GLOW ON, GIRL
MASTER MAKEUP ARTIST ALISON RAFFAELE TATEM GIVES US A FEW QUICK AND EASY TRICKS
TO PERK UP A SALLOW WINTER COMPLEXION

Personally, I think January stinks. The fun of the holiday season is over, you’ve probably gained a few (or more)
pounds, the credit card bills start coming in and the sun sets by four in the afternoon—yuck! No wonder you're looking
(and feeling) a bit depressed. But that’s okay, the blahs happen to everyone at some point during the winter. Here are
my three top tips for getting your beauty groove back:

1. Get a move. When it’s cold and gloomy outside, it’s very tempting to want to hibernate. You must fight this urge.
Instead, get bundled up and go play outside with the little ones. Build a snowman, collect pine cones, go sledding or just
go for a walk. The fresh air and exercise will increase blood flow, burn calories and lift your spirits simultaneously. And did I mention that your kids will probably sleep better from the fresh air and exercise. Why, you might even get them to go to bed early.

2. Moisturize, exfoliate and then moisturize again. A lot of people make the age-old mistake of slathering moisturizer onto chapped, dry skin and then wondering why their dry skin isn’t getting any better. In a nutshell, flaking skin is dead skin and moisture cannot penetrate dead skin, either from the outside-in or the inside-out. So you need to remove the dead skin first, then you can properly hydrate the healthy skin underneath. The big trick is removing the dead skin without damaging the new, healthy skin. I do this is by applying either a moisturizing mask or pure jojoba oil to my clean face and then sitting in a steam room or steamy shower for 15 minutes. Then, using a damp, coarse washcloth, I massage my face in circular motions, paying attention to the flaky areas. The moisture and steam help loosen the dead skin and a washcloth is far less abrasive than a grainy scrub. Also, I do not recommend the use of any acids when your face is in this condition. Your skin is simply too fragile to sustain an acid. But that’s not to say you can't overdo it with a washcloth either. To ensure against overdoing it, do the massage while looking in a mirror and stop if the moment you feel any pain or start to turn red. Once you're finished, rinse your face well with cold water to minimize swelling, and apply more jojoba oil.

3. Now it’s time for just a bit of makeup. A lot of women complain about their makeup looking dull and crackly during the winter months—but this won’t happen to you, now that you’ve gotten rid of that dead, dry flaky skin. In order to look natural, all makeup needs to be absorbed into the skin and meld with it. But as you just learned, dead skin absorbs nada—which is why I had you send it packing. So now that your skin is properly exfoliated and moisturized, it’s time for a bit of makeup.  During the winter months, I like a tinted moisturizer with an SPF 15. Even though it’s not all that sunny outside, that new skin you’ve just revealed is particularly sensitive. Plus, if you want to add a bit of color to your skin, it’s easier to cheat going a shade darker with a tinted moisturizer (as opposed to a regular foundation) because of its sheer texture. Next add some brightly colored (think pink, red, or peach) cream or gel blush to the apples of your cheeks and blend for a natural, dewy glow. If your complexion still needs a bit of a boost, then its time for a bronzing powder. For an ultra-natural look, try using face powder two or three shades deeper than your skin tone. Unlike bronzers, face powders come in a wide array of colors and tend to be matte, not shiny.  They are also sheerer than bronzers, so it’s easier to build more realistic looking color.  Finish with curling your lashes, applying a coat of mascara, and slicking on some tinted lip balm And voila: you are soft, smooth, protected from the elements and glowing again. Now it’s time to curl up in front of the fireplace and bask in the warm glow of your own hot self.

Alison Raffaele Tatem, founder and creative director of Skin Alison Raffaele, has worked with everyone from Gywneth Paltrow to Alicia Keys to Jennifer Lopez. Raffaele is passionate about making beauty easy for all women via tricks of the trade and her own line of gorgeous cosmetics. To get your gorgeous now, go to www.alisonraffaele.com.