Beauty experts reveal their must-have products for surviving the winter months
CHILLY season is well on its way, which means so are chapped lips, itchy scalps and sore hands.
Wind, rain and cooler temperatures can all take their toll on our skin, leaving it dry, sensitive and stressed.
So, with temperatures plummeting, it’s time to kickstart your winter SOS routine. Here are the beauty team’s top picks for keeping stressed skin at bay.
Tara Ledden, Beauty Editor
The Inkey List Tripeptide Plumping Lip Balm
£10.99, Cult Beauty – Buy Now
Don’t let the word ‘plumping’ put you off – this is nothing like the lip-tingling glosses of decades past.
I picked this up out of desperation a few weeks ago when my lips were so chapped I couldn’t smile for fear of them cracking.
Within a couple of days they were back to normal – with no hint of tightness or dry skin at all.
Since then, I’ve stocked up on a few more so I can keep one on my bedside, on my desk and in my handbag at all times!
Naturium The Glow Getter Multi-Oil Body Wash
£18, Space NK – Buy Now
I hate body lotion. The idea of my clothes sticking to my skin immediately gives me the ick.
But at this time of year, I can’t afford to go without unless I want seriously dusty tights.
I’ve found a great compromise in this genius oil-to-milk body wash, which hydrates my skin as well as cleansing it, and doesn’t leave any residue behind.
Plus, it doubles up as a pretty good shaving gel – who doesn’t love a multitasker!
Tatcha The Silk Cream
£123, Tatcha – Buy Now
I have incredibly spot-prone skin – I just have to look at a thick, heavy moisturiser and it’s already breaking out. But, like most people, my skin still cries out for extra hydration when the weather cools.
After trying close to 100 different moisturisers, I can confidently say this is the best one I’ve found.
It keeps my skin nourished without feeling greasy or oily, and it doesn’t clog my pores.
It’s expensive, but you only need a tiny amount, so one pot lasts around three months.
Phlur Hand Cream in Missing Person
£20, Selfridges – Buy Now
Have you ever seen a more chic hand cream?!
The perfume version of this scent became my absolute go-to last winter, thanks to the comforting combination of warm floral and musk notes that creates the liquid equivalent of putting on a parent’s jacket and smelling them on the collar.
When I realised the stylish brand had launched hand creams, I was over the moon.
The best part is that it feels as good as it smells, and I’m yet to get flaky knuckles, so it must be working!
Mia Lyndon, Beauty Assistant
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Miracle Hydrating Mist
£24, Elizabeth Arden – Buy now
Despite following a religious, twice-daily skincare routine, chilly weather often leaves my skin feeling dry.
Lugging around a pot of moisturiser and slathering it on while on the go isn’t really an option, so this handbag-size mist is a lifesaver.
A few pumps and my face is left feeling hydrated and looking radiant.
It has a super-fine pump which creates a gentle mist, so you can use it over or under make-up.
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5 Multi-Purpose Repairing Balm
£10, Boots – Buy Now
When excess nose-blowing (always a given during this time of year) leaves my nose red raw, this balm is my go-to.
You can use this wonder balm on pretty much anything – your hands, face or body.
Despite being fairly heavy, it won’t leave behind a greasy residue, so it can be reapplied throughout the day.
It’s gentle enough for those with sensitive or eczema-prone skin, too.
ARKIVE The Crown Scalp Scrub
£6, ARKIVE Headcare – Buy Now
Artic blasts not only dry out the skin on our faces but also on our scalps.
So, it’s no wonder my scalp feels so itchy during the cooler months!
Fortunately, this formula gently buffs away dry skin and is infused with caffeine, which helps promote scalp health.
It’s also incredibly deep-cleaning, so it’s perfect for refreshing greasy locks caused by wooly-hat wearing.
Palmer’s Coconut Hydrate Daily Body Lotion
£5.99, Boots – Buy Now
This body lotion smells so amazing you’ll want to spread it on your toast.
But please don’t, because this formula is best served when massaged into your skin.
Squeeze out a generous dollop and apply all over nightly, and you’ll wake up to buttery-soft skin.
Pay particular attention to areas like kneecaps, heels and elbows, which are prone to dryness during this time of year.
Dermalogica Ultracalming Cleanser
£39, from John Lewis – Buy Now
Constant battering from wind and rain always leaves my skin feeling highly sensitive.
This soothing cleanser gets to work on calming stressed and inflamed skin without being overly drying.
When it comes to cleansers, I love an unfussy gel formula – and this one ticks all the boxes.
After removing my makeup, I use it as a second cleanse, then follow up with a hydrating serum.