I like to step up my skincare regime at this time of year when the shift between a centrally heated office or cosy fireside and the crisp outdoors can really take its toll on delicate skin, causing dryness, dehydration or irritation. Regular readers know by now that I’m a fan of hydration from within first and foremost – so firstly, top up on your H2O, and drink plenty of veggie-heavy winter soups to keep the nutrients coming in. As well as this, gently nourishing oils and creams can make a marked difference in days... add a couple of these beauty fixes to your AW regime and your hair and skin will thank you later.
PARCHED CHEEKS
My cold weather skincare regime is a little more luxe than usual, with the addition of rich cleansing balms, treatment serums and hydrating masks. A luxurious face oil can make a real difference and I like to apply Sunday Riley's Juno Antioxidant + Superfood Face Oil before bed at night. This glow-giver is high in omegas 3,6&9, essential amino acids and natural anti-inflammatory agents, which leave skin feeling velvety soft and luminous; not a dry patch in sight.
If you prefer a gel texture, try Image Vital C Hydrating Overnight Mask for a boost of hydration as you sleep. A triple mineral complex and blue green algae extract smooth and energise skin... nothing beats waking up looking extra energised and glowy! Add a green juice for breakfast for inside-out hydration and you're good to go!
If you’re always on the go then Charlotte Tilbury Magic Night Cream is instant beauty sleep in a cream elixir! The supercharged formula feeds your skin and smooths its appearance hour by hour as you sleep, with a powerhouse of 8 magic ingredients, for gorgeous looking skin!
I have recently added Tropic’s Supergreens facial oil to my skin routine. It is packed with vitamins and nutrients that help fight the effects of everyday pollution and leaved skin looking bright and healthy - it is also great if you have irritated or sensitive skin
DRY, CRISPY LOCKS
If central heating and icy winds leave your locks feeling stripped and crunchy, a weekly mask helps restore hair health. No need to wait around for hours or ruin pillows with an overnighter; Label M's Honey & Oat Mask works in just 3 minutes. Royal Black Honey, Oat Oil, antioxidants and protein protect from damage and hydrate where needed for soft, swishy hair. Restrict to mid lengths and ends as this is super rich and I find once a month is all my hair needs. PS the honey scent is swoony.
CROCODILE SHINS
We've all been there and know the drill. Scaly shins ain't sexy and should be slathered with a sumptuous rich body cream nightly to restore silky smoothness. Weekly exfoliation helps slough off any dead skin cells so that cream can really sink in and get to work. I am not a big fan of harsh exfoliators so I love the Yonka sugar scrubs which are gentle to the skin. They feel luxurious and melt into a milky texture when you add water, leaving skin feeling super soft.
If you're anything like me, a divinely scented product will help encourage you to do this on repeat (it really only takes a minute!). I'm a fan of L'Occitane Milk Concentrate with Almond Milk and The Body Shop Body Butters are fantastic. NB these two body care steps are essential if you're an all year round self tanner.
Dry brushing is important and wonderful for exfoliating dry winter skin, leaving skin looking polished and fresh. It also helps detoxify by increasing blood circulation and promoting lymph flow and drainage so try and add this into your skin routine.
The Body Shop do a great range and are made with a wooden handle making them much better for the environment. They also have one with a small handle making it easy to use.
