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Wearing makeup in winter

Jessikams

(website)

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Winter has hit hard already in northern China, and the wind is bitter (direct from Siberia, lucky us!).

I’m wearing makeup every day but I’m starting to wonder why I bother. Most of it seems to rub off onto scarf and hat (this staining those items), or it gets rubbed off by my constant nose-blowing and eye-dabbing. The wind, I tell you! It’s intense!

I use public transport to get from meeting to meeting all day, so there’s really no “final destination” where I could arrive, shed coat, and then touch up.

What do other folks do? I’m looking at you, Canadians and midwesterners and Scandinavians.

Apologies for the grumpy tone. Midday temps are slightly ridiculous today.

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Dressing

47 replies

Latest reply was from Cee

Anonymous

Northern China ? What the heck ? Is that where you live ? And I know what you mean about makeup rubbing off what with the constant nose blowing and other winter offenders . I use a ton of hydrating products in this weather , and despite having pretty good skin for my age , I always feel my skin looks like —— between November and April . I do keep a preloaded ( with the remnants of the morning’s makeup ) Beauty Blender in a plastic bag in my backpack or purse to touch up my nose and under my eyes and around my lips as the day progresses . Nothing worse than a red nose and ruddy lips after coming in from the cold ....
The eye wiping thing is real here too -I hear you . I keep an eyeliner in my makeup bag in my purse or backpack for emergency eye-watering cold situations .

Jessikams

(website)

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Here is one of my smaller neighbors, ready to brave the chill in the building lobby play area

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Anonymous

Eta - it dropped down to -20c today and no one is impressed by this , even though it’s reality here on the Cdn prairie But back to Northern China ....??

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

LisaP for reals, the skin is so miserable in the cold and dry weather. A friend of mine said to me the other day “I love how people look in winter!” And I just stared at her. Pale? Pinched and angry looking? Wrapped in lumpy layers? Give me summer appearances any day.

Jessikams

(website)

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I live in Beijing! Here for a few years of work assignment. I love northern Chinese food, the people are hilarious, the language is fascinating, but the weather truly stinks. It hails and/or swelters all summer, it’s polluted as all get-out, etc etc.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

OMG, we need to talk about northern China. And its FOOD.

But for now... yeah, the weather in winter in Beijing rivals the worst anywhere. Especially when you factor in the pollution. I think that is another reason the eyes water.

And summer in Beijing? Oy oy oy.

But at least the pollution isn't quite as bad in summer as it is in winter.

(Note, I'm not really an expert -- I haven't lived there, but have visited in different seasons. Might be back there again next year for a while. We will talk.).

So. Yeah.

I'm in a more temperate place right now. But back in Ontario my strategy was to bring a little sack of make up basics with me. I don't wear foundation but do wear concealer, mascara, eye pencil, eyebrow pencil, lipstick. There is no "final destination" but there will be some kind of bathroom somewhere (most of the time, at least) and so like LisaP, I will do intermittent touch ups where required. Waterproof mascara, liner, brow stuff help the eye area and minimize the need to deal with that. I typically touch up concealer and lipstick and/or lip balm much more often.

For the dryness -- I use a super emollient nighttime moisturizer. Like, crazy emollient. (I'm older than you so my skin is dry anyway. In dry weather it just soaks up the moisture like a paper towel.)

I also drink a ton of water, which I know can be an issue in China where you are confined to boiled or bottled and then you have to think about all that plastic...

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

Suz maybe you’re onto something- skipping foundation and face powder would mean less stuff to get on scarf and hat.... and you’re also right about hydrating, it’s a difficult thing to remember but I should just get on the Chinese bandwagon and carry my own boiled water with me in a thermos.

Glad to hear you can appreciate the good food/ bad weather conundrum! Nothing like hotpot on a cold, dark-with-pollution day.

LisaP, you are even colder than we are, my huge sympathies...

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I have never worn foundation so it's more that I just don't even know how to do it... but I would think that if you want to add a "glow" without foundation, a self-tanning product might be a better bet. If you get the Jergen's one or similar, it is also quite emollient, so you'd be killing two birds with one stone.

Yeah, boiled water in thermos is the way to go for sure...

Jiaozi, jiaozi, jiaozi and green onion pancake for the win. And yes, hotpot!!

Gigi

Veteran

I agree with Suz. I would skip the foundation and use waterproof stuff for the eyes.

In the winter, I finish off my facial moisturizer with some of Evan Healy's Whipped Shea Butter with Olive Leaf. Maybe you could find a similar product? It really seems to protect the face from the cold wind.

I normally don't wear foundation but wear a tinted sunscreen instead, the one from SkinCeuticals. It seems to stay in place pretty well. Maybe look for a waterproof tinted sunscreen and use that in place of foundation? Maybe that wouldn't rub off so readily.

I like Suz's idea of a self-tanner. Brilliant.

If I have to be out and about in the cold (Minnesotan here), I do carry along a thermos of hot water with me. When people find out I do this, they are intrigued. I have made several converts.

Style Fan

Veteran

Jessikams, you have some great tips here already. In the winter I am in the deep freeze. -30 to -40 C. I try not to think about it. I just wrap myself in polar fleece.
I have never worn foundation, etc. just eye make up. I like Suz' idea of a self-tanner if you feel you need some colour on your face. I also wear a serious moisturizer, sunscreen and drink lots of water. I find keeping myself moisturized helps a lot.

kkards

Veteran

no ideas....but i love the mix of locations...and with it ideas, that this site brings together....

(also want to add that if i had to live with -20C to -40C temps all winter, i'd stay in bed most days with the covers over my head, LOL)

K.M.

Veteran

I live in Minnesota, and I also get frustrated in the winter, mostly because of how dry my skin looks. During the year I often wear a B.B. cream, but in the winter it makes my skin looks so dry. I do the Korean-beauty multi-step routine with lots and lots of moisturizing serums, one of them containing hyaluronic acid to help retain moisture. When I wear concealer or when I go for the B.B. cream, I also dab a bit of argan oil on the driest spots to keep things dewy.

I don't wear a whole lot of make up so never had the issue of things rubbing on my coat or scarf.

I don't know how easy it is for you to get Japanese products in China, but this Can Make Cream Cheek is the absolute best blush--blends well, doesn't dry out skin, is lightweight and makes me look naturally flushed:

http://www.canmake.com/en/ebase/item_base025.html

I've never been to China, but would love to--have dreamed about it since I was a teenager in the late 80s! I'd love for you and Suz and others to do an off-topic post on the foods so I can live vicariously!

Bijou

Veteran

Make-up primer and fixer spray really helps to keep make-up in place no matter what the weather conditions are. I never have to deal with truly cold temps, but I do deal with extreme heat and both these products keep my make-up in place without needing touch ups. Applying make up in fine layers really helps and fixing your foundation with a light powder also keeps it from moving.

In terms of any make-up transferring to your clothing, wet wipes are wonderful and something I keep in my desk at work. They instantly lift make up (or spilt coffee etc) from clothing and means that you are not sending scarves to the dry cleaner after wearing only once.

Jessikams, it sounds as though you live in a fascinating city. I have never been to Beijing, but I would love to visit.

KMM

I live in northern New England. I drive to work, but nonetheless have to scrape ice and snow off the car first and also have the runny nose/ watery eyes issue. I have to use water proof mascara. Most of the time I wait until I get to my office, close the door, and put on my eyeliner and mascara.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I have no useful information here, just lurking in admiration of how all of you deal with such frigid conditions! I may hate our hot and humid summers, but our winters really are quite mild, relatively speaking. When I hear locals complain about the cold when it's hovering around the freezing mark, I'll think of you all and try not to scoff at them!

Helena

Veteran

The first step is accepting that your skin will not be at it's best in winter ... Nor your fashion ... Nor your hair!!

That said, I moisturize like crazy, then use an extra rich moisturizer around my eyes and lips. I use a BB cream rather than foundation, and a balm lippie rather than a regular lipstick. Waterproof eye products help with watery eyes in the wind. I don't bother touching up foundation in the day but will freshen up with a finely milled powder if I need to even things out a little. Lots of conditioner for hair (and wash less frequently) and keep moisturizer and lip balm on hand at all times! Nail oil for cuticles. And lots of decaf tea since I find it hard to drink enough water in winter. Gosh it's a lot of work when you write it all down lol!!

Style Fan

Veteran

I am impressed by our wealth of knowledge for dealing with frigid temps!

Katerina

Veteran

I live in the very southern part of Sweden, very close to Denmark and Copenhagen. It is a coastal climate, rather humid and we never have extremely freezing temperatures. It is often very windy, so the temperatures feel colder than they actually are. As for my winter make-up routine, I use always foundation, but wintertime I prep with a thick layer of rich moisturizer (for mature skin, so it contains oils as well) and let it absorb a couple of minutes. My foundation (Double Wear from Esté Lauder) is virtually non-transferable, it is waterproof and with high coverage. It kind of seals in the moisturizer. The finish is mat, so no powder is needed on my skin. I think it would work in very cold weather too.

Katerina

Veteran

Bijou, what is a fixer spray? Do you have any favourite? It would be nice to try...

Bijou

Veteran

Katerina, the one I like best is by Urban Decay - All Nighter Long Lasting Spray and in Googling it, I found it was also recommended in this comparison.
https://www.cosmopolitan.com/u.....tested-cos

Katerina

Veteran

Thanks Bijou!

Cardiff girl

Veteran

You could dye your eyelashes so no runny mascara.

JAileen

Veteran

Wow - Siberia! Brrrr

As far as keeping makeup off clothing, that’s probably impossible. I would wear washable scarves and hats.

abc

Veteran

Well, to try to keep the makeup in place you could use a setting powder or spray. That should help.

But IMHO (echoing what has already been said) skincare is #1. Lots of moisturizer, and drinking lots of water through the day.

Super interested in hearing how it is to live in China!

Anonymous

It is indeed interesting reading about life in China. Jessikams, I had no idea you lived there.

Re makeup rubbing off on scarves etc - it also happens around the inside edges of collars of coats and jackets....which is so gross. I am so self-conscious of that, and constantly aware of it and monitoring it. I try to remember not to put any makeup anywhere near my chin and neck in the winter - which is easier said than done. Wish I could go without, but my skin is just not that even anymore at my advanced age

Cee

Veteran

Ouch... There's cold and then there's that !

Runcarla

Veteran

Though I don't colour my hair, I dye my brows and lashes. I touch up with mascara on the ends of my upper lashes only. Smashbox Photofinish Primer is lovely and you can forego foundation.

chouette22

Veteran

I am with Lisa... I had no idea you were living in China! Very interesting to find out how everyone deals with their make-up in very cold environments.

JamieP

Another Minnesotan here! I don't wear a ton of makeup but Bobbi Brown foundation stick lightly used for touchup on reddened checks and nose works wonderfully. A shinier lip (not gloppy lip gloss tho) really does brighten the whole face.

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