooth, natural, buildable coverage with a hydrating, comfortable feel. For more coverage at a holiday party or for photos, reach for Picture Perfect Foundation and apply it in thin layers. Browse all foundations, and if you're between shades, our Shade Finder and our guide to choosing your foundation shade will help you get it right.
Pro tip: press, don't drag. Use a damp sponge or a dense brush and press your base into the skin. Dragging a brush back and forth lifts flakes and makes them more visible.
Under-eye skin is thin and gets drier in winter. Use a small amount of concealer just where you need it, usually the inner corners and any darkness, and tap it in with your ring finger. Skip heavy layers that can crease. Find your match in our concealers.
This is where most winter makeup goes wrong. Powdering your whole face can make dry skin look dull and textured. Instead, use a light dusting of JA Hi-Def Loose Powder only on the areas that get shiny, usually the sides of your nose, your chin and the center of your forehead. Keep the cheeks dewy. If you get a little shiny at a party, press on blotting powder instead of adding more foundation.
Winter skin can look a little gray or washed out. A soft flush of color brings life back instantly. Our Blush in Bare Skin is silky, lightweight and buildable, so you can go for a natural flush during the day and build it up for evening. Smile, tap it on the apples of your cheeks, and blend up toward your temples. See every shade in our blush collection.
Finish with a few spritzes of Setting Spray. It's a lightweight, refreshing mist that sets your makeup for all-day wear and leaves a dewy finish, which melts powder into your skin so nothing looks dry. Hold it at arm's length and mist in an X and a T across the face. You can carry the travel size in your bag and refresh in the afternoon. Shop all setting sprays.
Dry air is tough on lips, and matte lipstick shows every flake. Gently smooth your lips, apply a balm and blot it before your lip color. For an easy, comfortable look, our JA Lip Plumper in Cushy is a sheer nude pink gloss with aloe vera, shea butter, vitamins C and E and peptides. If you want a deeper holiday lip, see our fall lip color guide, and pair it with our holiday smoky eye for party night.
Many women notice their skin feels drier and behaves differently in their 40s, 50s and beyond, especially through menopause. That's one of the reasons I wrote my book MENO POSSE. In winter, I tell these clients to lean even harder on hydration, use cream and satin textures, keep powder to a minimum and focus on glow rather than full coverage. For more, read how to choose a foundation for mature skin and Menopause and Makeup: What MENO POSSE Taught Me About Midlife Glow.
This article is for general information and isn't medical advice. If your skin is persistently irritated, itchy, cracked or painful, please see a dermatologist or your doctor.
Janelle Alexis Cosmetics are cruelty-free, made in the USA and ship from the USA, and our formulas are good for all skin types. I built this line from what I actually reach for in the salon, so every product is made to look beautiful in person and on camera.
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Drier air, heaters and hot showers can leave skin dehydrated, and foundation clings to dry or flaky spots. Moisturize first, use a radiant primer, apply thin layers and powder only where you get shiny.
Either can work. A BB cream gives lighter, natural coverage that feels comfortable on dry days, while a foundation applied in thin layers gives more coverage for parties and photos. Many people use a BB cream during the day and foundation for evening events.
Hydrate well, use a small amount of product, press it in with a damp sponge, and keep powder to a light dusting on your T-zone. A mist of setting spray at the end helps everything look more like skin.
Yes. Setting spray helps makeup last and melts powder into the skin so it looks less dry, which is especially helpful in winter.
Yes. Janelle Alexis Cosmetics are cruelty-free, made in the USA and ship from the USA.
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