As the colder months set in, our skincare and makeup routines need to adapt to the changing weather – and winter can be particularly harsh, leaving our skin dry and dull.
Celebrity makeup artist Holly Harnwell shares her expertise on selecting the best foundation to keep your skin looking its freshest.
Holly’s 3 top tips for nailing your winter base
Perfect your prep
Before you even go in with a foundation, be sure to hydrate your skin first to avoid any dry patches. “If you have very dry skin in winter, I’d recommend opting for a balmy moisturiser under your foundation such as the Aquaphor Healing Ointment or the Weleda Skin Food” says Holly.
“This is going to give you that plump, glowy finish when you apply your foundation.”
Aquaphor Healing Ointment, $16.90, at Amazon Australia
Weleda Skin Food, $28.95 at Priceline
Choose hydrating formulas
Chances are the cold weather may have caused havoc on your skin. “People tend to get dryer skin in the winter months,” says Holly. “When choosing a foundation for winter, you want to make sure you are choosing something hydrating with a soft glow to combat the dryness and give your skin a fresh, glowy finish.”
Kosas BB Burst Tinted Gel Cream, $63 at Mecca
Makeup For Ever HD Skin Hydra Glow Foundation, $72 at Sephora
Glow all out
Sometimes the right base is worth the splurge, especially if it’s going to reward you with much-needed radiance every day.
“My favourite foundation for that hydrated glowy finish is the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation,” says Holly. “It has a soft glow that really gives life back to the skin and combats any dryness or dullness.”
Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, $105 at The Iconic
Holly’s budget winter foundations for every skin type
If you’ve got… dry skin
TRY: Morphe Lightform Extended Hydration Foundation, $33 at Morphe
“This is a light to medium coverage foundation that goes on really smooth and contains a HydroRelief complex which is almost like a built-in moisturiser that helps to keep your skin plump and hydrated throughout the day and protect it from drying out in harsher weather conditions.”
If you’ve got… normal skin
TRY: Maybelline Fit Me Dewy and Smooth, $21.95 at Priceline
“This is another beautiful light- medium coverage foundation that keeps skin looking hydrated and glowy for those colder winter months. It contains vitamin E to help hydrate the skin and also has the added benefit of SPF 18 which is great for [additional] protection against UV.”
If you’ve got… oily skin
TRY: MCoBeauty Miracle Hydra-Glow Oil Free Foundation, $29 at MCoBeauty
“This is a great option for people with an oilier skin type or someone who doesn’t like the feeling of an oil-based foundation but still wants a glow. This water- based formula is a light- medium coverage that glides on smoothly and gives your skin a luminous finish. The added hyaluronic acid will help keep the skin feeling plump and hydrated which is perfect for the colder winter months.”
Words by Kate Lancaster.
