Building Your Kit Part 20: Winter Weather Essentials

Maybe you’re based somewhere with harsh winters, or maybe you’re lucky enough to live in a milder climate. Wherever you are, fluctuations in temperature, especially this time of year between indoors and outdoors, can take a toll on skin—and how makeup performs with it. Understanding how to polish and protect the complexion and keep color in place is crucial during the chilly season, for both professional artists and savvy beauty fanatics. So, let’s winterize our kits. Below are my suggestions to keep up appearances when it’s cold outside.

Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser | $32
This simple and super effective cleanser will wash away impurities and makeup residue including eye makeup. Inside, there’s strawberry oil plus other natural antioxidants to keep bacteria at bay, while brightening and polishing. It’s perfect for alleviating the dull and dingy grey cast skin, and can take on harsh weather. Pair it with a Clarisonic or other electronic cleansing brush for a beautiful finish before applying moisturizer and doing foundation. Indie Lee’s is a favorite facial cleanser among our community—see some rave reviews here.

Clarisonic Mia 2 Facial Sonic Cleansing Brush | $150
Gentle and effective, this compact cleansing brush gives a smooth finish to even the driest, winter-damaged skin. It deep cleanses and exfoliates without the harshness of a granular scrub and is brilliant for carrying to set, traveling, and keeping on your vanity.

Shu Uemura Depsea Water Facial Mist | $25
A mist formulated with glacial waters that exist far below the surface of the earth, secluded from the sun’s rays (meaning far less pollution and bacteria reaches it). Available in eight fragrances, my favorite for winter is Mint—the rejuvenating properties of mint aid in healing and give any complexion a pick-me-up.

Olay Pro-X Hydra Firming Cream | $29.99
Finding a moisturizer that provides the perfect balance of emollient and humectant properties at a good price can be tough, especially when you really need it, when it’s dry and freezing outside. I’ve always believed in the power of Olay because my mother has sworn by the original formula since I was a kid. This cream is like a thicker, more muscular, and mature incarnation of that classic concoction. It leaves skin feeling perfectly hydrated and totally protected. It’s also a steal, available at any drugstore for about $30.

Nivea Crème | $9
The tried-and-true cult cream in the blue tin has been on pharmacy shelves since 1911, meaning it’s been healing rough winter-worn skin for more than a century. While many only think to use Nivea on the body, it works wonders as a dry patch spot-treatment on the face and performs double duty as a salve for coarse cuticles and elbows—and noses worn out from winter wiping. 

Kevyn Aucoin Celestial Powder | $44
This sophisticated shimmer powder provides the perfect glow for all skin tones and gives “blah” skin a gorgeous finish. For a natural look, apply with a large brush to the forehead, cheeks, chin, décolleté, and down the center of the nose. Another way to achieve a warm summer look any time of year: pair Celestial Powder with a pink and peach blush.

Make Up For Ever Aqua Lip Waterproof Lipliner Pencil | $19
Drying and flaking. Licking your lips constantly to keep them moist. One of the most difficult products to keep in place during extreme weather is lip color. To line, define, and give you a weatherproof, long-wearing color base, try this pencil in a color close to the natural lip shade.

Read every installment in James Vincent’s Building Your Kit series here! Prices approximate and may vary.

Photo by Rekha Garton.