Why Your Foundation Looks Dry & Patchy in Winter (And How to Fix It!), by Emily Schuette on YouTube. 19 min 54 s.
- Video length
- 19 min 54 s
- Time to do it
- 15 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Switch to a richer moisturizer morning and night. Cold air outside and indoor heating pull moisture from your skin, so the light lotion you used in summer may no longer be enough.
Add a hydrating cream mask once or twice a week. Leave it on for the time on the label, then rinse or tissue off the excess before your usual moisturizer.
Try a nourishing facial oil at night if your skin still feels tight. Press two or three drops over your moisturizer, and patch test first if your skin is sensitive.
Gently exfoliate flaky patches once or twice a week with a soft cloth or mild exfoliant. Flakes catch foundation and make it look patchy, so smooth the skin first.
Check your foundation shade. A summer tan fades over winter, so the shade that matched in July can look too dark or too orange now.
Reconsider the formula. Matte and long-wear foundations grab onto dry patches, while hydrating, satin or dewy finishes sit more smoothly on winter skin.
Let your skincare settle for a minute or two before foundation. Applying straight onto damp moisturizer can make the foundation pill or separate.
Apply foundation in thin layers with a damp sponge, building only where you need coverage. Press it in rather than sweeping, and skip areas that already look smooth.
Cut back on powder. Keep it to the t-zone only and use a light hand, because powder over dry skin brings back the cakey look.
Tips and common mistakes
Patch test any new oil or mask on your jawline for a day before using it on your whole face.
Don't add more foundation over flaky patches; treat the flake with gentle exfoliation and moisture first.
Before buying a new foundation, try your current one over a richer moisturizer and a hydrating primer.
Keep a hydrating setting spray on hand to melt powder back into the skin.
Questions
Why does my foundation look patchy only in winter?
Cold air and indoor heating dry out your skin, so foundation clings to flaky patches and separates faster. Your skin has changed more than your foundation has.
Do I need to buy a new foundation for winter?
Not always. Try a richer moisturizer, a hydrating primer and a damp sponge first. If the finish still looks flat or drying, switch to a more hydrating formula.
How long should I wait between moisturizer and foundation?
About one to two minutes, until the moisturizer feels set rather than slippery. That gives it time to absorb so the foundation doesn't pill.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
