Beauty Fix: Two ways to help tired-looking skin, how to update your manicure for spring 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 important is sleep to healthy skin? I haven’t been getting much sleep lately and I’m not sure if it’s negatively impacting my skin.
While a lot of emphasis is placed on the importance of healthy eating, exercise and proper skincare, getting a proper night’s rest is often underestimated in terms of how much of a difference it makes to overall health, skin being no exception. While skincare products cannot entirely replace the benefits of a good night’s sleep, they can help prompt an earlier bedtime. If you aren’t able to unwind at the day’s end, the lavender scent of Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream Skin Protectant Nighttime Miracle Moisturizer ($47, thebay.com) can help slow you down. It’s incredibly soothing and the formula contains shea butter and vitamin E to hydrate, as well as salicylic acid for a bit of exfoliation— revealing skin that looks the precise opposite of exhausted.

I often see rainbow coloured concealers and primers, but never know how to use them. Help?
When it comes to yellow, green, purple and orange products and where to place them on your skin, just take a look at the colour wheel. For example, if you have undereye circles that have a purple-blue undertone, then reach for an orange- or peach-toned correcting product—as these colour families are opposite of each other on the colour wheel. Colour correcting products have come a long way in terms of formulation, resulting in finer textures with sheer veils of colour correcting properties that apply with ease and result in a more natural finish that still effectively correct discoloured areas as you’d expect. For tired skin, try M.A.C Prep + Prime CC Colour Correcting Compact in “Recharge” ($30, maccosmetics.ca). This apricot-toned semi-sheer pressed powder can be dusted all over the face to brighten and add warmth to your skin, breathing life back into your face.

I tried to use anti-aging cream, but couldn’t get past how heavy it felt on my skin through the night. Is there a lighter texture that could still provide me anti-aging benefits?
Being comfortable with the texture of a product as it absorbs into your skin can be just as important as its actual efficacy—nothing is more distracting than being aware of a cream’s weight sitting on your skin. The thing about anti-aging skincare is that it’s best when applied at night, as skin enters a reparative state that’s more receptive to beneficial active ingredients. Opt for an oil-free formula such as Chanel Le Lift Crème Fine ($160, at Chanel counters), which has a lightweight texture and promotes youth protein production—this tends to slow down as we experience stress and begin to age. With consistent use, skin is firmer with improved elasticity with superficial lines smoothing in appearance.

I’m so tired of winter nail colours! How can I spring forward in the nail department?
Even though we just found out we’re allegedly in for another six weeks of winter, I think you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who isn’t sick of winter in its various forms, whether it’s the frosty temperature, high winds or drab colour palettes that could use a visual lift. If you’re beyond ready to swap out your moody greys, blacks and endless barrage of neutrals, consider easing the transition with the gorgeous effect of a polish such as Dior Le Vernis in “Perlé” ($26, thebay.com). This satiny matte topcoat from Dior’s spring Trianon collection is actually full of lavender, fuschia and purple shimmer, adding a light mauve candy-coating sheen to anything it’s applied over. Try it on over any dark tone to mix things up visually without venturing into nail art territory.

I don’t love the look of powder, but I still feel the need to set my makeup. Can you recommend a powder that has a more natural finish?
Over the past few seasons, there has been a definite trend towards nude skin, with the no-makeup makeup look becoming increasingly popular. As far as base makeup goes, to achieve a no-makeup makeup look, it is key to use a lightweight powder such as Maybelline Dream Wonder Powder ($14, at drugstores) to set any concealer or foundation. This formula contains 60 per cent less talc than most pressed powders, and it feels downright creamy to the touch, allowing it to hold makeup in place without compromising the overall finish of your face. Smooth it on solo for ultralight coverage that’s straight off the runway.

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