Beauty Fix: How to save your skin before the cold, dry weather really hits, a new way to wear dark polish and more

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.

How do I change up my go-to dark manicure?
Dark nails are forever favoured during fall and winter—and that’s not about to change—but if you find yourself a little bored with burgundy, by all means, switch it up! Opt for applying a navy shade as your base and then reach for a layering polish that looks like a party in a bottle, such as Essie “On A Silver Platter” ($10, at drugstores). This particular shade from the Essie Encrusted Treasures holiday collection is a pearlescent gold base with holographic, violet glitter suspended throughout the bottle. The pearlescent gold polish comes to life when layered over a darker base shade (so ridiculously reflective!) and the glitter adds dimension that pushes this manicure into nail art territory quite effortlessly.

Bronzer is a bit obvious on my skin now that I’ve lost most of my summer colour. What’s the best way to warm up my skin?
At some point during the fall, we all look in the mirror after swiping on bronzer only to find that it no longer looks like we just came in from a sun-kissed walk on the beach. When temperatures are hovering around the freezing point, it’s difficult to make bronzer fit into your beauty forecast. However, this doesn’t mean you have to stay pale all season long. Simply change up the colour of your blush and how you apply it: Chanel Joues Contraste blush in “Accent” ($48, at Chanel counters) is a rosy beige shade that will bring some glow back when you blend it onto your cheekbones. The formula’s pink and gold pearlescent sheen is bound to warm up your complexion, serving the purpose of a bronzer without looking too over the top.

I need a foundation that will stick with me through the workday and into the evening, but doesn’t look like a mask. Any recommendations?
Long-wearing foundations have come a long way since the heavy, caked-on and mask-like days of yesteryear. Formulations are incredibly advanced with a tremendous amount of consideration given to how different particle types interact with one another once on the skin. Guerlain’s latest foundation, Tenue De Perfection Timeproof Foundation SPF 20 ($65, sephora.ca), has combined three volatile oils together to ensure the foundation applies, binds to skin evenly and sets in place flawlessly. In order to ensure a matte finish that stays for up to 16 hours, silica particles in the formula absorb excess sebum and micro-powders work to stabilize colour, so foundation won’t oxidize and darken as the day goes on (oxidization being a common gripe among those who favour long-wearing foundation formulas). This fab formula offers full coverage, so it’s pretty much a set-it-and-forget-it scenario when it comes to application, which means you can focus on the rest of your day and night once it’s on your face—and that’s what it’s all about!

What can I use to smooth out the appearance of my skin’s uneven texture before applying makeup?
Uneven texture in the form of large pores, roughness or fine lines can be a huge deterrent in wearing makeup since it can magnify the skin imperfections at play. Using a primer, such as Lancôme Visionnaire 1 Minute Blur ($69, thebay.com), is a safe bet when it comes to creating an even surface for makeup application—or just for use without makeup. The clear gel blends onto skin and instantly blurs out imperfections in skin texture, effectively creating an optical veil that makes you HD camera-ready.

I have combination skin, but recently I keep waking up to really dry, tight skin. What can I do to counteract this?
Now that it’s cooler outside, the heat is on and it creates a cozy but extremely dehydrating environment for our skin. This is why it’s important to take every opportunity possible to increase the amount of moisture we add to skin, in order to increase the lipid barrier and protect it from environmental aggressors such as heat and cold. If your combination skin is becoming dry, try adding Shiseido Ibuki Softening Concentrate ($30, sephora.ca) to your usual routine between facial cleansing and nightly moisturizing. This ultra-lightweight fluid boosts hydration with white nettle extract, retains the moisture due to glycerin and boosts collagen with the help of yuzu seed extract. This addition to your nightly routine should put a rest to dry skin woes all season long!

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