Beauty Fix: 5 new products that are going to save your skin this winter (really!)

Every week our Beauty Fix columnist takes on your questions about makeup, skincare, hair and more. Have a beauty question we haven’t answered? Email us at beautyfix@fashionmagazine.com or ask away in the comments below.

I have so little time to take care of my nails. What can I do at home to make them more presentable?
Regardless of what’s occupying your time, whether it’s seeking out the perfect presents for loved ones after a long day of work or cramming for finals, nail care is hardly a priority to shrug off, especially during the oh-so-social holiday season. If booking yourself in for a gel mani isn’t in the cards, at least give your nails a glossy shine with Emjoi Micro Nail ($60, micronail.ca). This gadget is akin to your nail buffer block, just infinitely improved thanks to a motorized unit. First, slip on the buffing roller, turn on the tool and smooth away ridges and imperfections, then switch over to the shining roller and watch in awe as your nails are suddenly polished to a gorgeous shine. It’s like wearing a clear coat of polish with zero dry time!

I wash my hands frequently since it’s flu season. How can I get my hands a bit more holiday-ready?
Cold weather equals lowered immunity, which ultimately means lots of overzealous hand-washing or dousing your paws with sanitizer every time you see someone sneeze or sniffle. This cycle of actions may keep you healthier, but the alcohol in sanitizer and repeated exposure to hot water and antibacterial soap can wreak havoc on your nails and cuticles, so always finish this routine with a generous helping of hand cream, such as Bliss High Intensity Hand Cream ($21, sephora.ca). Make sure you take time to massage the formula, which is loaded with grapeseed extract and macadamia oil, into your cuticles in order to prevent them from drying out and causing hangnails.

I’m spending the holiday season in a warmer climate, so what can I do now to get my feet sandal-ready when they’re already dry and cracked?
If you’re bound for sandal-weather destinations, the obvious option is to get a pedicure. If you’ve found that you still have dry skin you’d like to remove even further, try a foot peel, such as Footner Exfoliation Socks ($20, well.ca). The plastic socks are lined with a mélange of fruit acids that essentially breakdown the dead skin on your feet as you sit in the boots for the course of an hour. Within a week or two (everyone’s shed pace varies), your feet will shed the dead skin and you’ll be left with fresh, baby-soft skin, ready for your sun-drenched holiday destination. Tip: the skin-shedding process will be snake-like, so wear socks in the meantime.

How can I prevent my face from looking mismatched from my body in pictures this holiday season?
Appearing as a relatively uniform skin tone is a particularly challenging concept at this time of year when we’re all pretty pale and our faces seldom match up with our bodies without a little help. That help is usually in the form of self-tanner. While the idea of self-tanning can instill fear in many, it can be pretty simple with the help of an outstanding product. Vita Liberata Untinted Self Tan Lotion For Body in “Warm” ($40, sephora.ca) is considered a gradual self-tanner since it’s untinted, meaning you can slap it onto skin morning, noon or night and not worry about it transferring to your clothes or bedding. It doesn’t turn you any shade of clementine, but rather it warms up your skin tone to make you look more alive than you ever imagined during this sun-deprived time of year.

How can I reduce redness in my very flushed skin during the winter?
Skin inflammation brought on by harsh weather conditions is the last thing you want to deal with when there are so many other things to be enjoying at this time of year, so take measures to reduce redness with the addition of a cooling face mask like Boscia Cool Blue Calming Mask ($42, sephora.ca) to your skincare routine. This blue gel formulation contains aloe vera to soothe and cool off overheated skin, as well as Gregorian extract and willow herb to block inflammation-inducing environmental irritants and allergens from penetrating skin. Tip: Always avoid applying peel-off masks to brows, your hairline and lips.

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