Winter is tough on me, the cold, the dry air, the artificial heat, and add Ramadaan to the mix and it just gets tougher. I love the peace of the month, I love the sense of community, I love the connection, but the lack of sleep and hydration really affects me and my skin. So, today I thought I would share a few tips on ‘how I am faking it…’ Faking what you ask? Well, sleep, hydration, nutrition, exercise, energy.

Let’s start with skincare. My priority is hydration and glowing, healthy looking skin.

Increase hydration- When I first read about the *Vichy Mineral 89 (available July 17th), I already knew I had to have it. Think of it as a super hydrating essence that not only plumps up the skin for a glowing complexion but also protects against environmental aggressors. I press two pumps into my skin after cleansing and my skin immediately feels hydrated and looks plump. I then follow with my usual serum and moisturiser. It does have a slight tacky feeling when just applied, but it sinks in soon after.

Use an eye cream- This *Nuxe Crème Prodigieuse Eye Contour Cream smells amazing. It has the signature Nuxe Prodigieuse scent, which I love, I even bought the perfume and scented candle a while back. It is soothing and moisturising around the eye area, and I am enjoying the extra care and step to my skincare routine.

Treat yourself to a face mask, or two- I think face masks are a great way to treat your skin, as well as yourself to a bit of relaxation. This Gold Radiance and Glamour Shaker Mask from Tara & Jack contains gold flakes that brighten the skin. I like that it comes in a powder, that you mix with water before applying. The Glampalm Hydrating Mask is very saturated and gives my skin a much needed boost of hydration.

Take care of your nails- Since I haven’t been wearing any nail polish, I have been treating my nails with the *Daily Elixir from Morgan Taylor. My nails are pretty strong, but they have been feeling a bit dry recently, so I have been applying this daily to avoid any damage.

I also like to spend some time relaxing, light a scented candle and take some time for myself.

Moving on to makeup, my goal is to look alive, even when I feel as if I am barely hanging on.

A brightening concealer- The Smashbox High Definition Concealer is a nice lightweight concealer that works well under my eyes. It isn’t heavy, so it doesn’t crease or look cakey, but it still does a good job of covering dark circles.

An illuminating blush- The essence Me & My Umbrella blush has such a cute design that I didn’t want to use it. At first I thought the blush would be too light for me, but it is actually perfect. It is the exact colour of  the tip of my nose in the cold. It gives a light healthy flush to my cheeks.

A warm bronzer- So, when you are fasting and can’t eat chocolate, what is the next best thing? To wear it on your face of course! The Bourjois Delice de Poudre Bronzing Powder not only looks like a bar of chocolate, but smells like one too. This bronzer is quite warm toned, and has a slight shimmer, so I wouldn’t recommend it for contouring. But it warms the face perfectly.

A non-shimmery highlighter- How stunning is the embossing of the *Mii Cosmetics Light Loving Illuminator in Leading Lady? The last thing you want to do when your skin is less than perfect, is draw attention to fine lines, pores, texture, etc. Luckily this highlighter is so finely milled and contains no shimmer or glitter, so it just lifts the face without emphasising skin issues. It is a gorgeous champagne gold that has an almost cream looking finish.

A bright glossy lip- I find that matte lips don’t work on me when my skin is not at its best, it makes me look older and more tired. So, the bright glossiness of the gorgeous *Smith & Cult The Shining Lip Lacquer in The Warning is perfect to brighten and lift my face. And yep, you can now get Smith & Cult in SA thanks to Quintessentially Yours!

Swatches from Top-Bottom:

Bourjois Delice de Poudre Bronzing Powder

essence Me & My Umbrella Blush

*Mii Cosmetics  Light Loving Illuminator

*Smith & Cult The Shining Lip Lacquer in The Warning

Smashbox High Definition Concealer

Curly lashes- Lastly, curling my lashes really helps me look more awake. This is such a simple addition but makes a huge difference. This heated one from the *Remington Reveal Beauty Kit is exactly the same as my well-loved one from Sephora, except the handle is a bit longer. I find these work better than the heated ones you squish closed since they are gentler on lashes and offer a better lift.

How are you faking it?

*Press Sample