I resisted from writing this post last week in the
hope that this fr-fr-freeeezing snap would end.
It just goes to show that you should never pay
attention to me because, well, how wrong was I?
This morning, I have woken up once again to a snowy
garden and numb toes. I can still see my breath in the air, and my nose is
permanently a rather fetching shade of red.
Of course, I shouldn’t moan too much as right now, I’m
snuggled on the sofa with duvet, hot water bottle, hot chocolate and two dogs
to keep me cosy…
Anyway, since the big freeze seems to be showing no
sign of abating, I thought I’d share with you some rather brilliant beauty
products I’d been sent to try to keep my skin happy and hydrated.
Enjoy!
Dr Hauschka Rose Day Cream, £23.95
http://www.drhauschka.co.uk/products/face-care/rose-day-cream
Having the type of skin that tends towards an oil
slick at the best of times, I was anxious about using this product. Well, once
again I have been proven wrong…Teresa tried this before me and convinced me to
give it a go. I’m so glad she did because it is BRILLIANT.
It has given my skin a gorgeous, dewy glow and is a
perfect base for make-up. Better still, it has soothed away any niggly bits and
dry patches.
This is one of
Dr Hauschka’s hero products, and I can see why. Containing rose oil and wild rose hip extract, the cream
envelopes the skin with a protective, nurturing film which is exceptionally
moisturising. Apply this each morning and your skin will be repaired and
restored.
It also smells absolutely gorgeous –
thanks in part to the fact that it contains over 1,075 organic rose petals in
each tube. Wow!! That is a lot of Valentine’s Day flowers…
I love the smell of roses anyway (I’m an old lady at
heart), so this is one product I will be coming back to again and again and
again…
Rodial Glam Balm Lip, £19
http://www.rodial.co.uk/product/skincare-lip/glam-balm-LIP/331
Wow, this product is amazing! So amazing, in fact,
that I have started carrying it everywhere with me (handbag, jeans pocket, even
on a run).
Part of Rodial’s cult Glam Balm range (celebrity
fans include Sienna Miller, Claudia Schiffer and Naomi Campbell, so we’re in
good company!), this glamorous little
tub has become one of my all-time winter skin saviours.
Also
flavoured and scented with roses (are you spotting a theme here?), this
gorgeous balm is designed to plump up the lips – all while soothing and
repairing dryness.
The product apparently
contains filling spheres (although what the hell that is and what they do, I’m
not quite sure) to fill fine lines and to smooth away imperfections. Meanwhile, Rose Wax and Shea Butter nourish and
soothe, while Vitamin E protects against environmental damage.
This has proven to be a brilliant base for my lippie
and, while £19 is expensive for a lip balm, it does much, much more…
Nurture
Skincare Daily Face Protector, SPF 30, £7.45
Now,
forgive me for getting on my high horse, but blustery, icy weather does not
mean we can ditch the SPF. In fact, with all this snow, I reckon we need it
even more…
I’ve
spent years searching for a non-greasy SPF which I can use daily without having
to worry about my foundation sliding from my face. I’ve tried them all –
Korres, Liz Earle, MAC, Invisible Zinc. You name it, I’ve had it.
Anyway,
I’ve now found one which provides a lovely, matte base for my make-up. And,
better still, it’s only £7.45!
This
cream is from the wonderful Nurture Skincare, who produce a brilliant line of
affordable anti-ageing wonders. It conforms to the
Boots 5-star rating system of protection against damaging UVA rays and also
gives high factor protection from UVB rays.
At the same time, it fights the appearance of wrinkles caused by sun exposure and contains vitamin E, aloe vera and pro-vitamin B5 to help keep your skin supple, protected and hydrated throughout the day.
Pai
Echium Rejuvenating Eye Cream, £24
http://www.paiskincare.com/echium-rejuvenating-eye-cream-7
If,
like me, winter wreaks havoc on that delicate skin around your eyes, you’ll be
needing a luxe eye cream right now.
Now,
it’s no secret at all that Pai is one of my favourite skincare brands. They
make organic skincare for very sensitive skin, which is perfect for people like
me who tend to break out or react at even a sniff of dodgy chemicals.
Anyway,
I adore everything about Pai (see here for my review on their Rosehip serum), so I was delighted to give this cream a go.
It
is beautifully nourishing and free from alcohol and irritating chemicals,
making it perfect for sensitive skins. In fact, I’ve found it to be so
nourishing that it has given the skin around my eyes a lovely glow – it looks
like it has been lit from within!
It
blends into the skin beautifully and, as with all Pai products, it smells
absolutely divine.
Onto
the technical stuff…
Pai's eye cream
is rich in Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA) and Stearidonic Acid, which are naturally
occurring ingredients with anti-ageing properties.
If you’re
wondering “what the hell does that mean?”, well Stearidonic Acid is a form of
omega 3 which helps to smooth fine lines, while GLA has proven to be great for
its anti-ageing and cell regeneration properties.
If
you do have sensitive skin and struggle to find a good eye cream, definitely
give this one a go!
Weleda
Skin Food, £8.95
I
stumbled across Weleda completely by accident a while back, and boy am I glad I
did! This is my favourite purchase and it is firmly established in my daily
skincare routine.
So, is it for you? Well, are you
always bemoaning your dry elbows or knees? Perhaps your hands suffer, or you
get disgusting flaky bits on your nose? Maybe just a dry patch on your back or
your leg?
If you suffer from dry skin at
all, then the Skin Food is perfect for you. It is a super duper cream which can
be used anywhere. Yes, ANYWHERE!
It is ideal for getting your
body through these yucky winter days as it makes it incredibly soft – like
you’ve bathed in a vat of milk. Sorry for the weird analogy.
Anyway, it is made with organic
sunflower seed oil and extracts of wild pansy, chamomile, calendula and
revitalising rosemary extract to perk up tired skin.
Basically, it is a brilliant
rescue remedy for skin lacking that little bit of sparkle.
