How To Get a Summer Glow in Winter

Who says you can’t get gorgeous summer skin in the winter? From exfoliation to hydration to faking it with a little self-tanner, we’re sharing seven tips to help you enhance your pale winter skin and create the illusion of a faux summer glow (even if the weather outside says otherwise), ahead.

Fall and winter weather might be unpredictable, but one thing is for sure: our skin spends most of the cold weather season hibernating under long pants, fuzzy socks, puffer coats, and…well, about as many layers as we can get our hands on. So, by the time we are ready to throw on our flirty party dresses and brave the cold on New Year’s Eve (or rock our favorite sun dresses on a tropical winter vacation), we’re looking a little more vampire than vixen. Fortunately, you don’t need the summer sun—or the warm weather—to get your glow on. With a little skin exfoliation, lots of hydration, and a dash of bronzer, you’ll be faux glowing in no time. Find out how you can get a summer glow in this winter season, below.

SAY GOODBYE TO DRY SKIN

Those with seasonal dry skin know that a buildup of dead skin cells and a lack of moisture can scream anything but summer glow. Fortunately, you can do something about it. Enter: Dry brushing. Dry brushing is a form of exfoliation that incorporates the use of a natural-bristled dry brush to gently and effectively remove dry skin from the surface of your skin. Before jumping into the shower or bath, dry brush the skin on your body in gentle upward circular motions to slough off dead skin cell buildup and promote softer, smoother-looking skin. 

Learn more about the beauty benefits of dry brushing, plus how to incorporate dry brushing in your weekly winter skin care regimen, here.

SAY HELLO TO HUMIDITY 

The colder winter climate lacks the moisture in the air that is necessary to help keep our skin from becoming dehydrated. What’s more? The artificial heat you rely on to warm you up during the cold, frigid months only adds to the problem! Add some moisture back into your life (and your skin) with a humidifier! According to board-certified dermatologist and Skincare.com consultant, Dr. Dhaval Bhanusali, “Humidifiers add moisture back into the environment [and can help] your skin retain hydration better than it otherwise would.” In addition, hydrated skin can appear soft, supple, and glowing!

MOISTURIZER IS KEY

Speaking of moisture, one of the most important steps in any skin care routine—especially if you want dewy summer-like skin—is moisturizer. After cleansing your skin or getting out of the shower, always make sure to lather yourself up in a nourishing facial lotion and body butter. Not only can the moisture provide your dry skin with soothing comfort, it can promote a healthy-looking glow, too! We share a roundup of our favorite moisturizers for dry skin, here.

MIST-IFY YOURSELF

As we’ve stated above, you can’t get glowing summer skin without hydration. Keep your complexion hydrated throughout the day with a skin nourishing facial mist. Facial mists are great for year-round on-the-go hydration, as they can provide the skin with a spritz of moisture and can even promote a dewy-looking complexion!

Not sure where to begin? We share a roundup of our favorite facial mists from Lancôme, Shu Uemura, Vichy, and La Roche-Posay, here.

FAKE IT ‘TIL YOU MAKE IT

Now that we’ve got hydration out of the way, let’s move on to faking it with self-tanners such as the Sun Free Self Tanning Formula from Kiehl’s. The lightweight, non-greasy self-tanning lotion is formulated with apricot kernel oil, cocoa seed butter, and vitamin E, is fast-absorbing, nourishing, and promotes a natural-looking, sun-free glow.

Kiehl’s Sun Free Self Tanning Formula, $22.50

SPRAY IT ON

Speaking of faux tans, if self-tanner isn’t your thing, you can always schedule an appointment at a salon for a professional spray tan—just be sure to prepare your skin beforehand. Professional spray tans can create the illusion of sun-kissed skin without exposing your body to the sun’s harmful UV rays or the dangers of a tanning bed.

MAKE BRONZER YOUR BFF

If you’re in a hurry, you can always apply shimmering bronzer to your cheekbones and chest area to create the illusion of sun-kissed skin. Or, apply a bronzer-infused CC cream like The Body Shop’s Instaglow CC Cream in “Warm Glow” to your complexion. Formulated to prime, color correct, illuminate, and moisturize your complexion, the Instaglow CC Cream is a skin care-inspired bronzer that can help you rock a faux summer glow while working to enhance your natural glow, too! Use it all over your face, neck, and chest, or create a strobing effect by highlighting your favorite facial features (i.e. the tops of your cheekbones, brow bones, the corner of your eyes, and your cupid’s bow).

For more on The Body Shop’s Instaglow CC Cream ($22), read our full product review, here.