Beauty Fix: Hair, makeup and skin care tips for making a smooth transition from summer to fall

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.

My skin is already starting to feel a bit tight with the cooler weather setting in. What should I switch up in my skincare routine?
Additional hydration in the form of a mask is always a simple addition to your routine that will make a substantial difference in your skin’s condition. Try Racinne Ultimate Youth Power Mask ($41, racinne.ca), which is full of peptides to repair the state of your skin, smoothing out uneven texture and tone while working to diminish dark spots from the sun. It also contains hyaluronic acid, which is a fantastic skin quencher. Wear the mask for a few minutes, rinse off and skin will appear brighter and more hydrated.

Potted brow products are appealing, but they seem difficult to use. Any tips?
There can be a learning curve to filling in your brows in a way that actually suits your face and taste, so being patient with yourself as you experiment with different techniques and products is key. Potted brow products are usually high in pigment, which can sometimes leave little room for error. Potted brow products can also be matte, which can result in a less natural look, since hair does have dimension to it. If you’re after a natural finish, opt for a product like Armani Brow & Eye Maestro ($39, at Holt Renfrew), which contains super-subtle iridescence in all 9 shades offered, resulting in a much more realistic finish. Apply with an angled brush, stroking through brow hairs and diffusing the colour with a spoolie. Bonus: this brow colour can also be worn as eyeliner or as a root touchup colour for hair. Tremendous value for a little pot!

My fine hair is in need of some moisture, but how do I avoid weighing it down? I need all the volume I can get!
Fine-haired folks are always in need of hydration and the perpetual question is how to increase hydration without weighing hair down. Infuse your hair with light moisture via Dove Oxygen Moisture Leave-in Foam ($8, at drugstores), which can actually be applied to wet or dry hair, which is definitely a bit of a twist as far as leave-in products go. Applied to wet hair, the foam will add moisture to hair while giving soft, flexible hold to whatever style you give your hair. When applied to dry hair, frizzy areas are smoothed minus stickiness or residue, making this multi-functional product a must-have for anyone with fine hair moving into fall.

I wear full-coverage foundation and don’t want to it to migrate, but I don’t want a cakey finish. What can I do to set my foundation?
Regardless of your foundation coverage preference, no one is usually in the market for a heavy finish on skin! Avoid any powder with a tint, as additional coverage is not necessary when using a full-coverage foundation. Try using a translucent loose powder like Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder ($38, sephora.ca) and apply a very minimal amount all over the face with a fluffy brush. If you’re spot-concealing specific areas, try dipping a fluffy eyeshadow brush in the powder and tapping onto the area so that the concealer stays put. The powder contains skin-balancing Amazonian clay, which brings harmony to your skin, hydrating dry areas and absorbing oil through your T-zone.

What kind of scent would be suited to this seasonal transition?
When selecting a fragrance, keep both the formula type and the notes in mind when making your selection. While your traditional eau de toilette or eau de parfum may have a bit more throw (meaning your scent can be detected from afar), perfume oil can wear a bit closer to the skin, making it an alluring option. A perfume oil blend like Elizabeth & James Nirvana White Perfume Oil ($42, sephora.ca) is the ideal mix of floral notes of peony and lily of the valley with a tender musk note that brings the scent forward into fall. A few drops of oil can be applied to pulse points or massaged into skin for a sensorial experience and long-lasting scent.

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