Foundation ~

The most important thing about fall / winter foundation is to realize that your skin has different colors at different times of the year, self-tanning or not. Make the necessary adjustments! As soon as you feel your summer foundation getting too dark for your fading tan, switch to a lighter color. There’s nothing worse than someone using the wrong colored foundation (unless it’s not mixed well either)!

If you have dry to normal skin, choose a hydrating foundation in the fall and winter months. These come in all forms from tinted moisturizers to medium and full coverage formulas.
For a high-quality moisturizing foundation that also has SPF built in, I love Bobbie Brown’s Moisture Rich Foundation SPF 15. Another great advantage of this foundation is that it can be built and can go from medium to full coverage.

** For normal to dry skin.

I also love Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation. This has half-full coverage depending on how you apply it, and it comes in 25 shades.

Both of these fundamentals are amazing. However, if your skin leans more to the dry side, I would go with Bobbie Brown.

Another great option if you don’t want to change the type of foundation you are currently using is to simply add a hydrating foundation to your makeup routine. I love Laura Mercier Foundation Primer – Moisturizer.

If you have oily skin, you want a mattifying or oil-absorbing foundation. If during the fall and winter months your skin still seems a little dry, try adding a little of your rich night cream to your thinner day moisturizer. Then apply your foundation.

For an amazing mattifying foundation that doesn’t dry out, I absolutely adore Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet + Matifying Mattifying Foundation. It is a full coverage foundation that controls shine. It is also waterproof, so it really lasts for hours. I love this product for warm summer nights, but unfortunately it is for drying my normal / dry skin in the fall and winter months. I hate storing it in the fall though because it does such a great job.

If you have combination skin, you will want to find something in between. A base with silica beads and lecithin is probably your best option. Silica pearls absorb oil in the t-zone, while lecithin hydrates drier areas like cheeks. (** The foundations I mentioned above for dry / normal skin each have only lecithin, while the foundation I mentioned for oily skin only has silica.)

A great option is Bobbi Brown’s Skin Foundation SPF 15. This product is similar to the previous Bobbi Brown foundation I mentioned, but it doesn’t have the strong moisturizing components of that version. One advantage is that it still has the built-in SPF. This foundation is ideal for all skin types, but during the fall and winter months it is especially good for combination skin.

Powder ~

My favorite powder EVER. Mineral Illuminating Powder by Laura Mercier. If you love mineral powder like I do, but want something a little finer and more durable than most other mineral brands, give this product a try. I swear.

Tan ~

Should you wear bronzer in the fall and winter? YES! A little bronzer on your face not only helps contour your cheekbones, it also adds a bit of color to pale skin, making you look healthier overall. While it’s fine to wear bronzers with a little shine overnight, for a more refined daytime look, try a matte bronzer. It will look great on your creamy skin and lighter in color than it will soon be.