Fashion Column: Freezing and Fabulous

Story posted February 1, 2014 in CommRadio by Jane Moreland

The recent Polar Vortex temperatures have left many of us feeling anything but glamorous.  When the air is so dry and frigid, it is difficult to keep the one piece of skin we show outdoors looking good: our face.  Never fear Penn State Ladies, I have some tips to keep you looking fabulous while we anxiously await warmer weather's arrival.

The first tip is a great moisturizer.  In times like these, moisturizers that normally work perfectly, fall short.  This is due to the Arctic Air drying out skin after only minutes outside.  For those with dry, normal, or even slightly oily skin, I recommend L'Oréal's Ideal Moisture Day Lotion with Broad Spectrum SPF 25.  More specifically, I recommend the Dry Skin version of this lotion.  The 48-hour hydration, combined with the extra moisture, will protect you from the bitter cold and keep you looking dewy and flawless.  The SPF 25 shields your skin from the harsh sun beating down on your face.  Did you know that a sunburn breaks down facial collagen and actually makes you look older? This moisturizer will help you maintain your youthful look. The best part?  It's fewer than $7 at Walmart Stores.

The second tip I have is to combine quick absorbing face oil with your foundation.  Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil by FRESH, combined with any liquid foundation, will give your skin a glowing appearance.  It has vitamin E and Omegas 3, 6, 7 and 9. So even after you wash your face, you'll be repairing damage from the outdoor wind and cold.  I use this oil with my foundation whenever I do my makeup, even when I'm not planning on going outside.  I wouldn't, however, recommend this for those with oily skin.  The double-dose of oil for these people can lead to clogged pores.  You can find vials of this oil at Sephora.  The 0.5-ounce bottle costs $18.50 and the 1.7-ounce costs $50.  All you need is one drop, no more, to make your skin look like perfection.   

My next tip to is to purchase a moisturizing hair mask.  We often forget that our hair is exposed to the cold and dry atmosphere just as much as our skin is.  Don’t you hate having to pat down your static hairs with dryer sheets in this dry weather? Exposing our hair to the single-digit temperatures could mean more breakage and damage in the months to come.  I recommend Neutrogena's Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Hair Mask.  This is the perfect product for intense healing.  You can purchase this for under $6 at Walmart.  If you ever dye your hair try using this a few days after the process for shiny, beautiful locks.

A second option for a hair mask is coconut oil.  Kory Tyron, an accounting senior here at Penn State, says that she uses this mask once a week for moisturized, healthy looking hair.  Take two parts coconut oil (2-3 tablespoons should do for medium length hair) and one part olive oil (optional) and combine in a small bowl.  If you're unfamiliar with coconut oil, it comes in a hardened paste.  Put the desired amount in a sealed plastic bag.  Run this under hot water for about 5 minutes, or until it has melted into clear oil.  Apply the mixture to your hair, concentrating it where your hair is the driest.  Be careful where you do this though!  All that oil will be difficult to clean out of carpeting.  Put your hair in a bun on top of your head and wait for about 20 minutes.  Rinse with cold water (as cold as you can stand for a few seconds in the shower) and shampoo and condition as usual.

I hope these tips keep all of you looking fabulous, even though it's freezing out!  Next week, I'll be discussing winter fashion trends and how to stand out from the boring black attire donned by our community.  Color isn't always easy to incorporate in a winter outfit - especially when we need to stay as warm as possible.  I'll tell you how to do it easily, while also keeping in mind that college student’s budget. 

            Until next time,

            Jane

 

Jane Moreland is a senior majoring in telecommunications. To contact her, email jmm6128@psu.edu.

Tagged in:

comradio , fashion , freezing , psu