It’s no secret that the winter months wreak havoc on our skin. ‘Weather’ it’s the bitter cold outside or the dry air indoors, our largest organ suffers the daily consequences thanks to old man winter. Proper hydration is key during these winter months, on the inside as well as the outside. Drinking enough water helps a significant amount, but what we put on our skin also counts for something. While I tend to moisturize with coconut oil all over my body year round, my face requires special attention and appropriate protection from the existing (and stronger!) UVA/B rays.
You read me right: don’t assume that the gloomy skies are a reason to toss away your SPF protective creams. Granted, our bodies are heavily covered, but our faces aren’t. Yes folks, the winter chill can cause skin damage – despite the massive drop in temperatures, you are not immune to the consequences imposed by the sun’s harmful UV-rays.
Luckily, there are some pretty amazing skin care options out there, and one of my long-time favourites has always been Estée Lauder.
Pro tip: apply Estée Lauder’s DayWear Oil-Free Advanced Multi-Protection Creme to partially damp skin, or semi-hydrated skin. This will help to maintain some of the hydration and will yield best results.
I decided to take this new product for a whirl and put it to the test. I have combination skin, which tends to be frustrating when you have to treat one surface area lightly (oily zones), while treating others more ‘heavily’ (dry zones). My skin brought an additional challenge to the table: discolouration caused by sun damage. Within the last year, I have acquired this annoying little frenemie on the right side of my face.
You know how your mom always nags at you to wear sunscreen? Yeah, well do yourself a favour: listen to her. Dark spots are a natural occurrence which results from a lack of protection from UV rays, which ultimately leads to skin damage. Sure, that ‘bronzed’ look is cute during the summer months, but the next time you decide to slather on Hawaiian Tropic, don’t forget to protect your face.
The ‘beauty’ spots look cute on our bodies when we are young, but running the risk of getting melanoma is no joke! Treat-yo-self to proper skin care.
What I loved most about this product, was the balanced effect it had on my skin. Dryer patches were noticeably re-hydrated, while my T-zone was anything but greasy. What’s more? It protected my skin from the sun’s harmful rays, of course!
Next up to bat was DayWear Multi-Perfecting BB Cream. Did I mention that this one also has an SPF? Well it does, and it’s SPF 35 to boot.
My trial session with this gem immediately followed my moisturizer test, so my skin was well hydrated and prepared for coverage.
Now, I’m not the kinda gal who uses much make-up on the daily. Truth be told, I have not worn foundation in close to two and a half years. Beyond the use of tinted moisturizer once in a while, usually a good ‘canvas’ with a hint of blush, mascara, eye-liner and a classic red lip did the trick.
But – in the name of research I decided to give this a whirl. And boy oh boy, am I glad that I did.
The beauty of using a BB cream is the natural coverage that it provides. Rather than masking your skin, it simply enhances your natural beauty, so you can look and feel your best without that cake-y mess that standard foundations tend to leave behind. The coverage was enough to blend in my dark spot and redness, but still true to my natural vibe.
Now for the pop of colour.
Just because it’s Christmas doesn’t mean you need to ‘wear’ the holidays out loud. There’s nothing I love more than monochrome attire with a classic red lip. Seriously the best.
So Simple. So effortless. So Nuda.
Estée Lauder knows how to do lipstick. Pure Color Envy Sculpting Lipstick intensified my lips with this incredible pop of colour, while maintaining hydration.
The problem with most long-lasting lipsticks is they tend to leave your lips feeling dry, and often dark colours tend to accentuate the dry, flakiness so it becomes quite visible. I loved the creamy texture and the clever packaging. The tube has a magnetic connection to the lid, so it snaps shut easily, which means no more lipstick-mess surprises in your purse. Hallelujah.
These gift ideas are truly something to consider. Whether it’s for someone else or a year’s end treat-yo-self, these are just a few of the gift’s that will keep on giving.
xo
Nuda
