Beauty

You know that one outfit that’s your go-to when you want to feel like Beyoncé? Or that one piece of jewelry that just seems to make every outfit complete? No matter how many things you’ve tried on, if you don’t have that one outfit that hits all the right curves or that one piece of jewelry that you love, you just feel incomplete. This is how I feel about lipstick. Lipstick gives me the confidence of Beyoncé while making me feel like I just stepped out of a magazine. There seriously is nothing more gratifying to me than going into Sephora and buying that perfect shade of lipstick, especially red.Now, with the holidays just around the corner, we’re going to help you find that perfect shade of red lipstick that will not only complement your skin tone but will also give you the confidence to impress on all those holiday Zoom parties.
None of this is an exact science either. You can wear any of these shades with any skin tone, and if you feel good, it probably looks good. But if red feels uncomfortable or too bold for you, these are a great starting point to find a shade that works well and still looks somewhat “natural” on you.

Universal Shades
A true red shade (with equal amounts blue and orange) is likely to look good on every single skin tone because it doesn’t wash out any of the undertones in your skin. When in doubt, opt for one of these shades. These tend to be brighter and bolder, but that’s perfect for the holidays!

Source: Shutterstock

Fair Complexions
Fair complexions usually have a pink-based undertone. To really compliment your skin tone, use blue-based reds or pink-based reds—think raspberry tones. These red lipsticks will pick up the pink tones in your complexion and really make your smile pop.

Light Complexions
Light complexions typically lean neutral or warm-toned. To really compliment your skin tone, use a slight orange-based red. These lipsticks will pick up the golden undertones and really brighten your complexion.

Medium Complexions
Medium complexions can lose and gain a suntan easily, so change your red lip based on the season. In the summertime when you are soaking up rays, wear an orange-based red. This will compliment your bronze skin and lend a brightening look to your complexion.

In the winter when you’re cozying up by the fire, wear a blue-based red. This will complement your lighter skin tone while giving the appearance of brighter teeth.

Olive Complexions
Olive skin tones have a yellow-green undertone that tans very easily. To really complement your bronze skin tone, use a brick or rust-colored red. These earthy tones will warm up your complexion while blending with your skin effortlessly.

Caramel Complexions
Caramel complexions have a yellow-based undertone. To really compliment your skin tone, use a true cherry red. These red lipsticks will pick up the warmth in your skin tone and really brighten your smile.

Golden Dark Complexions
Golden dark skin tones have a yellow undertone.  This type of skin tone can really play with pigment when it comes to choosing a red lipstick. For a bolder look, try a true red. This will pick up the warmth in your skin and create a brighter complexion.

For a more natural-looking red, try blue-based reds—think oxblood. This will compliment your darker skin tone and create a unified look.

Deep Complexions
Deep complexions can really play with pigment when it comes to red lipsticks. If you want a bolder look, use an orange-based red to really make your pout pop.

To have a more natural-looking red, use a blue-based red—think Merlot. Both types of reds will compliment your skin tone and create a brighter smile. More

The weather we’re experiencing in November 2020 can be described as nothing other than a catfish. Although it looks sunny and beautiful outside some days, it’s full of deceit, because I’m freezing my butt off even though it looks like another gorgeous fall day. Winter hit us pretty quick, with temperatures falling below the 30s right away and other days looking reminiscent of the weather we expect to experience in September.The worst part of all is that although I can’t live in the cheery holiday joy of streets lined with snow, the effects of winter are already hitting my skin and hair pretty hard. As the seasons change, we all have a pretty good handle on how our lives need to shift in order to keep up with the ways in which our bodies and mind shift for the new weather: we pile on moisturizer day and night, we wake up earlier to get a little bit more time with the sun, and we fill our days with blissful cozy blankets and scarves and slippers to feel at peace right at home. But my hairdresser would be remiss if I didn’t bring up all that I’ve done to keep my hair in tip-top shape this winter too. 
Especially as we’ll be likely heading into more time spent at home again and fewer opportunities to see a stylist, our haircare routines will need to reflect that. I’ve focused on growing longer, stronger, healthier hair in the last year, and I won’t dare let a little cold weather come between me and a good hair day anytime soon. Here’s how I’m tackling winter’s biggest hair woes and what changes I’m making for winter. 

1. Using less dry shampoo
In my last hair appointment, my stylist practically scolded me (in the best way) for overusing dry shampoo. My scalp is already irritated and flaky in the winter, and she explained that dry shampoo is one of the biggest aggravators of an irritated scalp. Of course, we don’t have to give up our beloved hair savior entirely, but using it a little less is recommended. I won’t be going out and about as often, and it’s easy to pull my greasy hair back in a clip or under a hat on Zoom calls when I don’t feel like washing.

2. Swapping for a silk pillowcase
I didn’t believe these worked until I finally tried one, and I am actually noticing a difference in my hair. I am a really hard sleeper, tossing and turning practically all night, rubbing the poor crown of my head into a pillowcase for hours on end. The back of my head is super prone to breakage for this reason, and it’s taken me about the last year to finally grow that part of my hair out. I only recently added a silk pillowcase, but I’ve already noticed it’s made a huge difference. If I do my hair the night before, my style stays, and I wake up with bedhead that is ever-so-slightly less abrasive. 

3. Increasing deep conditioning treatments
I have fine, thin hair that typically needs cleansing way more than it needs moisture, but in the dryness of winter, I like to up my conditioning treatments to make up for any of the hydration loss I experience on my ends. Instead of only once a week, I use my deep conditioner more like two or three times (which sometimes is the same amount I wash my hair!). If I notice my hair feels a little weighed down, I’ll skip it and opt for my daily conditioner the next time, but overall, it’s made my hair extra soft and silky. 

Elizavecca
CER-100 Collagen Coating Hair Protein Treatment

This doesnt look like much, but it is the best hair mask I have ever tried in my life. I would hand over every other product in my shower if I had to choose to keep just one. It. is. life-changing.

4. Opting for clips instead of hair ties
My hairdresser (hi Krystal, ilysm) recently posted about the havoc putting your hair up in a bun all the time can do on your hair. I have extra fine hair too, which makes it even harder to keep my hair from breaking off all the time. Since winter started, I’ve been noticing a lot more dryness in my hair, so to prevent any damage of breakage in my hair, I’m opting for claw clips instead of hair ties to keep my hair as loose as possible and avoid pulling it back too much. And when I do use a hair tie, I’m choosing materials that are really soft on the hair like silk and microfiber. 

Source: @olaplex

5. Mixing a hair oil with my conditioner
To make my daily conditioner even more effective, I’ve been adding a drop of hair oil. For starters, it makes the styling process so much easier, as my hair already has a bit of a leave-in product in it. But it also makes my daily conditioner just a bit more moisturizing and nourishing for my hair without needing to add another step into my routine. 
It also prevents the wretched static I experience when my hair goes under a turtleneck or coat, which might even make it the #1 reason why I love this trick.

6. Add a multivitamin
Adding a hair vitamin into my supplement routine is much newer to my routine, but I’m excited to see how it impacts the health of my hair throughout the next few months. Simply put, when you’re healthy on the inside, your scalp and hair are healthy; we all know that. In the winter, especially around the holidays, I often get too busy or bogged down and focus on my health much less than normal, so taking a few vitamins like vitamin D, a pre and probiotic, evening primrose oil (to balance hormones—it’s been so helpful for my endometriosis!), and iron might help to preemptively make up for any times I slip up and order Postmates one too many nights in a row. Make sure to always consult your doctor before adding in any new vitamins or supplements to your healthcare regimen; you don’t want to waste your money on a supplement you might not need, hence proving the “expensive pee” notion once again. 

7. Exfoliating my scalp once a week
While moisturizing your scalp and hair is definitely part of getting rid of flakes and itchiness, doing a good scalp exfoliation once a week is going to help the issue ten-fold. My hairdresser actually recommends I don’t exfoliate my scalp too often because I’m prone to irritation, but in the winter, it’s OK to increase a little bit to make up for the various issues my hair is dealing with at once (my scalp isn’t a lovely place this time of year TBH). I use both a scalp scrubber (one of the best inventions on Earth) and a physical exfoliant like a scalp scrub. I’ll do a little massage while I work this into my scalp, and it’s honestly self-care to the max. Tip: when I don’t have an exfoliator on hand or want to customize the granules in my scrub, I mix a little bit of baking soda (as much as I want—some days I want to feel my scalp tingle, and others I only want a light wisp of a scrub) with my shampoo. 

 
8. Adding a dandruff shampoo once a week 
My hair gets both flaky from dryness and causes some dandruff here and there in the wintertime. When my scalp is dry, it’s mostly just dry patches flaking off, and I’ll combat that with a scalp oil and a massage. However, when my scalp is suffering with dandruff, my scalp is inflamed, oily, and red. When this happens, the only way to find relief is sucking it up and opting for a dandruff shampoo once or twice a week. I always make sure I give myself a little massage with it too to really get it in there and remove any flakes while treating the scalp. 

Source: @tyra_brielle for @revolvebeauty

9. Swapping my shampoo for something gentle
Just in the same way you probably swapped for an oil or milky facial cleanser for the winter, you’ll want to do the same for your hair. Say goodbye to those drying volume shampoos and clarifying shampoos for a little bit just to add some extra moisture into your hair if you’re dealing with dryness. 
And when I feel like there’s a lot of buildup on my scalp, instead of reaching for a really harsh, drying shampoo, I opt for the oil-cleansing method instead. It keeps the moisture on my scalp balanced while cleaning my scalp and hair thoroughly.

10. Doing an oil or aloe massage before every shampoo 
This is perhaps overkill, and there will be days that I don’t have time, but if I can, I’ve been using aloe gel to massage into my scalp every night before I know I’ll be washing my hair the next day and sleeping in it. This has made a huge difference in my hair, especially because the aloe is so calming on the scalp. If your scalp is really dry, you could also use an oil to add some extra moisture, and since you’ll leave it on overnight, it will really absorb.

11. Use extra leave-in products to combat frizz
If you deal with tons of frizz in the winter (one of the most common winter hair problems), a really easy way to reduce it is using even more leave-in products, especially leave-in conditioner. Don’t overload your hair with product, but use just enough to keep your style intact and add enough grit to your hair to keep it from puffing up. A good leave-in conditioner should keep your hair smooth and shiny all day.

Source: @t3micro

12. Reduce my blow-drying time
My hair is already taking a beating from the weather, I might as well do it some good by limiting my heat-styling. Blow drying can absolutely kill the hair if you do it too much, but I also hate leaving the house with wet hair—see Grandma, I listened all those years! I’m getting the best of both worlds by using products to reduce the time I have to spend blow drying, like mists and creams that help your hair dry on its own. I also use a microfiber hair towel as soon as I get out of the shower which rings out a lot of the excess water and helps my hair to start drying as much as possible before I put heat on it. Less time with the blow dryer = less damage = happy hair.  More

So, it’s officially winter. I’m a winter-lover, dreaming of snow and hot cocoa and movie nights practically every summer night. But what I despise is how my skin reacts to my beloved cold weather. Instead of brimming with happiness and cheer like my insides, I’m struggling with dryness, flaking, irritation, redness, and more. What gives? And what’s worse: this year, I can’t even go to a Christmas market or holiday shop downtown to make up for it. I’m over you, 2020. However, if I have to make the most of it, I will, and this year, it includes finally getting a handle on every beauty issue winter brings. What better use of our time at home than finally figuring out how to manage all those horrific side effects winter curses us with? We pulled out all of our best tips, from editors to dermatologists and estheticians, to help you with every skin ailment plaguing you this season. I sadly can’t tell you how the holidays will go this year, but I can make sure you look damn good no matter what you’re doing.

Try aloe gel
This was a recent recommendation from my hairdresser when I complained about an itchy, dry scalp. We already know aloe vera is calming, soothing, and moisturizing when we use it on our sunburned skin in the summer. It does the same for a dry scalp! She recommended I put pure aloe gel on my scalp the nights before I know I’ll shower in the morning and sleep with it on (if you’re a night shower-er, you could also apply it and remove after an hour). I use this time to do a scalp massage with the aloe, focusing it on the parts of my scalp that get the driest. It’s made a huge difference, and a huge container of aloe gel cost me about $5.

Use a BHA shampoo
If your scalp is dry and flaky, it might be because of product buildup—especially dry shampoo. Although we swear by it for keeping our style intact and skipping washes, stylists and trichologists (they focus on your hair health—trust me: they’re good people) aren’t as big of fans because dry shampoo powder can gunk up your roots and make your scalp feel dry and flaky. To combat it, try a shampoo with a BHA like salicylic acid. This will remove all of that buildup by chemically exfoliating the scalp. Make sure you keep the product at your roots and keep away from your ends as much as possible to prevent any dryness. 

Use a cleansing balm/oil
Whether you’re double-cleansing or opting for an oil for extra moisture, it’s one of the easiest but most effective ways to combat skin dehydration, as well as the flakes and dry patches that might come along with it. Dehydration often happens if your skin is really stripped from exfoliating acids, retinol, and more, and when you use a harsher cleansing product or scrub your face, you only make it worse. Instead, focus on putting as much moisture back into your skin as possible.
I recently got a facial, and I fully expected the esthetician to gawk at my clogged pores and give me a regimen for her oiliest of clients, but she actually explained that my skin has been looking dull and clogged because it’s so dehydrated. She recommended taking a break from exfoliators and focusing on moisturizing my skin as much as possible to get my moisture back into my skin and balance the pH levels. Her biggest tip was swapping out my BHA cleanser for something much gentler and hydrating, such as a milky cleanser or a balm or oil. I usually use a cleansing oil to take off makeup, but she recommended even using it again as my second cleanse. She swore by a hydrating cleanser to put my skin back on track—and so far, she’s right!

“Sandwich” your acids with moisture
In the same vein as above, you want to focus on keeping your skin as moisturized as possible. As most know, acids and retinol can cause a lot of dryness and strip the skin; however, there are ways to still keep them in your routine (my skin freaks when I miss any more than a few days with my tretinoin) without all the irritation. Build your skincare routine around that drying product, making sure to include moisturizing products and ingredients before and after. An easy way to do this is by using a light moisturizer, then applying an acid, and then going over top with a facial oil. You can also do this with hydrating toners, sleeping masks, and more.

Change up your body wash and moisturizer
As much as I love my shea body butter, when I’m dealing with an eczema flare-up on the body, I have to forgo anything scented and focus specifically on eczema-clearing and soothing products. These are some of my favorites that were recommended by many dermatologists I’ve seen over the years: 

Try niacinamide
Niacinamide is one of the trendiest skincare ingredients right now—and it’s for good reason. Anything one ingredient can do, niacinamide can probably do better. It can help reduce the appearance of dark spots, protect and repair your moisture barrier, balance the sebum levels in your skin, and reduce texture—but it’s also a powerhouse in reducing redness and calming the skin. It’s an anti-inflammatory, so it can tackle the irritation and redness you might experience when your skin starts to get uber dry. 

Color correct
If you’re experiencing lots of redness, a quick fix is to use a green color-correcting product. This one from Dr. Jart has been all over Instagram, Tik Tok, and YouTube lately, and the results are wild. Applied to the skin, this product visibly reduces redness temporarily; however, it contains calming ingredients and SPF that make it way more than a color corrector. It turns beige as you blend it in, so some people with light skin tones can even get away with it as a foundation. If you’re looking for something a little lighter weight, this Smashbox primer is a winner.

Exfoliate with an AHA
This is probably the most effective way to keep KP at bay. Many people notice KP gets worse as the season’s change and especially during the fall and winter. AHAs like lactic and glycolic acid or BHAs like salicylic acid are great for exfoliating the skin and loosening up the dry, dead skin and clearing out the clogged hair follicles in your skin. Many people with KP swear by these products (including me!) and even say they clear up their KP flare-ups in as little as a few applications.

Always blot skin dry after a shower
To keep your skin hydrated and avoid over-exfoliation (which can cause your flare-ups to get even worse because the area gets aggravated), make sure you blot your skin dry with a towel after a bath or shower instead of wiping or scrubbing at your skin. It’s a small step that makes a huge difference over time! 

Moisturize with oils—often
It might not be enough to put your moisturizer on once in the morning and at night. Your skin might benefit from applying moisturizers or oils to the skin often throughout the day. Lately, I keep a moisturizing oil at my desk, so every time I notice my skin feels a little tight or I notice a dry patch, I apply a little extra (and always apply the excess to my hands!).

Use cool water to wash
Another recommendation after my most recent facial, as well as something I’ve heard from dermatologists time and time again, was to avoid using hot water or even warm water when washing your face. You can use warm water to first wet your face; however, try to use cool water to rinse the cleanser from your skin. Hot water can be harsh and remove oils from the skin (which is why you usually have to use warm water to remove a cleansing oil or balm), so when you’re just using a milky cleanser or something without a lot of oil, try skipping the hot water. 

Be gentle when you wash your face
You should also be really gentle with your skin when you’re washing. Avoid loofahs and other harsh exfoliating products for the face and body; your hands or a soft hand towel can usually clean you up just as much as you need. Also, wash your face just like they would if you were getting a facial. They don’t do circular or scrubbing motions; they’re gentle and soft, usually lightly massaging the skin as they go. This is the same approach you should take on your face every day. Being too rough with your cleanser can lead to even more moisture loss over time. 

Add a hyaluronic acid to your morning and night routine
Dermatologists swear by hyaluronic acid, a naturally-occuring acid within the skin, to deeply moisturize every layer of your skin. Luckily, it’s now available in tons of products at all different price points. When your skin is going through it (or always if you have dry skin), don’t forget this step. Use a hyaluronic acid at night and in the morning to keep up your moisture levels all day. Tip: always apply hyaluronic acid to damp skin. HA needs water to bond to and pull into the skin; it basically acts like a sponge when applied. 

Add layers of hydration
On top of hyaluronic acid, you’ll want to make sure you’re including multiple products in your routine that offer hydration. For really dry skin, it usually isn’t enough to apply a moisturizer and go. If you’re looking to add more to your routine, a toner or essence is a great way to add lots of layers of moisture because you can apply toner over and over again. Some estheticians apply toner between every single step in your skincare routine—even on top of all of your acids and serums. This acts as a “sandwich” as explained above for any acids, but it also locks that moisture into every single step.

Use all of your moisturizing facial products on your lips
Don’t forget to bring all of those products you use on your face onto your lips! Serums, moisturizers, facial oils, and more should be used on your lips too. 

Invest in a lip mask
An overnight lip mask is one of the best things you can do to up the hydration of your lips. Our editors swear by this one from Laneige. One night with this on, and your lips will feel brand spanking new. 

Find a mask-friendly lip balm
My lips have been getting so dry from being under my mask all the time, but most of my squeezy-tube and tub lip balms are too sticky and get stuck to the inside. So, I put myself on the hunt for the best mask-friendly balms I could bring in my bag to reapply under my mask any time I was out and about (of course, making sure there was no one around when I did so).

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