Fresh-Faced and Flake-Free

Now that the cold weather is officially upon us, there are a few things you might want to change up in your makeup routine. In the winter, our skin gets drier because there’s less moisture in the air — especially with the heat running all the time.

First things first, make sure you’re drinking enough water. You need to hydrate from the inside out. If you notice that your skin is super dry and flaky, you might want to use a gentle exfoliator two to three times a week to get rid of the dead skin buildup and have your makeup lie better. A hydrating face mask a few times a week will infuse your skin with moisture. Make sure you’re using a good moisturizer under your makeup, and a hydrating serum and primer can be helpful, too.

Having flaky skin under your makeup can keep your makeup from sitting well and make it look cakey. Try using a hydrating mist after applying each layer of makeup to really melt your makeup together and lock in the moisture.

Raizy Bodek is a self-taught makeup artist who shares her expertise and passion for makeup on her WhatsApp status, Status Glow.

Organize Step-by-Step

Sequential Organizing is a system that follows a step-by-step process in chronological order. Tasks are generally completed in a certain order. Imagine how much easier it would be to accomplish them if our hands and eyes followed that same order!

So, makeup in a drawer would be lined up from left to right (or right to left if you think in Hebrew), in the order that you apply your makeup: face creams on the far left, then primer, foundation, eyes, lips, and finishing powders on the right.

Laundry detergents would be categorized and set up with stain removal on one side of the shelf, followed by detergent, dryer sheets, and linen spray and iron on the right.

Rather than surrounding your mixer with a conglomeration of ingredients, place each ingredient in a line according to when the recipe calls for them.

Sequential organizing is both calming and habit-forming, and it can even train your brain to think in an orderly fashion, spilling over to other areas of your life. Happy systemizing!

Since 2013, Ruthie from Simplifized has been organizing homes and training new organizers worldwide.

Skincare Routine, Simplified

While teenagers might not have antiaging on the mind, it’ll pay off down the line to help them establish a basic skincare routine. Considering how the teen years are often filled with acne angst, simple hygiene can be a great help in the present as well. Start with a gentle cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen. Just five minutes in the morning, and five minutes at night. Totally doable. But it might take some analysis to figure out which product will work best for them.

Is your teen’s skin dry, normal, oily, or acne-prone? Let’s start with acne-prone:

Morning: CeraVe Acne Foaming Cleanser and CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 (moisturizer and sunscreen in one). Night: cleanse again, then finish off with CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion. (Lots of CeraVe, I know, but believe me, I’m not on their payroll).

PS Skincare is not just for girls. These products are unscented and do not come in pink bottles. I’m talking to you, boys!

Lea Pavel is a third-generation skincare aficionado who lives in the Five Towns.

(Originally featured in Family First, Issue 927)