Take time this winter to get great skin

While many people may think of the winter as a time that wreaks havoc on the skin, The Huffington Post suggests that women take this time to put some extra TLC into their complexion so they can emerge for the summer with cleaner and clearer skin. The first step the news source suggests? Get rid of your old cosmetics and upgrade to some new ones.

Next, the news provider suggested trying to get more sleep, which has been shown to help improve the appearance of skin.

"Get at least eight hours per night during this busy time of year. Your skin, hair and nails all show the signs of sleep deprivation by becoming dull and dry, and your nails can become brittle. So retire early, and remember to increase your ability to fall asleep by quieting your mind at least an hour before you [go to sleep]," said Post writer Svetlana Feller.

Another thing the news source suggested was being sure to attend to chapped lips, as they can distract from your overall complexion. The Mayo Clinic states that people who are trying to avoid drying out their lips should keep from licking them, as saliva evaporate quickly and leaves lips drier than they were before. Be sure to get the best African American skin care products on the market to keep your skin moisturized this holiday season. 

Find the right outfit to match your holiday makeup

 

This holiday season, for many women, will consist of a lot of parties that can be difficult to dress for. While your African American skin care product can help you look great for any occasion, your closet might be missing the right dress that will work for an office gathering, family dinner or cocktail party. Recently, AOL spoke to fashion expert Petra Flannery for some tips on what to wear for any of the holiday events that might pop up in the next few weeks.

For the office party, Flannery recommends not straying too far from what you would normally wear to work. For example, you can pair a fun dress with a blazer, and then easily transition from day to night.

Next, Flannery made some suggestions for a family gathering.

"It's an event where you don't want to show too much skin, but you want to look great. Look for simple dresses in playful patterns. You can always add a fun element, like a leopard shoe. Or keep it casual but festive with a sparkly sweater," said Flannery, quoted by the news source.

Beautylish reminds readers that they shouldn't go too crazy with office or family party makeup. Instead, pick a feature to highlight such as your eyes or lips and then play down the rest of the face. For example, if you're going to wear bright red lipstick, don't use too much eyeshadow.

 

'Tis the season to try out a new look

 

One of the best things about the holiday season is that it can be a good time to experiment with makeup looks that you normally wouldn't try. This means grabbing the sparkles and glittery eyeshadow that would be too much for a day at the office but perfect to match that dress you bought for the Christmas party. Recently, The San Diego Reader offered some tips for ladies who feel like going wild with their cosmetics during this time of year.

The news source spoke to makeup artist Alexis Hoerres who said that in the summer, people should have a light and airy makeup look, but that the same isn't true of the winter. When it's cold and raining outside, you want your skin to be vibrant, she said, so don't be afraid to go for that green or blue eyeshadow with a hint of glitter in it. There are many bright colors that can complement your African American skin care products without overpowering them.

Hoerres warned readers that if they're going to draw attention to your eyes, they should be sure to fill in their eyebrows.

"It’s so important, especially for pictures. You have to fill in your eyebrows, otherwise you can look washed out. With a brow pencil, mascara or an eye-shadow, you can just comb it through at the end, and it looks natural and beautiful," said Hoerres, quoted by the news source.

The Gloss suggests that if you don't feel comfortable wearing eyeshadow with too much shimmer, but still want a little extra shine, you may want to try a metallic glitter eyeliner. 

Natural, simple tips to keep your skin looking young

Your African American skin care product can do a lot to keep your complexion looking young and fresh, but you need to do all you can to make sure that the skin underneath it is healthy. Why waste money on expensive and radical surgical measures to keep your appearance youthful when there are some simple and natural steps you can take now to help preserve your skin? 

First, keeping your body healthy is key to keeping skin fresh. If you exercise and eat right, it will show up in your complexion.

"We tend to focus on the cardiovascular benefits of physical activity, and those are important. But anything that promotes healthy circulation also helps keep your skin healthy and vibrant," says dermatologist Ellen Marmur, M.D., quoted by WebMD.

Next, it's important to wash your face regularly, sleeping with makeup on can lead to clogged pores and breakouts, so you want to make sure to go to bed with a clean slate every night. Finally, be sure to protect yourself against the sun's harmful UV rays. Using sunscreen is important for all skin tones, and there are many cosmetics that contain added SPF.