I look rough in colder weather

[Sarcelle]

Self pitying post follows. As soon as the weather turns colder, I start to look rough. My skin goes grey, my eyes go red rimmed, my hair goes lank, I get a dry scalp, red bits around my nose and chin.

At least 5 months of this...I buy lots of glowy products (like Becca Backlit primer, Hourglass ambient powders) but my skin still looks meh. I put on a light gradual tan. Doesn’t look the same as when I put it on in the summer. I wear nuturing skin creams (Avene Skin Rescue???) to fight the red bits. I wear eye drops, use Nizoral shampoo.

I do everything I can to stop looking like I have been dug up, but it is not working. My DH told me I looked very tired. I am not tired its the blooming great big dark circles that look more pronounced at this time of year.

Getting up mega early to go to work does not help. My face doesn’t look right until mid morning (sometimes lunchtime).

I just look so much better in the warmer months. Tell me its not just me.

Balaclava? I know what you mean OP. Do you use a sunblock too in Winter? I'm like you and I find sunblock helps. Also, Vaseline....no it's not pretty but it keeps the wind from chapping your face.

I put a couple of drops of vitamin E oil in my usual moisturiser and it definitely helps. You have to leave it a bit longer before applying foundation, because it's obviously more slippy, but it does make a difference.

The mix of cold weather and central heating is just drying your skin out, so you need to inject more moisture, that's all.

Me too! I have a nice glow in summer (probably sweat) I look like I’ve been dug up in winter. Clarins radiance drops help a bit.

Hate the ‘you look tired!’ This is just my face now!

Sounds like a skincare issue, not a makeup issue; I’m not surprised your glowy products aren’t doing what you want them to.

With your skin, you need more hydrating and sensitive products to overcome the change in season/use of heating. I have no idea what your skin is like, but I would recommend Kiehl’s clearly corrective serum (to keep skin looking clear and even, it’s not drying), a Vit C serum for brightening dull skin, a really good moisturiser (Clinique moisture surge/Kiehl’s ultra facial) and Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream (it both soothes sensitive/dry patches and dramatically hydrates). Bonus products would be hydrating face masks and overnight masks. Only use gentle cleansers - your current skincare could be causing the dry/sensitive skin if it’s too harsh. Try and stay away from exfoliators (physical and acid toners) and foaming cleansers. Lush ultrabland might be worth testing for a week or so to improve your skin. Don’t be afraid to just splash your face with water if it’s in a sore state.

With your eyes, I would recommend using a good eye cream (I use Kiehl’s). Could be worth taking multivitamins supplement inc vit d and b12.

Try hair masks and a hydrating shampoo/conditioner. Try a clarifying shampoo to remove build up first, then your usual products.

Makeup: avoid matte products inc setting sprays, foundation, powder etc. Try a hydrating primer and Mac fix+

Dunno man

I look better in winter because I can cover up more and the weather is dryer so hair looks better.

Cell turnover slows down in the winter, so I disagree that you should stay away from chemical exfoliants unless you have a sensitivity issue, because Winter is when unless you exfoliate, you're basically pasting your dead skin back down with moisturisers. Sunday Riley Good Genes is great, Dennis Gross excellent, Nip and Fab ok but you really need to use them regularly to see the same effect as they have a weaker AHA %. Alpha-H Liquid gold is a pretty good all rounder.

If you can't tolerate an acid tone, make sure you double cleanse, micellar water then a good creamy or oil cleanser taken off with a hot flannel. scrub as hard as you dare.

Vitamin D, Spirulina, Vitamin C, lots of water.

A good brightening serum ( Liz Earle's isn't bad) and a moisturiser that suits your skin and which contains hyaluronic acid is then probably all you need.

Don't start a cycle of facial fake tan until you feel you've got rid of all the dead skin or else you'll just be colouring the top layer of shedding skin.

Once you've done this, I reckon your hourglass powders will start to work for you again!

No, unfortunately I do all this already. I take vit c, b12, d, multivitamin, some omegas - I have always been into nutrition so I am well genned up on them. My skin is smooth, not dry, and normally even toned, although sensitive. The red patches are just red, they are not dry patches, it is probably a sensitivity issue which does not show up in summer, only cold months. I do exfoliate (gently, and double cleanse), use good eye cream. My scalp goes mad at this time of year. Not sure why, the hair itself is okay. My eyes are redrimmed, so a cream will not help, eye drops smooth but don’t get rid of the red.

I just do not suit colder weather. Admittedly Tuesday night I did not get much sleep so had massive dark circles and a busy day, but when I was getting ready for bed last night I looked dreadful. Grey and drawn.

I am going to incorporate a face oil and definitely up the water intake. It’s only 5.5 months until Spring.....Maybe I can avoid mirrors.

I love cold weather, I look like a bag of shit in the summer with my pasty skin, puffy feet and freckles. I won't be wishing the winter away.

Oh dear OP, that doesn't sound good at all. Sounds like the best solution is to overwinter in warmer climes, like a Monarch butterfly 
I would suggest that given you are genned up on your skincare, seeing a good Dermatologist might be the only way forward, as it sounds like you have quite a violent reaction to something, which is only going to get worse, seeing as we're only in October ( I'm assuming you're in the UK) and the cold weather hasn't even got going yet.

Are you wearing colours that suit you? Often our summer clothes and winter clothes are totally different colour palettes. We often wear a lot of black and grey in the winter and more colour in the summer. Maybe your summer clothes suit you better.

I don't know the answer but I'm definitely the same. I turn grey in winter and age about 10 years when it is cold and windy (luckily is mostly reversed as soon as the sun comes out). My eyes are always red-rimmed and drippy. For me, it is sensitivity, allergies, thin skin combined with over-heating and cold wind.

I do rock winter clothes however

In think I am the same as Elledorado. My skin has not reacted to anything other than the temperature has dipped. My red patches are more akin to when you have had a bit of a cold and you have been using tissues too much and you get a bit of redness. Except I have not been using tissues. I do feel like a caterpillar in the winter - come spring I emerge like a butterfly. I definitely look younger in the summer, I just look more alive. It has not really got going coldness wise where I am, it is colder but not overly so. God knows what I will look like in a months time when the heating is turned on....

Very levels of vitamin D.

Best thing I’ve wver put on my skin is aveeno. Started using it one day when I had run out of my usual moisturiser- I now use the body lotion as a facial moisturiser it’s brilliant. No more dry patches. They also do a body cream that is brilliant as a night cream
In bad weather. Get some optrex sparkling eye drops. They reduce the redness of tired eyes very quickly. I would also recommend vitamin d supplement and also floradix tablet supliments.

I agree with Milton silver that maybe you need to adapt your colour palette. As an HOC Spring , for instance, I wear more vibrant colours on face and body. I exchange a soft rose lipstick in spring/summer for soft red. Pearl /gold earrings which bring light to the face. Very little black near my face in winter, whereas in summer I find it chic. . For dry eyes., why not try an eye ointment or night gel. Also a humidifier in the bed room? For your morning face, why not try a face roller thing, to kick start the circulation? Winter and summer beauty care are two different things, imo

I am the same OP! I look really healthy in the summer but in the winter I look grey... have noticed the same with my 12 year old dd! Well, she always looks good, but in hot weather she has this amazing healthy glow. No advice except lots of blush and some exercise.

Yes to blush and execise.
Eye drops do nothing for red rims ime?
I slap on a lot of glowy things makeup wise and use acids. Still look half-dead!

I look like a different person in winter to summer.

I think lots of people do.

It sucks.