I think every oily skinned girl can relate: we can literally feel our skin getting oily, which means our face makeup is about to go everywhere but our face. Its extremely difficult to find foundations and powders that not only stay on our face but also keep us matte for as long as possible. It all depends on the products you use, of course. There are some tips, though, so don’t worry!

1. First, make sure your makeup is oil free. This might seem like a no brainer, but you would be surprised reading ingredient lists of some foundations and powders. Your makeup  make have mineral oil in it which isn’t necessarily bad, contrary to popular belief. It is a humectant that traps moisture and us oily skinned girls already have enough of that.
2. Next, choose foundation and powder targeted towards oily skin. One of my favourites is Revlon’s Colorstay. It is inexpensive, keeps you matte for a prolonged period of time while staying on for hours. Also, Dermablend’s setting powder. Both of these products work really well with oily skin by keeping shine at bay and ensuring your makeup stays on your face.
3. Finally, make sure the product is long lasting or long wearing. Oil produced by the skin can sort of melt off foundation and powder giving the skin a blotchy look. To prevent this, always make sure the product claims it can withstand at least eight hours (also, this means its a bit harder to remove. So make sure you are using a gentle, efficient cleanser to remove your makeup).

If you follow these easy steps, you can combat the visual ailment of oily skin and keep your makeup looking fresh all day.

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Winter is finally starting to slowly creep upon us, which means our skin is beginning to need a bit more of protection from the elements. With the nipping cold, dry air, the skin on our body is just begging for more moisture. With some simple tips and tricks, you can kiss dry, flaky winter skin goodbye.

First, swap out your regular bar soap or wash for a more moisturizing body gel. Look for ingredients like natural oils (jojoba, coconut, almond) that will make sure your skin gets all of the moisture it needs this coming winter.

Next, invest in a thick body balm instead of your usual lotion. The best time to apply it is right out of the shower while your skin is still damp. This maximizes the moisture absorption.

Another great tip for the winter is to exfoliate the body. St. Ives Apricot Scrub, while too abrasive for the skin on the face, is perfect for the skin on your body; however, brown sugar and lemon work just as well. Exfoliating will keep your skin smooth and supple and prepared to soak in the moisture from the body balm.

As for our faces, a good moisturizer never goes out of season. Reach for something a bit thicker and even pick up a night cream if you have especially dry skin. Now, let’s not neglect the eye area. Winter is the perfect time of year to finally get a hydrating eye cream to keep flakiness at bay.

Just like with our bodies, we must exfoliate the face. During this time, I prefer chemical exfoliants rather than physical ones, as they do not tear the dermis and accentuate flakiness. An AHA cream is perfect because not only does it exfoliate rather gently, it also acts as a humectant (moisture!). If you wear makeup, look for moisturizing formulas; tinted moisturizers are still fantastic for this time of year. Or better yet, mix some of your winter moisturizer with your foundation, and let’s not forget the importance of a good SPF. Even with overcast, the sun’s harmful rays still peak through.

So there you have it, ladies! Simple steps to keep your skin looking glowy, smooth and as moisturized as possible.

The post How to Beat Dry Skin This Winter appeared first on Kouturekiss.

1. Carefully lay your finger under your eye. This is gentler than tugging your eyelid down which is harsh on the delicate area.
2. Sweep the liner across your waterline, careful not to get any on your lashes. If you do, just add more mascara to mask the white.
3. Do the same on the other eye, adding more mascara if necessary and say hello to a more wide awake appearance (perfect after those all nighters studying).

Enjoy!

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A key trick to getting your lips to look and feel their best is to exfoliate them. Just like your skin, lips regenerate and need help shedding those dead skin cells, and gently exfoliating them can prevent them from chapping and ensure that your lip balm penetrates them to leave them soft and kissable. Now, before you go running out to buy lip exfoliators, rest assured that you can make your own with things you already have in your kitchen for a fraction of the price. With two simple ingredients, you’ll have the best exfoliator for the best lips.

1. In a small bowl, combine one tablespoon of brown sugar and a couple of drops of lemon or lime juice until it forms a paste. The sugar and lemon/lime are both Alpha Hydroxy Acids which aid in dissolving and exfoliating dead skin cells, but unlike the AHA’s used in spas, this one is gentler and, of course, right at your finger tips.
2. Taking the paste, gently start to scrub your lips in a circular motion. Don’t be scared if you get some in your mouth – it’s actually really tasty!
3. Rinse the scrub off and apply some lip balm.

That’s it! This is a great thing to do in the winter months when your lips are in extra need of moisture as this keeps the chapping away.

TIP: When your lips are exfoliated, your lipstick applies much smoother and actually lasts much longer!

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