Masks
My collection of face masks is getting a little out of control but I really do love them! My combination skin gets particularly dehydrated in winter, which can leave my face uncomfortably tight and even stinging in places from lack of water. The Clarins Hydra-Quench Cream Mask is packed with hyaluronic acid (obvs), and other happy skin ingredients like katafray bark and vitamin E that help to prevent moisture loss. Similarly, the Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask uses nature’s most powerful moisturiser to draw water to the skin. Both work beautifully as overnight treatments too.
Skin
Serums and oils are a great way to combat winter’s usual suspects – dryness, dullness and inflammation. My favourite facial oils – Clarins Lotus Face Treatment Oil* and Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate – are wonderfully nourishing and leave my skin extremely soft and moisturised. I use them regularly in summer too and they’re great at helping to balance an oily t-zone. Juliette Armand Elements 05 Vitamins Complex Serum* is a good antioxidant to layer under your moisturiser as it helps to fight free radicals and keep your skin healthy under tough environmental conditions.
Bath
I can’t take baths in summer; I just get completely over-heated and find it very unpleasant and, well, all rather sweaty. As soon as the weather gets a little chillier though, I head for the tub with some of my favourite pamper products. Mio Liquid Yoga* is a longtime love of mine, not least of all because it has the most amazing scent. Essential oils of spearmint, cypress, lavender, mandarin and chamomile are blended with liquid Epsom salts and Arnica to be super soothing for mind and body. Jo Malone’s luxurious bath oils are also an absolute treat and English Pear and Freesia is particularly gorgeous. The star ingredients are combined with amber, patchouli and woods, and enriched with sweet almond, jojoba seed and avocado oils to be wonderfully fragrant and nourishing.
Fragrance
I’m usually a fan of quite bright, fresh scents but in cooler weather I am drawn to something a bit richer and warmer. Tom Ford is the king of sexy fragrances and Violet Blonde is no exception. It’s extremely glamorous and filled with heady florals like Tuscan iris and Sambac jasmine, and an undertone of moody cedar, suede and musk. It’s the perfect sophisticated scent for a night out on the town. Giorgio Armani Si EDT* is a little lighter but still seductive and feminine. Pear, freesia and amber wood are the main components but it has a powdery edge that makes it perfect for winter.
Extras
A little golden glow can make all the difference to sun-starved skin; brightening up the complexion, naturally contouring the face and just making you feel better on a gloomy day. Clarins Liquid Bronze Self Tanning delivers extremely natural, streak-free results in just a few hours, without the tell-tale fragrance. It’s easy to apply and can be built up over a few days without turning you into Donatella Versace. Another essential extra for healthy winter skin is a body exfoliator and The Body Shop Coconut Body Scrub is a real goodie. A regular buffing over dry limbs will remove dead skin cells and prevent scaly skin, plus the smell reminds me of summer.
*PR sample