As the temperatures drop and the air gets drier, your skin - and your makeup routine - may need a few adjustments. Winter weather can make mature skin look dull, dry, and even older if you’re not using the right products or techniques. Here are the top winter makeup mistakes to avoid and what you should do instead to keep your skin glowing all season long.
1. Skipping Moisturizer Before Makeup
Dry, winter air can strip your skin of moisture, leaving it dehydrated. If you’re skipping moisturizer, your makeup will cling to dry patches and make fine lines more noticeable.
Solution:
Always apply a hydrating moisturizer before makeup. One of my personal favorites is F42 Corrective Face Cream from Oliveda - a rich cream made from black, sun-ripened Arbequina olives.
It’s packed with hydroxytyrosol and polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants that help smooth out uneven skin, reduce the appearance of fine lines, and give your skin a healthy, youthful glow. Plus, it has SPF to protect your skin year-round! Keeping your skin moisturized and protected is the first step to achieving a flawless makeup look, even in winter.
And speaking of SPF...
2. Not Wearing Sunscreen
Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you’re safe from harmful UV rays. Sun damage can happen even on cloudy days, leading to premature aging.
Solution:
Make sunscreen a year-round habit. My favorite SPF is the Tula Skin Care Protect Sunscreen Gel. It’s a daily SPF 30 that not only protects your skin from the sun, pollution, and blue light but also gives your skin a beautiful dewy look.
It’s packed with skincare benefits like probiotic extracts, pineapple, papaya, and wild butterfly ginger root to strengthen and protect the skin. Best of all? It doesn’t leave a white cast or greasy feeling. Whether you wear it under makeup or on its own, it gives you that gorgeous glow we all want. Just remember to apply generously in the morning and reapply every two hours throughout the day!
3. Using Powder Products on Mature Skin
Powder makeup can settle into fine lines and wrinkles, making your skin look cakey and dry - especially in winter.
Solution:
Switch to cream-based makeup. Cream products are more hydrating and blend seamlessly into the skin, giving a youthful, dewy finish. My go-to cream makeup is Seint because it moves with your skin, never settles into fine lines, and gives that gorgeous glow without looking heavy.
Creams like Seint are especially great for mature skin because they work with your skin’s texture, keeping it hydrated and luminous even during colder months. Find out more about Seint by clicking here.
4. Using the Wrong Foundation Shade
Your summer foundation might not be the right match for your winter skin tone. In winter, your skin tends to be lighter, and using the wrong shade can create a noticeable line between your face and neck.
Solution:
Reassess your foundation shade each season.
Consider getting color-matched for a foundation that suits your winter complexion. You can get a free expert shade match by clicking here.
5. Sticking to Neutral and Nude Blush
Neutral and nude blushes can make mature skin look dull and lifeless during winter months when your complexion tends to be more pale.
Solution:
Opt for blush shades that add warmth and life to your cheeks, like soft pinks or peaches.
A little color can brighten your entire face and make you look more youthful.
6. Skipping Bronzer
Many people think bronzer is just for summer, but skipping it in winter can make your skin look flat and dull.
Solution:
Use bronzer year-round to add warmth and dimension to your face.
Focus on areas where the sun naturally hits: forehead, nose, cheekbones, and chin. This will help combat the washed-out look that often comes with winter skin. My favorite bronzer is Xanadu. It's part bronzer, part Glow illuminator. Still sheer and without any orange hue. It's so beautiful!
7. Using a Heavy Setting Powder
Powders can make mature skin look dry and accentuate fine lines, especially in winter when your skin needs extra hydration.
Solution:
Instead of a heavy setting powder, try a weightless blurring powder like Seint’s Feather Blotting Dust. It creates a soft-focus effect that minimizes the appearance of fine lines and pores, leaving your skin looking smooth and flawless. Infused with silicones, this versatile powder can be applied over makeup to set it in place or on bare skin for a naturally radiant, dewy look. It’s incredibly lightweight, so you get all the staying power without any heaviness—perfect for mature skin.
8. Using a Setting Spray with Alcohol
Many setting sprays contain alcohol, which can dry out your skin and make it feel tight and uncomfortable - the last thing mature skin needs in winter.
Solution:
Switch to a hydrating setting spray like Fixate Setting Spray. This versatile spray can be used in multiple ways—prep your skin before makeup, set your look in place, or even use it with a spoolie to sculpt your brow hairs for a flawless finish.
It’s infused with aloe vera and coconut water to soothe and hydrate your skin, while niacinamide helps reduce hyperpigmentation and refine the look of pores. The result? A plumped, smooth complexion with a soft, radiant glow—all without feeling heavy or sticky.
Keep Your Skin Hydrated and Glowing
The key to flawless winter makeup for mature skin is hydration. Make small tweaks to your routine by choosing products that nourish and enhance your natural glow instead of emphasizing dryness or fine lines. Remember, makeup should enhance your beauty, not age you.
Want a custom shade match for your own Seint makeup palette? Start by completing my free color match quiz. I'll get back to you within 24 hours with personal recommendations for your skin tone and type.
I hope this was helpful! Thanks for stopping by!
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