Winter Skincare Favourites

I’ve written about my skincare before, and as I’ve mentioned I like to step up my skincare game in the harsh, cold winter months. This year I’ve been experimenting with some new-to-me products as well as introducing regular nourishing treats to my skin as I’m noticing I can no longer rely on doing the bare minimum – ageing sucks!

Here are my current winter skincare favourites, if you have any must-haves that you recommend then let me know in the comments. 🙂

Cleansing and toning

Purifying organic charcoal face wash This year I’ve been trying to reduce the number of chemicals I use in my skincare and focus more on using natural and organic ingredients. Whilst I’m far from having a totally clean beauty regime, I am slowly but surely replacing old products with more natural ones. I love this facewash for keeping my pores clear, I still love a good peel-off charcoal mask for a deep clean but this is the cleanser I use daily.

Garnier Rose Cleansing Milk I use this as a second cleanse at night. After taking my makeup off with organic virgin coconut oil I use this to ensure any remaining bits of dirt and makeup are removed. I’m a big fan of double cleansing and I definitely think it’s improved the texture of my skin.

Boots Traditional Glycerin and Rosewater Toner There’s probably a reason why this old favourite is still stocked in Boots, I love that they’ve kept the retro branding on it. This is a staple that my mum has in her bathroom cabinet and it’s one I love. It’s gentle on skin and I use it as a toner twice a day. Rosewater is great for reducing redness in skin.

Urban Veda Exfoliating Facial Polish I use this facial polish every other day in the morning as an exfoliator or whenever my skin’s looking a little dull and in need of a boost. I try not to over-exfoliate my face as the skin is delicate but this polish is gentle enough for regular use. The version I have (green) has peppermint oil in it which is great for waking up your skin in the morning.

Moisturising

Cien Celular Beauty Day Cream from Lidl. There’s been a lot of buzz about this cream, like a lot of Lidl’s skincare range it’s supposed to be a much cheaper version of some luxury skincare brands. I don’t know about that but I do know that this cream works well for me. It’s so light and creamy, it almost feels whipped which means it goes on smoothly. It makes my skin feel refreshed and moisturised without feeling heavy or sticky. I need to try the rest of this range.

Neals Yard Wild Rose Beauty Balm Last winter I started suffering from dry skin around my eyes, I think it was down to the office air con heating but it was really persistent and I struggled to find a cream that was gentle enough to use on my sensitive eye skin without making the problem worse. I was recommended the beauty balm and since then I’ve been hooked. I use it day and night as an eye cream, but this little miracle worker has so many uses. I’ve used it as a hot cloth cleanser (it comes with a cloth) as well as a mask and an intensive night cream. It smells beautiful, is made of all-natural ingredients and a little goes a long way. I also really like the heavy glass pot it comes in, but I’m weird about things like that. 😉

Formula Absolute Ultimate Sleep Cream I first got this cream in the M&S Beauty Advent Calendar and I loved how it made my skin feel. M&S claims it makes your skin look like you’ve had 8 hours of sleep, I’m not sure if it does that but it certainly leaves your skin super soft in the morning. It’s quite heavy so not ideal if you have oily skin.

ESPA Overnight Hydration Therapy I LOVE this night cream. You apply it really thickly and let it sink in overnight, so if you don’t like heavy product on your face it might not be for you. Word of warning though, try and avoid putting it on right before bed, unless you want a pillow full of it. In the morning you wash your face as normal and you should find it feels silky smooth and soft. It also smells amazing!

Palmers cocoa butter This is my go-to body moisturiser, I not only love the smell but it really does seem to nourish my skin. The only issue is it leaves your skin quite greasy for a little while, so I tend to put it on asap after showering and try and give it plenty of time to sink in.

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse This is another product that I was introduced to via the M&S Advent Calendar and I love it. It smells incredible and is a real treat for the skin. You can use it all over but I tend to use it on my face a couple of times a week or whenever I want to give it a treat. If you’re apprehensive about oils (which I totally get) then I’d recommend doing a little research. I was worried using them would make me break out but they really don’t. I love them and they’re now a staple of my skincare regime.

Bio Oil I’ve loved this for years, I first got it to deal with a scar on my knee and I now use it on some pesky old stretchies on my thighs and as a hydrating boost when my skin needs it. I use it on my upper arms quite a lot and usually apply straight out of the shower. If you find your skin gets super dry over winter then Bio Oil might be something to consider. 

Sheet masks

This year I’ve really got into sheet masks. They’re a great way to treat tired or dehydrated skin, or if you want glowing skin for an upcoming event. I try to use a rehydrating one after a heavy weekend, I know it won’t totally undo the damage but being hungover with a sheet mask on makes me feel like a slightly better human haha. Below are some of my favourites.

Garnier moisture bomb sheet mask

Skin republic brightening vitamin C sheet mask

Skin Republic Collagen Hydrogel Under Eye Patch

Do you tend to change up your skincare seasonally? Now that I’m getting closer to 30 (eek!) I’m trying to do more research into my skincare regime to find out the best products for my particular needs. As well as ways I can clean it up with more natural ingredients. If you have any recommendations I’d love to hear them.

Love, Sarah x

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