How to get luminous, sun-kissed skin even in winter

23 June 2022

By Fashion Quarterly

Don't let the winter weather get the better of you with complexion woes. Lacklustre, dehydrated skin begone – with these beauty must-haves radiant complexions are here to stay.

Clockwise from top left: HERMÈS Hermèsistible Infused Care Oil in Beige Sapotille, $85. Rose Inc Skin Enhance Luminous Tinted Serum, $80. Summer Fridays Heavenly Sixteen All-In-One Face Oil, $90. Chanel Les Beiges Oversize Healthy Glow Sun-Kissed Powder, $143. Aleph Radiance in Sun, $53. Dior Micellar Water with Purifying French Water Lily, $80.

As much as we adore cosying up in all our favourite winter layers — for some style inspiration, click here — we’re not exactly head over heels with what the blustery, icy weather does to our skin.

If you’re currently experiencing a bout of lacklustre, dehydrated skin, trust us, you’re not alone. We’ve got the unpredictable elements — gusty winds, plummeting temperature, and low humidity — plus those scalding-hot showers and blasting air-con to blame for all current complexion woes.

But it’s not all doom and gloom in the winter beauty department. With a few skincare superheroes and luminosity-enhancing make-up must-haves, you can get your skin glowing in no time.

Revamp your approach to your skin

When it comes to sun-kissed, radiant skin faking it with beautiful bronzers goes a long way – we’re all for avoiding the sun and slathering on sunscreen 365 days a year. But if you want your skin to glow regardless of the season, you need to commit to not cutting corners where your skincare regimen is concerned.

Whether you’re a double-cleansing enthusiast or like to keep things simple, cleansing is non-negotiable. If boosting luminosity is your number one skin goal, invest in multi-tasking cleansers that do more than removing the day’s grime, make-up and debris. Vitamin C-enriched cleansers will work to get radiance back into the skin, and anything with AHAs will gently slough away dull skin to reveal that glow you’re after.

If your skin is particularly parched thanks to the winter elements, loading up your routine with some of the beauty world’s hydrating heavyweights is the way to go. When summer’s go-to lightweight serum isn’t quite doing the job, the first essential to reach for is hyaluronic acid. There’s nothing quite like it when it comes to supercharging skin with serious hydration – our can’t-live-without favourite is La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Hyaluronic Acid Anti-Ageing Serum. And if your skin is extra unhappy and needs some extra TLC the ultra-luxurious La Mer The Concentrate will soon remedy any problems.

When your regular and usually reliable moisturiser isn’t stepping up to the task, it’s time to bring in the big guns. If money is no object and you’re looking to make a skincare splurge that you’ll never look back on, Sisley Black Rose Skin Infusion Cream is the luxury moisturiser you need to get to know immediately. As far as budget buys that deliver unprecedented bang for the buck, look no further than Mario Badescu Hyaluronic Day Cream.

Clockwise left to right: Shiseido Synchro Skin Radiant Lifting Foundation, $79. Mario Badescu Hyaluronic Day Ceam, $29. La Mer The Concentrate, 15ml $365. Sisley Black Rose Skin Infusion Cream, $290. La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Hyaluronic Acid Anti-Ageing Serum, $74.99.

The finishing touches

It’s time to bust the myth that bronzed, radiant complexions must be reserved for the sun-drenched months. With a handful of the right make-up, you can give your skin that enviable sun-kissed glow regardless of the weather forecast.

We’re all in favour of a less is more approach to achieve this look: all you need is a couple of multi-purpose products that you’ll use again and again. Aleph’s founder Emma Peters created her planet-friendly products to be used in various ways, and the multi-tasking Radiance is the perfect product to add a glimmering hint of colour to complexions. Pro tip: mix up a little with your favourite moisturiser or foundation to give skin an all-over glow.

While it is tempting to reach for a heavy-duty foundation to attempt to hide winter-induced skin problems, if you’ve got your skincare routine sorted, then a light, skincare-enhanced tinted moisturiser or sheer foundation is a winning choice. Try Shiseido Synchro Skin Radiant Lifting Foundation, which doesn’t only glide on with ease – it provides right-around-the-clock hydration.