7 (Healthy!) Ways to Get a Glow in the Winter

Winter doesn't just signify final exams and holiday shopping—for some collegiettes™ it means complexions as chalky as the snow outside. We clung to the remnants of our summer tans ‘til October, knowing the next season may give us pallid, patchy skin. But with the United States Department of Health and Human Services classifying tanning booth UV radiation as as carcinogenic as cigarettes, we'll happily seek other options. Whether you're olive- to dark-toned and want a tinge of color, or a Snow White looking for a boost—here are the best ideas to reclaim a summery, healthy glow.
 
Humidify & Exfoliate
Viktorija Bowers, NYC-based makeup artist and Ellemagazine’s key makeup artist during their Style360 Shows at Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2012, suggests giving a few of your beauty and nighttime routines more thought. She says heating our homes during winter sucks moisture out of the air, making for dull skin. “I recommend investing in a good humidifier, especially in the bedroom, while you sleep,” she says. “It pumps moisture in the air and does wonders for skin.” But as for eliminating those flakes, Bowers loves exfoliators, especially Benefit’s Refined Finish Facial Polish ($22), which smells like sea salt.

Moisturize
According to Bowers, it’s important to remember to give our bodies the same moisturizing care we give our faces. During New York Fashion Week, Bowers says she and her colleagues moisturized models with Spa Rich Body Moisturizer by Beauti Control ($32). “It was amazingly moisturizing and it smells heavenly, giving models a beautiful sheen,” she says. And don’t forget to apply both a face and body moisturizer prior to bedtime. “It is crucial to use richer moisturizer during the nighttime, so skin can regenerate,” Bowers said. A viable option for all skin types for day and night facial moisture is Aveeno Active Naturals Ultra-Calming Daily Moisturizer ($16.99), as it is oil-free and contains UVA/UVB sunscreen. 

Tanning Lotions
If you want all over color, but smartly refuse to fake bake using tanning beds­, there are streak-free bottle tans. Alydia Rukkila, a Sephora product consultant who deals with some of the world’s premier beauty brands, recommends we try some of the retailer’s top-selling products. She suggests St. Tropez Bronzing Lotion ($30) or Clarins Self Tanning Instant Gel ($33)—two products that when applied gently and post-exfoliating in the shower, give you an even tan. All skin tones can achieve a glow with St. Tropez Skin Illuminator Gold ($22.50)—a face moisturizer with unbelievable sheen.

Bronzers
Bronzers have come a long way since giving us orange powdery cheeks in middle school. Today's products provide rich shades for every skin preference. Rukkila recommends bronzers as the best way to give your skin a tan finish, but says to weigh your options. Rukkila recommends Benefit Cosmetics Hoola ($28) for a natural matte finish sans the glimmer, but ladies prone to the menace of acne and t-zone oil should reach for Clinique True Bronze Pressed Powder ($24.50).