By Samantha Berkhead
Managing Editor
Twenty days ago, a certain Pennsylvania-bred groundhog lied.
Winter is still upon Western New York and shows no signs of letting up anytime soon.
The adverse weather isn’t just an annoyance and a reason to bundle up. Cold weather takes a heavy toll on skin, drying and chapping it into oblivion.
But fear not — here are all the makeup and beauty tips you need for the rest of this long winter.
In a college student’s busy schedule, it may seem like there isn’t enough time to put on a full face of makeup before an early-morning class. You don’t have to, by any means, but at the very least make sure to use a good face moisturizer. Not only does it moisturize as it’s supposed to, it gives your skin a bright, fresh and dewy look — the perfect pick-me-up after a long night of studying.
The cat-eye look is as trendy as ever. It’s both sophisticated and simple, a must for any on-the-go college student. With a little practice using a felt-tip eyeliner pen, the look can be easily perfected. I personally like to use Maybelline’s EyeStudio Master Precise Ink Pen.
You can never go wrong with investing in a good mascara. This simple product gives a bright-eyed, awake look. Rimmel is usually my go-to brand. Always make sure to replace your mascara about every six months, as bacteria starts to grow inside the tube after a while.
Your skin isn’t the only thing that suffers in subzero temperatures. Hair splits, frizzes and breaks when exposed to harsh winds and frigid air. To prevent extensive damage, avoid overusing your blowdryer and straightener. Always use conditioner. Most stores sell leave-in treatments that repair split ends and damage. Some hairsprays can dry out hair, too. Find what works best for you, as all hair types are different.
Perhaps the most common beauty-related annoyance of wintertime is the infamous case of chapped lips. No matter how tempting it may be, always try to avoid licking your lips — it only dries them out more. To get rid of flaky-lip syndrome, try out an exfoliating lip scrub and then use a lip balm without menthol or camphor. Those ingredients are known for worsening chapped lips rather than alleviating the problem, according to marieclaire.com.
If you haven’t noticed already, there’s a few common denominators running though all these pointers — exfoliate and moisturize. It sounds simple, but they make all the difference during this time of year. For less than 10 minutes out of your busy day, you can keep your skin and hair looking perfect this season.
