Skincare SOS – your winter essentials
Zoom close-ups making you wince? Cold winter days and dry central heating are playing havoc with our skin. Try these hero products for a dose of much-needed hydration.
I don’t know if it’s the ageing effect of the WFH/homeschool combo or the hours spent squinting at my computer, but I swear I’ve added a decade in the skin department this year. Where did this glum wrinkled forehead and these crochety, creased eyes come from? (Don’t tell me they’re laughter lines – that’s just not funny). My hair isn’t fairing much better either – no haircut, no life, I look like Bill Bailey. But all is not lost. In an act of utter selfishness masquerading as a helpful feature (come on, there have to be some perks to this job), I’ve collated an awesome skincare armoury for our collective winter injection of hydration and healing. Slap it all over and thank me in spring!
THE BRIGHTENING EYE CREAM
Vitamin C has long been a magic ingredient for skincare and this lightweight serum uses it to help brighten under the eye with a gentle exfoliant. New to the Dermalogica range, biolumin-c eye serum also helps to tackle fine lines and wrinkles with hydrating chia seed oil. Use morning and evening.
£63
THE CULT ACID SERUM
Acids are very much still having a moment in the beauty world thanks to their anti-wrinkle prowess. Hyaluronic acid in particular is the saviour of dry skin. It hydrates skin deeply and plumps up wrinkles. This La Roche Posay E Hyalu B5 Hyaluronic Acid Serum also contains Vitamin B5 which helps to repair damaged skin. Use morning and evening after cleansing, and at night ideally follow with a retinol night cream.
£38
THE NOURISHING CLEANSER
Alright, the bottle design is a bit iffy, but CeraVe has just launched this cleanser that’s perfect for winter, where still need to remove make-up and pollutants but in a way that won’t dry out our skin. This new Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser has a cream texture that turns to a light foam on damp skin and leaves skin feeling fresh and clean and contains amino and hyaluronic acid to aid hydration, and ceramides, which act as a barrier.
£12.50
THE SMOOTH-AS-SILK BODY CREAM
My new personal wonder product (am a little addicted!) Clarins has relaunched its iconic Moisture-Rich Body Lotion for 2021 with a sprinkling of extra magic to help tired skin. The higher concentration of shea butter plus organic plant extracts means the latest formula is more hydrating to smooth and tighten skin. It’s also silky smooth to apply and quickly absorbed.
£33
THE MULTI-TASKING PRIMER
Foundation on dehydrated skin can look patchy and grainy – which is where primer comes in. Smoothed over moisturiser, primer offers a base for foundation and gives a smoother finish, and this new Dior Forever Skin Veil SPF 20 Moisturising Primer is super light, smooth and hydrating. It also helps reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and pores so can be used without foundation if you’re looking for a more natural finish.
£36
THE MIRACLE MAKER
Clarins’ Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch gives such a speedy, flawless base that you can have your lines smoothed away and a Zoom-ready natural look in minutes. (so extra time cradling that coffee before the peppy morning meeting.)
£26.50
THE CONDITIONER YOUR SCALP WILL LOVE
Monpure’s Strengthening Essence Conditioner gets straight to the root of winter scalp problems and reduces breakage through moisturising and strengthening. The vegan silk peptides feed the hair while argon oil and pro vitamin B5 hydrate the scalp.
£36
THE ORGANIC NIGHT CREAM
Let this Lily & Loaf Bedtime Revitalising Cream with Hyaluronic Acid do its work while you sleep, sinking in to reduce lines, hydrate and soothe. The vegan night cream contains shea butter, coconut and evening primrose oil, and has a delicate scent of geranium and bergamot. It’s also organic and cruelty-free – extra good vibes included. Use every evening after cleansing.
£28.95
THE FACE MASK THAT LASTS FOR DAYS
Liz Earle products are known for their botanical ingredients and sustainability, with the hot cloth cleanser its cult seller, but we think this new hydrating mask is sure to be a winter sell-out. It has a light whipped cream texture and is deeply nourishing thanks to the shea butter, apricot kernel and borage seed oils. Leave it on for 10 minutes twice a week and it will deliver hydration for 72 hours, helping to reduce dry patches.
£20
