Beat the Winter Blahs

I've lived on the West Coast for 10 years now. When I first moved out here, I used to laugh at the locals who complained about the "cold" when it was 50 degrees out and felt it necessary to bundle up under layer after layer of heavy winter clothes as soon as September became a memory.

My how things have changed. In my 10 years here, I have found that I, too, am a weather wimp. And now that Daylight Saving Time has come to an end--and Halloween is just a haunting memory--I find myself dreading the winter and all that comes with it: cold weather, possible snow, dry skin, chapped lips, static-filled hair.

Well, the good folks over at Women's Health (and in their book Age Erasers for Women) have some tips for all of us as we get ready for upcoming (or already here!) winter weather. Here you go--be sure to add your thoughts by leaving a comment!

Skin

• Not only does dry skin cause a lackluster complexion, it also keeps hydrating lotion from keeping your skin moist. Get rid of excess dry skin with a body wash with exfoliant and also a gentle exfoliating face wash.
  
• Because dry skin causes fine lines to be more visible, make sure you’re using a thicker face lotion with firming benefits.
  

Makeup

• Winter is the time to forget the foundation which tends to settle into dry areas on skin giving your complexion a patchy look. Instead, camouflage dark circles with a light-diffusing concealer.
• The skin around your eyes is delicate and prone to dryness and windburn. Try using a sheer indigo blue or emerald eye shadow to downplay redness, and apply with a damp brush to help it stay put longer.
  

Hair

• Because the minerals in tap water and detergents in shampoo can cause your scalp to itch and flake, now is the time to skip the shampoo. Try a dry shampoo on your roots which will absorb the extra oil and you can comb out in the morning.
• Inflate your drab winter hair by adding volumizing mousse to your styling routine.
  

Body

• If you’ve been considering laser hair removal, now is the time to do it. Because your hair and skin will have more contrast as your summer glow is gone, the treatment will be more effective.
  
• During the holiday season, cosmetics counters are crammed full of gift sets that go on sale afterwards. This gives you the perfect excuse to find those fragrances you’ve been meaning to test.
  

Check out all the blah-beating beauty tips here

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NARS for the Holidays

I know, I know: it's not even Halloween yet and already retailers seem to be pushing Christmas. It's obscene and maddening, but it's also terribly practical. With the recession still going and consumer confidence shaky, shoppers need to see what's out there in order to prioritize their spending (and to hone their holiday wish lists!).

If you're starting to think about gifts for the girls or if you're looking to add a little sparkle to your winter look, you must check out the NARS holiday 2009 collection. NARS cosmetics are very high quality--their shadows are well pigmented, their blushes legendary, and their lip products rock (I swear by their All Night Long lipgloss--I keep it at my desk at work and use it almost every day!).

Check out their Holiday 2009 collection...I bet you'll be able to find something you'll want to add to your holiday list:

This Holiday season, NARS wraps up the year and its 15th Anniversary with a color collection offering shades that are deep and bold with festive shimmer – ideal for designing a look that is both sophisticated and sultry.

“For the holidays, I think it’s a great time to feel beautiful and sexy…with a little bit of movie star attitude,” says François Nars, Founder and Creative Director of NARS Cosmetics.

NARS SOFT TOUCH SHADOW PENCIL - $24 Sure to be a favorite for the holidays, the soft touch shadow pencil is a new addition to the NARS product line that offers a convenient delivery system and multi-purpose formula. Available in three playful shades: Goddess – A cool, divinely ethereal, glistening pink champagne that’s worthy of worship. Aigle Noir– A smoky, bold black infused with gold shimmer named for the dark, noble raptor that soars the Himalayas – graceful and rare. Skorpios– An irresistibly iridescent copper named for the alluring Greek isle of the famous and flamboyant.

NARS Duo Eyeshadow - $32 Brousse– Deep, subtly shimmering hues of eggplant and the darkest wood create an earthy, yet sophisticated palette Eurydice– Bordeaux with hints of iridescent blues and coal rich with metallic greens make for a modern holiday pairing Taiga– A surprising contrast of bright, yet intense hues in the sheerest of textures

NARS Mousson Cream Eyeshadow - $21 This shimmering, spicy pine cream eyeshadow is named for the monsoon – natural and unpredictable

NARS Rouge Andalou Nail Polish - $16 Lasting and lustrous, like its namesake region – this classic, incandescent candy apple red nail hue is sultry, sexy and steeped in tradition

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil - $24 Pop Life– Coat lips instantly with this bold, bright and modernly matte holly red hue that slips on with a velvety texture Toundra– This richly pigmented Barolo wine shade is creamy, long-lasting and matte for strong, seamless color

NARS Luxor Multiple - $37 An iridescent pink to be used on eyes, cheeks, lips and body for dynamic highlights and a perfect, glowing complexion

Disclosure: Press samples were provided.

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Ask Lydia: Winter Foundation

Hi Lydia,

Good question for you. Winter Foundation. I usually wear 3W Voile from Aromaleigh and I noticed this morning that when I was putting on my foundation and it looks like I was apply a much darker shade. Got any tips on going lighter in the winter? ~Michelle

Hi Michelle! Thanks for your email.

In the cooler months, those of us with tans (i.e., not me since I only turn red and NEVER get a tan!) have to deal with our colors fading a bit. This can become a problem if you notice your foundation is looking a bit off.

Here are a couple of suggestions for lightening up your foundation. Readers, if you can think of any solutions I'm leaving out, please leave me a comment.

FOR LIQUID FOUNDATIONS
Try mixing a little moisturizer with your foundation. This way you'll be thinning out the liquid foundation and diluting the colors a bit. The moisturizer-foundation combo will save you time--it's like instant multitasking! Plus making the liquid foundation thinner will make application much faster and easier.

FOR MINERAL FOUNDATIONS
Try mixing your normal shade with mineral foundation that's one shade lighter. This will give you a custom-blend that might match better to your winter skin tone. Michelle, in your case, I'd try blending the 3W with a 2W.

CUSTOM BLENDS
One other thing you could do...if you have the money to do it....would be to get a custom-blended foundation from a higher end cosmetics company like Prescriptives. This way you can't go wrong! Just expect to pay a pretty penny to get custom-made makeup.

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New for Your Nails

We're all trying to save money these days. One great way to save some coin is to do your own manicure and/or pedicure at home. But there's no need to suffer with lesser products. Splurge just a bit by buying a higher-quality nail color from OPI or Essie.

OPI is going for a touch of luxury this fall! They're introducing their Designer Series: 11 new shades of nail lacquer and top coat infused with diamond dust to give you a perfect finish. Sorry: I don't have a great photo of the new shades, but let me tell you that they have an amazing amount of shimmer and come in classic colors that will make your nails look great this fall/winter. Here are the names/color components for you to look for at your local Ulta, Trade Secret, etc.:

• DS Coronation: slivery platinum
  
• DS Opulence: mauve
  
• DS Reflection: ruby
  
• DS Limited: warm peach
  
• DS Treasure: golden coral
  
• DS Illuminate: burnished gold
  
• DS Classic: golden beige
  
• DS Jewel: cabaret
  
• DS Tapestry: deep rose
  
• DS Reserve: vintage pink
  
• DS Extravagance: magenta

If I were buying on of these lacquers, I'd pick either DS Tapestry or DS Jewel.

Essie's winter line is now out and it is full of all the rich hues we all love about winter. Again, I don't have a great photo of the new lacquers, but here are the names/colors to check out:

• Bold and Beautiful: ruby garnet
• Damsel in a Dress: deep currant
• It's Genius: shimmery violet-quartz
• Rock Star Skinny: crimson red
• Sexy Divide: purpley blue
• Shifting Power: molten gold

My faves from Essie: either It's Genius or Sexy Divide.

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Purple Reign

Way back in the middle of August I predicted that purple would be hot, hot, hot this fall and winter. Judging from all the plums and purples out there, I think my beauty forecast was pretty darn accurate.

Purple is a funny color--you either love it or hate it. If you want to add a hint of the royal shade to your makeup wardrobe, here are some products to check out:

• Black Amethyst Mineral Shea Butter Lipstick by PurMinerals, $15: This sophisticated shade is supposed to look great on all skin tones. It's dark but not too flat and promised to give the wearer berry-stained lips. Pretty! Also available in a plumping lipgloss if that's more your thing.
  
• DiorShow Mascara in Plum, $24. Last year, with the launch of Bad Gal Blue by Benefit Cosmetics, blue mascara was everywhere. This year, change up your look with plum-tinted mascara. It will brighten your eyes and add just a hint of lush color.
  
• Wicked Lovely Lip Gloss from Smashbox, $18. Not for the faint of heart, this rich, bruised purple shade gives you a seductive shine. Embrace your darkside with this beauty!
• Purple By Night Vernis Please! Nail Lacquer by Givenchy, $15. This violet nail polish has a lot of depth, with sparkly hints of blue, mother of pearl, and pink. Plus the formula is chip resistant so your nails stay gorgeous.
• Violet Train Case by Sephora, $49. You'll never lose this shiny purple makeup box. Pack it with all your favorite products and you'll be organized and will look like a pro. Have I ever mentioned I love Sephora's makeup cases?
  

Yes, purple is a trend. A year or two from now, you may hate all the plums and violets, but for now...just enjoy it. Purple's quirky and romantic. Go ahead and embrace it!

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Winterize Your Look

Halloween isn't even here yet and already it's getting chilly out there. Here in the Seattle area a cold front has pushed through. Temperatures have plummeted and there's even some snow in the mountains. Like it or not, winter weather is on its way.

The one thing I love about the cooler seasons is that makeup looks drastically change. Gone are the light pinks and sunshiney shades. In their place are the lush, deep, rich hues that conjure up romantic images...at least in my mind.

Here are a few looks to embrace this fall and winter, thanks to the editors at Harper's Bazaar:

UNDONE FRENCH TWIST

• Step one: Blow hair out straight. Add body by setting it in big Velcro rollers for 10 minutes, suggests Sebastian Professional stylist Thomas Dunkin.
• Step two: Pull hair back and twist it up into a loose twist.
• Step three: "Pull out a section in the front so that it frames your face, which is what makes this style fluid," instructs D.J. Riggs, artistic director of TIGI Linea. Spritz Nexxus 360° Volume Bodifying Finishing Mist ($9.99) for hold.

SMOLDERING EYES AND SLEEK HAIR

• Step one: Line top and bottom lash lines with a black liner like Stila Kajal Eye Pencil in Onyx ($14). "Or use liquid liner first, then soften it with a pencil," instructs Beauty.com celebrity makeup artist Tina Turnbow.
• Step two: Sweep gold powder shadow from lashes to brow bone. Apply to the inner corners as well for a more dramatic look. Try Clé de Peau Beauté Eye Color Quad in #13 ($75).
• Step three: Use a shadow brush to blend the liner with the shadow, which will deepen and smudge the color, suggests New York makeup artist Kimara Ahnert.
• Step four: Finish with black mascara. Try Estée Lauder Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting Mascara ($19.50).

PINK AND RED LIPS WITH ATTITUDE

• Step one: Even out skin tone with powder foundation.
• Step two: Line lips and fill them in with a lip pencil. "This will help the color last longer," says Turnbow. To get staying power with-out lip liner, use a long-wear lip color like L'Oréal Paris Infallible Never Fail Lipcolour in Color of Hope ($11.99; $2 will be donated to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund).
• Step three: Apply lipstick. Try Clinique Long Last Soft Shine Lipstick in Watermelon ($14) or Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Cha Cha Cherry ($7.99).

DARK, SHINY NAILS
Fashionable fingers will be drenched in shimmery polishes this season. The greenish silver at Chanel had a rock 'n' roll vibe, while the metallic mauve at Bill Blass was a more sophisticated take on the trend. Try Chanel Nail Colour in Kaléidoscope, $20, a sparkly sage shade.

AMAZING LASHES
Stacked lashes, seen at Versace, are an eye-opener. Buy falsies (or flashier versions, like Viktor & Rolf's) and cut them in half, advises Max Factor makeup artist Jake Bailey. "Apply to the outside of each eye so the longest lashes are closest to the temple," he says.

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