THE WINTER BEAUTY EDIT

 

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Winter has just about arrived and these are the products that are going to see me through the coldest months of the year...

Of course we're starting with skincare! I have dry skin at the best of times, but winter means I need to ensure my routine is even more nourishing than usual and that my skin barrier is supported whilst the weather feels extra harsh. A gentle skincare routine has to start with a skin-friendly cleanser and for me, that has to be the Sachi Skin Saponins Cream Cleanser* | £42 | full review. This is a non-foaming, comforting, creamy-lotion cleanser with moisturising and skin barrier strengthening ingredients like prebiotics, panthenol, glycerin and plant oils and uses gentle surfactants. If you have dry or sensitive skin and you need a non-stripping winter cleanser: this could be exactly what you're looking for! I like a moisturising toner all year round, but during the winter, my skin definitely appreciates the extra layer of hydration and my favourite is the Ordinary's Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner* | £12.40 | full review. This is hydrating but not sticky or heavy and it has both moisturising and very mildly exfoliating properties. It leaves my skin soft, plump and happy without feeling like an extra layer on my skin (because it absorbs so nicely).

A recent discovery that's been serving my skin well is the IS Clinical Reparative Moisture Emulsion* | £105. This won't be for everyone due to the price-point, but if you can afford it: this is a great all-in-one moisturiser that's somehow light and lotion-like in texture but keeps my skin hydrated and plump all day long (as well as soft and smooth by morning if I use it overnight). It's formulated with a healing and well-ageing copper peptide, hyaluronic acid and glycerin (humectants to draw moisture into the skin), Superoxide Dismutase (a powerful antioxidant, protecting the skin from free radical damage), urea (a natural moisturising factor that can have mild exfoliating properties), squalane to moisturise the skin and panthenol to help it retain moisture and calm things down. This is a wonderful formula that's gently active but also healing and protective for the skin and isn't overly rich but does feel like enough for my winter skin.

 

Finally, I have a couple of 'booster' products for when my skin wants that little bit more. The first is the La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume | £18.90 | full review | which is a classic, a legend, a staple of my winter skincare stash! This is a healing barrier balm that can be used on a damaged skin barrier or as a preventative step; I recommend using it overnight as it's a little thick to wear sunscreen and makeup over and the zinc in the formula could leave a bit of a cast on deep skin tones. Zinc acts as an anti-inflammatory, cica is a soothing plant extract, the B5 (panthenol) helps improve skin hydration and prebiotics could help to improve skin barrier function. It also contains glycerin for hydration, shea butter to nourish the skin and occlusives to trap in moisture. It's immediately calming and soothing on the skin and really helps to sort out dry patches. It's function, unglamourous, affordable and highly effective! For when I want skin barrier support that's a little more luxurious, I reach for the Zelens Power D Vitamin D Concentrate* | £105 | full review. This is a lightweight facial oil that I usually apply as the final step in my PM routine to lock everything in and get that extra-silky skin feel by morning. It's formulated with Provitamin D3 (which helps to boost skin barrier function), Vitamins F and E (which are replenishing antioxidants), softening plant oils like squalane and meadowfoam seed and rosemary extract as an anti-inflammatory. I love it; it's so healing for my skin and never fails to leave it gorgeously soft!

When it comes to makeup, I like something hydrating with added skincare benefits for my base and the Trinny London BFF De-Stress Tinted Serum* (Leslie) | £39 | full review. It's a lightweight 'your skin but better' kind of formula, evening out the skin's tone and texture whilst still letting its natural appearance shine through. It just makes my complexion look like a more radiant, full-of-life version of itself. It isn't shiny, it wears well throughout the day and doesn't settle into fine lines. Plus, it provides some added goodness with plenty of hydrating ingredients. I'm also enjoying the Huda Beauty Blush Filter in Black Cherry* | £24 | review and demo. This is an amazing formula; you simply dab on a tiny dot or two, blend it out with a brush and you get a natural but pigmented diffused flush of colour. This shade is a slightly cool reddish-purple that's gorgeous for this time of year and lasts incredibly well without going patchy on my skin throughout the day.

My go-to lazy festive glitz always comes in the form of the Victoria Beckham Beauty Lid Lustre in Honey | £33 | full review. This is a one-swipe creamy eyeshadow with a glitzy finish that doesn't flake off or have fallout when applied. It sets down perfectly and just lets me do a subtle, fun bit of glitter with minimal effort. I love this light gold colour for the festive season. This looks lovely alongside the Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara in Burgundy | £12.99. This isn't my favourite mascara (I wish they'd brought out this shade in the original Lash Sensational formula!) but it's lengthening and separating enough for me (it just doesn't give as much volume or definition as the original) and it works pretty well. The reason I love it is for the colour; a subtle burgundy that's not too obviously 'red' but ties together a gold eye and berry lip beautifully. It also doesn't flake or transfer on me.

Finally, obviously I'll often go for a bold lip in the evening but during the day or even over the top of a more matte formula, I love to use the Clarins Lip Comfort Oil in Cherry* | £25 | review and demo. This is a nourishing lip oil formula that's great for dry winter lips when you want a bit of colour to pull your makeup look together. It has a non-sticky glossy finish and adds a warm wash of pinkish-red colour that's perfect for a wintery berry-toned makeup look.

Let's finish things off with fragrance and body care. My go-to body wash at the moment (since my favourite from Naturium seems to be constantly out of stock) is the Byoma Sensitive Skin Body Wash | £11.99 | full review. This is a simple, gentle, non-stripping and fragrance-free body wash that's perfect for my very dry body skin at this time of year. It's formulated with glycerin for hydration, urea as a natural moisturising factor, non-fragrant moisturising plant oils, soothing oat extract and more. Obviously we all use body wash, but if you suffer from dry, sensitive skin or issues such as KP (as I do) then this is one of the most skin-friendly options out there for the colder months. After showering, I lock hydration in with the Naturium Bio-Lipid Body Lotion* | £16.50 | full review. This feels like a quick and easy lightweight lotion, but it's honestly so nourishing and replenishing for my skin It's formulated with shea butter, B vitamins, sodium PCA and omega fatty acids to hydrate and strengthen the skin, but also to provide that moisture that's going to leave it feeling nice and soft all day long. 

Last, but certainly not least, a product that always makes it into these edits: the Maison Margiela Replica By the Fireplace Eau de Toilette | £120. This is an eau de toilette, but honestly the strength and staying power of this scent feels more like what you'd get with an eau de parfum. And the scent itself makes me feel warm, cosy and festive, with notes of clove, wood, chestnut and vanilla. It has depth, smoky notes and a slight bit of warm sweetness to it; just beautiful!

What are your favourite beauty products as we head into winter? 

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