>For Kim Min-sun, a 27-year-old hotelier, winter is her favourite season as she heads out of Seoul to ski every weekend.
Her wardrobe is ready. She even checks snow conditions and the weather online. But there is one thing she can't get out of her head: How to keep her skin looking its best on the slopes.
Kim is far from alone in worrying about how to keep her skin clear and well-moisturised after enjoying winter sports.
Experts offer an obvious yet important beauty solution: Provide your skin with enough hydration and nutrition before heading out. And don't forget the sunscreen.
"The cold wind that hits your face while skiing and the indoor heat will easily strip your skin of moisture faster than you think. Dry skin causes tightness, fine wrinkles and a parched appearance," said Kim Dong-lim of Lancome Korea.
Experts like Kim suggest making a minimal change to your beauty routine by using high-intensity products like essences or serums.
Hydra Zen Gel Essence from Lancome (30 ml, 79,000 won) and The Concentrate from De La Mer (50 ml, 430,000 won) are among the best-selling products from the beauty counter.
Hydra Zen Gel Essence keeps the skin moist by balancing hydration and nutrition with its rose and peony extracts. Exclusively developed for Korean customers, it hydrates and restores the natural layers of skin with its soothing effect. De La Mer's The Concentrate helps damaged skin renew and rebuild its appearance. Designed for fragile, post-trauma skin on the face and body, the product complements the skin's own natural process with its signature "Miracle Broth", lime tea, marine and plant extracts.
Not to be outdone, domestic cosmetics brand Faceshop presents Arsainte Eco-Therapy Extreme-Moisture Cream (50 ml, 14,900 won), which contains extracts from organic plants such as French rose, thyme and bamboo. The product reduces skin irritation by using non-chemical ingredients that have no fragrance or colour.
Skiers must protect their skin from the sun, cold temperatures and wind. Remember that during the winter season, your skin is hit by more ultraviolet rays than in the summer. Consider sunscreen or products with added sunscreen as essential as goggles and gloves.
MAC suggests PREP + PRIME Face Protect SPF 50 (30 ml, 37,000 won), an ultra-fluid lotion formulated with special-effect silicones. The skin-protecting SPF 50 cream calms and soothes the skin, blots away excess oil, and evens out skin redness. UV Expert Neuroshield SPF 50 (30 ml, 56,000 won) offers optimal protection against UV rays and also defends the skin from daily pollutant.
Finally, avoid heavy make-up.
If you are planning to wear smoky make-up again this winter, do reconsider. Since naturalism is the key word this year, cosmetic brands are introducing colours that make your skin brighter and healthier.
Black and navy eye shadows are gone and have been replaced with glittering gold and beige tones. If you simply can't go out without dolling up your peepers, use an eyeliner pencil or brush. Remember that you are going to be wearing ski goggles a lot, so waterproof eyewear is a smart idea. Look for waterproof mascara or apply a thin line of dark eyeliner to do the trick without looking over-done.
For lips, apply some high-SPF tinted lip balm and then use glittering gloss or glossy lipsticks.
