Beating Winter Blues With Champagne Shades

I love a good glow in my makeup all year round, but I seem to be craving that lit from within look even more during this gloomy time of year. We're right into the thick of the winter right now, and it's not our skins best friend. The dry weather and short days tend to make skin dull and lack luster - my solution is to pull out the champagne tones. 

(Top to bottom) CG Champagne, MAC Naked Lunch, Hard Candy Tiki Bronzer

(Top to bottom) Benefit Watts Up, Smashbox light luminizer, NYX cottage cheese, 

Rimmel bullet proof beige 

My first and most obvious choice - note the name - is the Covergirl Eye Enhancers eyeshadow in Champagne. So soft and buttery, it makes for the most amazing inner corner highlight that will truly make your eyes pop. Naked Lunch from MAC is also one of my favorite powder eyeshadows for bringing extra brightness to my eyes - the bonus is it isn't a heavy glitter shade so it never looks over the top. As for cheeks my go to powder product is the Hard Candy So Baked Bronzer in Tiki. It's labeled as a bronzer but for that purpose I think it would be impossible to pull off. It is however one of the best drugstore highlighting products I've ever found. 

If you're more of a cream product type of person, especially in terms of face highlighters, then Benefit Watts Up is the perfect product. In a stick form it makes for super easy application and adds the most wonderfully natural glow to the skin without looking like you actually applied a highlighting product. Smashbox Artificial Light Luminizing Powder - what a mouth full - is yes, technically, a "powder", however I kind of find it to be an in between kind of product. The applicator dispenses small amounts of this creamy powder that adds such a beautiful glow to the cheeks or eyes. Just a tip, I dispense it onto the back of my hand and then use a brush to apply it to where I want it - applying it straight from the container can get a little tedious. 

My final two picks are both eyeshadow sticks, and seriously, who doesn't love a good eyeshadow stick - so easy to use and convenient. The NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in cottage cheese - the name leaves little to be desired - is a stunner. It's shimmery white with undertones of gold. Finally the Rimmel Scandaleyes eyeshadow stick in bulletproof beige, which I must add is waterproof, adds a gorgeous light golden glow to the lids. I love wearing this both alone and as a base to make other shadows really pop. 

Fall to Winter Transition - My Beauty Essentials for Colder/Dryer Weather

Try as I might to deny the inevitable, I have to force myself into realizing that it truly is that dreaded time of year again where the temperatures drop, the days get shorter and, yes, even that four letter "S" word begins to appear. 

I've mentioned before that I live in Canada - no its not winter all year round and no I do not live in an igloo but it does indeed get cold here, and snow. With all of these seasonal changes comes several undesirable side effects. I get extremely dry skin starting around this time of year until pretty well April and it includes everything from my face, hands and even my scalp. 

I compiled a few things that I've been turning to lately to aid in the transition into these dryer and cooler temperatures, and hopefully will keep me feeling much more hydrated all winter long. 

Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisturizer 

This has been my daily face lotion for years now, and I use it all year round. It's great for the cooler weather because it really moisturizes the dry areas on my face without making areas that are more oily like my nose and forehead become shiny and overly oily throughout the day. I also love this because it wears great on its own or under makeup. 

Vaseline 

This is a life saver for me all winter long. I use it for a variety of purposes - on my lips, hands and even my feet (put some on your feet and then put on a pair of fuzzy socks and go to bed and you wake up with super soft feet). 

Cuticle Massage Cream

This is a little one I got from a nail set that I just happen to be using up right now but any cuticle cream/oil is essential for me as soon as the air becomes more dry.

Lush Wiccy Magic Muscles Massage Bar

This little beauty is an absolute favorite of mine for this time of year. It is advertised as a massage bar for sore muscles (and it truly does bring relief - my back muscles love this) but it is also super duper moisturizing. It's great on elbows and knees where you tend to get dry skin. The added bonus is the amazing spicy scent that has hints of cinnamon and cloves, which makes it a heavenly winter pamper item.

C.O. Bigelow Rose Salve

I've probably mentioned this a number of times on my blog, but here it is again in all its rose glory. It is my favorite daily lip balm but it can also be used on your face, hands, elbows, cuticles and pretty much anywhere else you have extra dry skin. The smell of this stuff alone is worth trying it out if you're a rose lover. 

EOS Hand Lotion

I seem to always have one of these on the go at all times, if not more. I always have one in my purse and you'll more than likely find one in with my manicure supplies as well. Right now I have the cucumber melon scent on the go but I truly can't think of a scent I don't like from this range. It's a great boost of moisture and the key for me is that it absorbs quickly and is none greasy.