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(Beauty Report Card)

This Genius Lip Balm Combo Never Leaves My Ski Bib

All your slope essentials, here.

Dec. 24, 2022

Woman in sunglasses and knit cap

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For someone who never even saw serious snowfall until their early 20s, I took to it immediately — maybe because I didn’t grow up salting, shoveling, and scraping the stuff away every winter morning. Some idolize the beachy, surf-savvy Blue Crush girls, but I’m awed by their snow sports counterparts, totally unbothered on their way to a champagne-soaked après. Over the years, I’ve gotten marginally closer to that vibe on the mountain, but not without the help of several beauty products for skiing that save my skin (and dignity) if we go straight from the slopes to a sit-down meal. As extreme an element as any, it’s easy to accidentally do some serious damage to your skin and hair during an afternoon of skiing or snowboarding. I know the struggle firsthand — ask me about the Great Christmas Eve Sunburn Of ‘18 — and have dedicated more than a little time to curating my ultimate snow-skin survival pack.

Keeping it real, though, my go-to skiing products reach beyond just robust moisturizers and sunscreens. Is it a crime to want to look cute on the mountain? To me, a stay-all-day mascara and some nose blush are just as essential. Ahead, find everything you need to rule the slopes this season, and stay fresh, hydrated, and glowing while you do it.

La Roche-Posay Nutritic lip balm for very dry or cracked lips

Nutritic Lip Balm

Thanks to a formula loaded with shea butter, vitamin E, glycerin, and ceramides (a recurring theme on this list — keep going), this twist-up La Roche-Posay lip balm actually absorbs water in the air and traps it in the skin while fortifying the all-important moisture barrier and soothing cracks and chaps. It’s an all-star lip balm that stays on my person at virtually all times, but it’s especially crucial in my ski bib or coat while I’m out in the snow. This is the real trick, though: layer some petroleum jelly-based Aquaphor lip treatment over it to lock the balm in and create a physical barrier between your lips and the brutal, biting wind.

my kitsch Satin Sleep Bonnet in Black

Satin Sleep Bonnet in Black

OK, confession hour. Though I’d desperately love to be a too-cool-to-care snowboarding baddie like Kendall Jenner, whipping through the trees at breakneck speed while somehow maintaining a perfect blowout for après, my hair looks more like I barely survived a Saw trap when I finally make it down the mountain. This satin bonnet, the sort I sleep in anyway, is the hack for avoiding hair-tearing tangles under your hat, hood, or goggles. Wrap it tight and pull your headpieces over it to protect your hair and prevent that dreaded post-hat static.

111Skin Celestial Black Diamond Hand Cream

Celestial Black Diamond Hand Cream

I’m compulsive about hand care on even the balmiest days, so something especially hydrating is crucial for snow sports. A new release from 111Skin I’ve been enjoying all winter, this thick, buttery hand cream melts down and sinks into skin with a fresh scent. A nourishing blend of diamond peptides — the product’s signature — help facilitate maximum product absorption, while a stabilized form of vitamin C and vegan elastic peptides ensure moisture, smoothness, and even tone all over.

dr jart Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturizer

Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturizer

And here we are, back to the ceramides again. A skin lipid unique in its ability to retain and hold in moisture, anything loaded with ceramides is a must for snow sports — or even just hanging out in the winter in general. This Dr. Jart+ cream comes complete with five ceramides — as well as hyaluronic acid and shea butter — which makes it a ideal for daily use in the cold. Personally, I slather it on after my moisturizer as a cocoon-like final step.

la roche posay shaka Anthelios Mineral Ultra-Light Face Sunscreen Fluid SPF 50

Anthelios Mineral Ultra-Light Face Sunscreen Fluid SPF 50

I pledge allegiance to this LRP sunscreen, which somehow manages to sink into skin, leave a very minimal white cast, and create a silky canvas for makeup while being a melasma-friendly, mineral formula — that’s hard to do! I use it religiously year-round, and it’s an oft-forgotten but critical part of skiing and snow sports. Not only are you just literally closer to the sun when on a mountain top that’s 12,000 feet above sea level, but the snow reflects light and sends it blasting back into your face. A comfortable sunscreen is a must — as is frequent reapplication. Fortunately, this SPF is housed in a light, slim case and easy to apply without a mirror.

LYS beauty Higher Standard Satin Matte Cream Blush

Higher Standard Satin Matte Cream Blush

Some people equate wearing makeup while skiing to wearing makeup to the gym — and don’t even get me started on the totally lame social media trend of shaming girls for wearing their hair loose and free-flowing on the slopes. Personally, I am a massive fan of the TikTok-viral “I’m Cold” makeup trend, and it looks all the better when you’re actually cold. LYS Beauty’s matte cream blushes are perfect for sports because they stay on for hours and don’t accentuate sweat the way dewier blushes do.

lancome Lash Idôle Lash-Lifting & Volumizing Mascara

Lash Idôle Lash-Lifting & Volumizing Mascara

Same goes for eyes — I know they’re obscured by glasses and goggles, but it makes me feel better to have long, seperated, smudge-free eyelashes. Lancôme’s cult-favorite Lash Idôle mascara has a long-lasting, ever-viral reputation for a reason. The plastic-bristled wand grabs and defines every individual hair for a natural look that’s also highly visible — that your-own-lashes-but-better effect everyone’s after.

soft services Speed Soak Skin Rehydrating Gel

Speed Soak Skin Rehydrating Gel

Buried under layers of heat-trapping fabrics, body skin can take a serious beating in the snow, too. When I’m short on moisture (and bathroom time in the family cabin), Soft Service’s Speed Soak rehydrates all-over in a matter of minutes. Waiting for lotion to dry is at the very bottom of my favorite-things list — it’s right there next to filing taxes and administering eye drops to angry cats — but this water-retaining gel sinks in instantly without sacrificing a drop of moisture.