Winter Makeover: How to Change Your Look and Stay Under Budget

With the Thanksgiving holidays and Christmas parties on the horizon, winter is the perfect season for a makeover! If, like most of us, your finances are feeling the squeeze right now, getting a new look without breaking the bank is vital.

From sumptuous skin treats to up-leveling your smile, below, you’ll find the most-effective means to give yourself the winter makeover you deserve. So, whether you’re hitting the ice rink with friends, attending a glittering work bash, or looking forward to a romantically cozy date, you’ll shine as brightly as the fairy lights!

 

Get a Gorgeous Smile

If misaligned teeth are making you smile-unconfident, then now is the perfect time to consider getting braces. With the range of at-home treatment plans and flexible payment options, getting a stellar smile may be easier and cheaper than you think!

However, if you’re seeking a more immediate transformation, considering options like porcelain solutions for your teeth can be a game-changer. Unlike braces, porcelain veneers offer a quick and significant improvement in the appearance of your smile. They are custom-made to fit your teeth and can address various issues such as discoloration, gaps, or minor misalignments. This cosmetic dentistry option is a popular choice for those looking to enhance their smile’s aesthetics quickly, ensuring you’re camera-ready for all those winter holiday events.

Choosing invisible aligners also means your treatment will be discreet — most people won’t even know you’re wearing them. The best invisible braces achieve quick results (sometimes in as little as a few months) and offer orthodontist-managed treatment. Some providers even include whitening gel as part of the package.

 

Treat Your Skin

The winter can be hard on your skin. The drop in temperatures combined with dry air may cause skin dryness or exacerbate skin that’s already on the sensitive side.

A key part of your winter makeover is creating a luxurious skincare routine that’ll protect your skin and make it look and feel beautiful throughout the whole season. Switch out your regular moisturizer for a richer, thicker formula during the winter. Avoid products that contain harsh ingredients, synthetic fragrances, or alcohol, all of which can further dry or irritate the skin.

Consider using coconut oil; it has many benefits for the skin and will leave it looking softer and more supple. Coconut oil penetrates the skin and is excellent for removing dead skin cells and impurities, meaning it can also be used as an effective cleanser.

 

Embrace Seasonal Colors

Winter is a great time to reinvent your wardrobe! Take inspiration from the season’s palette of reds, greens, golds, maroons, silver, and jewel colors to create a fabulous capsule collection for day and evening wear.

There’s no need to spend a fortune. In fact, by assessing what you have in your wardrobe right now, thinking about how specific garments and accessories could be matched in new ways, along with a couple of visits to the thrift store to scour for vintage treasures, you may be surprised at how little you have to spend to get a multitude of festive looks.

As part of reinventing your wardrobe, think about your skin tone to find the best shades. Emerald green, sapphire blue, and pale gold look lovely on those with cool skin tones, while those with warm skin tones look fantastic wearing clothes in shades like ruby red, moss green, and deep burgundy.

 

Holiday Hair — Without the Pricetag!

Make the most of salon discounts or new-customer special offers to get a winter hair makeover without putting a dent in your credit card.

Some beauty colleges offer free cuts…you may feel a bit uneasy about letting a trainee lose on your locks, but if you’re prepared to risk it, you could just get a stunning new look without spending a dime.

 

Nail Your New Look

Keeping your nails neat and beautiful is an easy way to uplevel your look. Best of all, you can give yourself a luxurious manicure at home without paying for this treatment at the salon. Why not treat yourself to a new nail polish in one of the winter season’s key colors?

Start by removing any old nail polish. Next, use a file to gently shape the nails and smooth any ragged edges. Now add a small amount of facial cleanser to a bowl of warm water and soak your hands for a few minutes — and relax!

Next, dry the hands and apply a rich moisturizer or body butter all over the skin and nails. Before applying your chosen polish, give each nail a quick wipe with a cotton pad soaked in nail polish remover to remove any oiliness that could prevent the new polish from properly adhering.

Ideally, add two layers of polish, leaving each layer to dry for a few minutes before applying the next, and a base of topcoat. Adding a new single layer of topcoat daily will ensure your beautiful nails stay gorgeous for longer!

 

Make Time for Self-Care

A vital part of looking and feeling your best this winter is ensuring you make enough time for self-care and nurturing yourself. With our busy lives, this may seem much easier said than done, but looking after yourself well can have both physical and mental benefits.

Make sure you build some downtime into every day — this could be as simple as setting an intention to read for ten minutes before sleeping instead of scrolling through your phone, meditating upon waking in the morning, or enjoying a relaxing face mask or other treatment regularly.

Eating well, getting enough rest, and exercising regularly, along with the beauty and style tips above, will make this winter your most healthy and glamorous one yet!