By Aliana Moss
When you read this it will be February. But as I sit here in January writing this article, Los Angeles is up in flames. Thinking of anything else at the moment is difficult. It is not lost on me that there are very serious, real issues in the world that are more important than beauty. But at the same time, the emergency bag by my door holds waterproof mascara, lip gloss, serum + sunscreen, along with batteries and other necessities.
Why? Because beauty products go beyond superficial enhancements. They offer us transformative powers: to show up feeling our best in any situation, to give us an extra confidence boost during a trying time. And when there is so much that is outside of our control, they help us have mastery of the small things closest to us.
So in February let’s focus on SELF LOVE and SELF CARE.
Brighten Up
For a really fast pick-me-up, Incorporate one of your favorite bright colors into your everyday makeup routine.. I promise it will immediately boost your mood and make you think of brighter days (and weather) ahead! Here are some ideas to get you started:
Eyes:
- Double down and try a double liner! Try these easy techniques:
- Option 1- Double Wing: pick 2 shades in the same color family (ex: lavender and violet). Use the lighter shade to create a thicker winged eyeliner. Then use the darker shade to go over your original line but thinner and just along the lash line.
- Option 2- Top to bottom: use one shade on the top lash, another shade on the bottom (ex: royal blue on top, turquoise on bottom). You can vary the thickness depending on your mood and what looks best on your eye shape.
- Buff and Blend- use one color buffed over your entire lower eyelid. Punch it up with a highlight color on the inner corner. Easy-breezy, bright and beautiful!
Lips
Try turning up your typical bright lip with an ombre effect. Find a lip liner in a slightly different color variant than your lipstick line and fill in your lips (ex: fushia lipliner, bright pink lipstick). Then take your lipstick and apply, but don’t go all the way to the edges. Use your finger to press and blend as needed. This also doubles as an effect to make lips appear bigger.
Indulge Your Skin
Winter is a great time to up the ante on any skincare treatments you’ve been wanting to try. Let’s start with some anti-aging basics so you can feel confident choosing the right options for you.
Choose the right products. If you’re not already using a product with Retin-A or Retinol, now is a great time to start! Both are derivatives of Vitamin A, a powerful tried-and-true ingredient that helps skin stimulate collagen production and enhances cell turnover, which helps diminish fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots while improving skin texture. Retin-A’s are also useful to treat acne, if breakouts are still an unwelcome occurrence.
Here’s a brief breakdown to help you pick the right Vitamin A formula for you:
Retin-A vs Retinol:
Retin-A, also called Tretinoin, is the most potent form of vitamin A and is available only by prescription. It offers fast results, and also has the potential for side effects such as irritation, redness, dryness and flaking.
Retinol is an over-the-counter option found in many products. Because it’s not as strong the results are more gradual but come with a lower risk of irritation.
Potency Levels:
If you are new to Retinol or have sensitive skin, look for products at a low concentration of 0.1%-0.25% (Try SkinCeuticals Retinol .3 – made with Retinol beginners in mind)
Most commonly you will find products with a medium concentration of 0.5% (Try Image Skincare Overnight Retinol Mask – the time release mask formula is gentle on skin even with a medium concentration)
If you are using or have used Retinols previously and don’t have sensitive skin, using a high concentration of 0.75%-1% will provide faster results. Just remember, the higher the concentration the more side effects you will likely experience. (Try 111Skin Black Diamond Retinol Oil – the soothing oil formula helps counteract possible side effects from the high concentration).
Natural Alternatives:
Bakuchiol is derived from seeds and leaves of the Babchi plant (Psoralea corylifolia) grown in India and China. It is considered to be a natural alternative option to Retinols because it has a similar chemical structure, promoting collagen production, improving skin elasticity, and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It is known for being gentler on the skin, making it suitable for sensitive skin types. It also has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which can help soothe the skin and promote an even skin tone. If you have very sensitive skin or if you’re pregnant/breast feeding this is a great retinol alternative ingredient to try. (Try Herbivore Moon Fruit 1% Bakuchiol + Peptides)
When and How To Use Retinol-type Products
It is important to use these products at nighttime to ensure their effectiveness. Don’t apply any other products with active ingredients at the same time you’re applying your Retinol products (Example: a Vitamin C product is great to use in conjunction during your morning routine, but not layered over at night).
Start slow and gradually work your way up to full potency. This process of gradually increasing the potency and frequency is called retinization and is the key to successful results! Try using it twice a week at night for a month. See how your skin is reacting before adding a third night. Continue gradually increasing the frequency, paying attention to the signs your skin is giving you.
Wear Sunscreen! Retinols make your skin more sensitive to the sun and even in gray winter months you MUST use a sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher when using (but you’re doing this anyway right?!) (Try Clarks Botanicals Invisible Hero SPF 30)
I like to incorporate a really good, gentle moisturizing mask 1-2 times a week in the wintertime and especially when using Retinols. (Try Omad The Miracle Balm Regenerative Healing Mask).
I hope you give these tips a try and that they help brighten up your month! Stay safe and stay beautiful!
