I love winter. I love the snow, i love sitting in front of the fire drinking hot chocolate and i love winter fashion. However one thing i don't love is dry skin. I agree its not the most glamourous topic to discuss but lets face it.. we all get it. So i thought i'd write a bit about how i combat those dry patches along with some of the other products i wouldn't want to face the cold months without.
Soap and Glory 'Whipped clean shower butter'.
(£8 for 250ml from Boots).
This product smells incredible. I love foody smells and with this smelling of pistachio, almond and sweet vanilla it was love at first smell. In the winter i think it's essential to moisturise however sometimes i can be a bit slack. This product is a sort of in shower moisturiser which you put all over your body like a moisturiser then rinse off. Its a little bit strange as it doesn't really lather up but it leaves your skin feeling soft and smooth with minimal effort. You can follow up with a moisturiser if you like but i usually don't as although my skin does get drier in the winter months i never get very very dry skin (and i'm a bit lazy).
Soap and Glory 'Smoothie star lightly whipped body buttercream'.
(£10.50 for 300ml from Boots).
When i do decide to moisturise this is the one i reach for as again it has that same pistachio, almond and sweet vanilla scent to it. I like this stuff because its not too rich owing to the fact that it is whipped making it pretty light. The main thing i love about this product (apart from the smell) is the fact that it sinks in almost immediately. I cannot stand that horrible greasy feeling on my skin as i usually moisturise just before i hop into bed.
Soap and Glory 'The breakfast scrub'
(£9.50 for 300ml from Boots).
I promise this is the last Soap and Glory product i'm going to talk about! I have always liked Soap and Glory but i must admit i much prefer their new 'food scented' range as apposed to the original Soap and Glory scent. This scrub has just the right amount of abrasiveness so it doesn't scratch the skin but feels like its getting rid of all that nasty dead skin. It also smells incredible and leaves my skin feeling silky soft. Soap and Glory is currently on 3 for 2 in Boots.
Redken extreme strength builder fortifying mask for distressed hair.
(£17.65 for 250ml from feelunique.com).
This is the first product i have tried from Redken but i had heard a lot of good things about them so decided to try out this mask. My hair is naturally quite dry at the ends and as i have recently had my ends ombred it needs all the moisture it can get! I really like this mask as it can be left on for 5 minutes for a quick moisture boost or for 15 minutes to give your hair some serious TLC. I also really like the John Freida full repair deep conditioner... possible more than this Redken one! and for a fraction of the price it's definitely worth trying if you have dry hair like me.
NUXE multi-usage dry oil.
(£17 for 50ml from feelunique.com).
I have also really got into using oils on my hair and during 2012 loads of companies brought one out! I have a small (10ml) sample bottle of the NUXE multi-usage dry oil that i received in a beauty box last year. You only need a tiny amount of this as i just run it through the ends of my hair. Although i do like this oil i think when i finish it (which will be very soon) i'd like to try the Moroccan oil as i've heard so many great things about it.
Origins 'Drink up intensive overnight mask'.
(£20 for 100ml from Origins).
This type of product is also something that i haven't seen around that much so i was intrigued to give it a go when i heard other bloggers and Youtubers talking about it. This is an overnight mask which you put onto your skin before bed and then sleep in it. To me it just seems like a really think moisturiser that makes your skin deeply moisturised and ready to face those bitter cold days. I really love this product however i do think any thick moisturiser would achieve the same results.
Emma Hardie 'amazing face, Natural lift and sculpt Moringa cleansing balm'.
(£27.20 for 100ml from feelunique.com).
I dont think there has been a blogger who hasn't mentioned this product. It is a thick, slightly oily balm cleanser which you mix with warm water to form and paste and massage all over the face. You then use a muslin cloth to remove your makeup. I don't recommend using this cleanser without a muslin cloth/flannel as it can leave a slightly oily residue on the skin. I find this product to be deeply moisturising and i find that i don't need to apply moisturiser right away afterwards like i do with other cleansers. This is my favourite cleanser for the colder months and i will definitely buy it again!
NUXE 'Reve de Miel' lip balm.
(£9.50 for 15g from feelunique.com).
I LOVE THIS. If i could only have one of the products i have spoken about today it would be this. It is a thick lip balm that moisturises my lips like nothing i've ever tried before. I apply a generous amount of this lip balm at night and find when i wake up in the morning i can still feel the product on my lips (in a good way). You could also use this is the day as it is almost matte so doesn't make your lips look greasy and horrible, however i prefer to use Carmex during the day as i find the tube easier to use on the go. Moisturising your lips is essential in the colder months especially if you're planning on wearing lipstick! The Lush lip scrubs are also great to keep your pout looking perfect.
MAC 'Rebel' and Topshop 'Beguiled'.
(Rebel, £14 and Beguiled, £8).
Now these aren't 'winter saviours' as such but i thought they deserved a mention as i love to wear vampy lipsticks in autumn/winter. These are 2 of my favourites but i also really love the Revlon 'Just bitten kissable balm stain' in 'Crush'. I think a vampy lip glams up any look and suits everyone. MAC's 'Rebel' has more of a purple undertone whereas Topshop's 'Beguiled' is more red/wine based. They're both gorgeous and i must say i will be sad when spring comes around and they have to put away until next autumn/winter.
I hope you enjoyed reading about my 'Winter saviours'.
Do you have anything that you love to use to keep you looking tip top in the colder months? I'd love to hear about them!!
Verity xx
