When it comes to skincare, I will spend the extra money on the products which actually work. I strongly believe that there is no point in buying expensive make up if you don't take care of your skin. So, after doing lots of research and trying a few samples, I will invest in high end skincare if my skin likes it. So here is a round up of what I have been using this winter...
My skin tends to be dry all year round but when it gets to the windy, cold conditions that an English winter brings, I really struggle. Thankfully there are lots of products out there that promise to fill your skin with moisture and wake up to a fresher, hydrated face. This being said, I find that some products don't live up to their promises and I also have very sensitive skin so it is hard to find products that my skin doesn't have a bad reaction to.
I am someone who always keeps the vouchers and discount codes from magazines and whilst wandering down the health and beauty isle one day in Waitrose, I remembered that I have a voucher which gave me some money off of Biore products. I had been looking for a face exfoliator at the time and after reading the ingredients on the back of the tube, I decided that it might be ok for my skin. It was a risk, but it wasn't very expensive and taking a chance paid off! The beads in this are really subtle and it doesn't feel too harsh when you work it into your skin but you can still feel it doing it's job. After using this, your skin is left very soft and it also looks clearer.
As someone who used to be addicted to lipbalm, when I did finally wean myself off it, I decided that I only really wanted to apply it in the morning and at night time. I had heard about Reve de Miel and I was drawn to it because of it's thick consistency so decided to give it a go. I do get very dry lips in Winter and so this lip balm is a dream. It is thick and so you can feel it sinking into your lips for quite some time. I apply a little more than I normally would before going to sleep to give my lips that extra love. When applying it in the morning, I apply a lighter layer and feel as though it acts as a protective layer to the harsh cold and wind. This will be a staple in my skincare routine for years to come!
I love eye creams because I get very dry around my eyes and like to apply eye cream and then moisturiser on top. The Body Shop's Vitamin E range is great for giving your skin moisture and after trying the Vitamin E day cream and night cream (which are lovely), I thought I would give their eye cream a whirl. It's just the right consistency, not too thick but very moisturising. I tend to apply it with a heavy hand anyway but if you are not too dry around the eye area, a light layer will still work wonders.
I received this oil in a beauty advent calendar and haven't bought another one since! I usually apply an oil to my face once a week, just to give my skin a boost and brighten it up a bit. This oil is extremely moisturising and ensures you wake up with super soft skin. I also love the packaging as it comes in the form of a roller ball which makes applying it very easy.
I adore Kiehls as a brand. Their sensitive skin care range is something I have often tried out and I know that they don't use ingredients that my skin will react badly to. I had previously been using Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisutrizing Lotion and whilst it is a lovely moisturiser, I found that it was a bit too heavy for wearing under make up. I'm sure it would be fine if you left it to sink in but when I'm in a rush for work, I don't have time to sit and wait for my moisturiser to do so! The Kiehl's moisturiser is so hydrating and smoothing but it sinks in a lot quicker and I find that it leaves my skin a lot softer and hydrated. It's really just very kind to my skin and I will be looking into more skin care from their sensitive range soon.
I'm sure you've all heard about the Origins Overnight Mask but it really is a product that I couldn't be without. Aimed at people with dry skin, it is such a luxurious product. I apply this product at night and wake up to skin that both looks and feels hydrated. I simply love it and find that using it once or twice a week really helps the overall appearance of my skin. If I had a day where I wasn't doing much and wanted a bit of me time, I would put this on in the morning too for a deep moisture surge!
Are any of these products in your winter skin care routine? Let me know if you love any of them!
Hope you're having a great week :)
Hayley xx