From curling up by the fireplace to drinking some hot tea, winter is undoubtedly a season most of us wait for. With the beautiful snow falling down from the sky and the cold fresh air touching your lips, winter comes some tough time for your skin. A happy hydrated skin always equals to a good makeup day but in winters our skin becomes drier and begins to appear duller. All that however, is completely reversible if you just take a few simple steps to ensure your skin stays hydrated and moisturized.  

Most of us stop consuming the right amount of water our body requires in winters just because we don’t feel thirsty. Our skin begins to dehydrate and requires more moisturization but most people continue with the same summer moisturization routine. When you apply makeup to the dehydrated unprepped skin, makeup starts looking cakey and patchy. Just not a good look! Here are a few simple steps to help you achieve a nice healthy looking skin even in the harsher months. 

Exfoliate your skin
Our skin gets more flakey during the winter season. Therefore, it is important to get rid of all the dead skin, not only for a smooth makeup look but also because more flakes can cause more clogged pores and eventually every girl’s worst nightmare, acne. 
Moisturize
If you already have dry skin, you need a more intense moisturizer for the winter weather. Try a cream based moisturizer. Most people with oily skins think their skin is producing its own oil so maybe they don’t need a moisturizer. Wrong! Your skin needs moisturization no matter how oily it is. Water based gel moisturizers are what you need. Avoid cream based moisturizers.   
Chap it!
Your lips are the most sensitive skin on your face. Use lip balms that are not wax-based and actually penetrate your lips so they don’t crack and stay hydrated. Winters always demand more liquid lips. Since the weather is already too harsh, try to make sure your liquid lipstick is not as harsh. 
Cream-based foundations and blush on
Liquid or powder foundations don’t get along well with the winter dryness. They can crease and cake your makeup. Cream-based foundation, blush and eye shadow should be your preference. Generally, cream-based products last longer and have more pigment in them as well.  
Waterproof mascara and eyeliner
Waterproof mascara is not just for the summers. Winters are all about fog, rain and snow; all this can totally smudge your mascara and liner. Hence, waterproof is what you need. 

DIY for shiny and healthy looking hair
There are loads and loads of hair products in the market, for thousands of rupees, claiming to do wonders for your hair, but truly very few of them hold up to the promises. Today, I will share a very cheap yet extremely effective DIY for you with exceptional results.
Have you ever wondered why most Chinese/ Japanese people have silky shiny untangled hair? Well it might be genetics but it’s also because of some home remedies with extraordinary results. Rice water! Surprised? Get ready for even more surprising results. 
Rice water is full of nutrients.  It contains vitamins B1, B2, niacin, iron and minerals. Niacin is a type of amino acid that helps in restoring the health of your hair.

How to make a rice water hair rinse
Ingredients
2 cups of organic brown or white rice 
2 ½ cups of water
Directions
First wash the rice with water. Then soak it in the two and a half cups of water. Leave it soaking for at least 30 minutes but if you want more nutrients in your hair its best to leave it overnight. Once the water is cloudy squeeze the rice a little and then strain the rice so you’re just left with water. To make the formula more potent and full of nutrients leave it out at room temperature for a day or two and then use it. You can store it in the fridge after that for 5 to 6 days, almost a week. You can also boil rice and use the rice water. It’s really your own preference. 
How to rinse
You can rinse your hair with rice water after shampoo and conditioning your hair. Let it sit in your hair for 15-20 minutes so that all the goodness is soaked into your hair then rinse it out lightly. Or, you can store it in a spray bottle and spray your hair after shower. Try to keep it in a glass bottle. The thicker your hair is, the more rice water you will need. People with curly hair should spray it on the curls and see how it helps not just untangle but give a beautiful look to your natural curl. For best results, repeat the process for several weeks. HH

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