Winter Skin Saviours

Oh it's cold! I adore this time of year so I'm not complaining but my skin is starting to. I though I'd share with you the products I use and how I change my skincare routine to fight the elements.

I have very dry skin which naturally gets much worse in the winter. If I leave it to it's own devices it gets very tight and develops dry patches around my nose and forehead. My makeup looks dreadful because it clings to the dry bits and my skin always looks so dull. These are the products I employ to fix my face.

*La Roche Posay Physiological Micellar Solution- when my skin is feeling stressed and I am feeling lazy I swap out foaming cleanser and water for this little beauty. An accessible alternative to Bioderma, this micellar water works exactly the same, takes away all the makeup, oil and dirt from your face and leaves it so clean and fresh feeling. Pros: easy, convenient, can be used as a toner. Cons: I  don't like the smell  it's very chemically, you will use lots of cotton pads.

*The Body Shop Vitamin C Microdermabrasion is possibly the roughest exfoliater I have ever used. I can actually only use it once a week and not go too rough otherwise it can be painful! Does an excellent job at removing dead, flaky (nice!) skin. Pros: perfect for sloughing off dead skin, brightening, smells fresh. Cons: can leave skin a bit red and sore, not for sensitive skin I expect.

*The Body Shop Nutriganics Softening Gel Cleanser-full review here but this is a great product for dry skin sufferers. Pros: removes every scrap of makeup including eye makeup, hydrating. Cons: I'm not keen on the packaging but that's just me being picky.

*The Body Shop (seeing a theme here) Honey Oat mask is a treat for dry/dehydrated skin. Apply a layer to clean dry skin and leave it for as long as you like really. Then wash off to reveal soft hydrated skin. Moisturise as normal and fin! Pros: has lumpy oat bits which exfoliate, smells divine. Cons: it's a lovely mask and I enjoy using it but it doesn't feel like I'm getting any long term benefits from it.

*I used The Body Shop Hemp Face Protector last winter, it saved my skin then and it's saving it now. I use it morning and night post cleansing and I find it stops that awful tight feeling I get sometimes. It is fairly greasy for the first half an hour or so after application but soon settles in and it's a more than adequate base for foundation. Pros:wonderfully hydrating and light. Cons:smells a bit odd but you soon get used to it.

*Carmex-this has been a staple in my makeup bag and routine for about eight years. Other lips balms will come and go but they never measure up to this gem holy grail product. I am absolutely addicted to the tingle and hydration it gives. I genuinely think this is the only product I will always buy. Pros: sooo moisturising, excellent base for lip products, smells divine, cheap. Cons:...erm...I think the manufacturers have stolen a gram or so from the product. It seems to have a cavernous hole in the base of the pot. Irrelevant though as I would buy it at ten times the price though.

And accessories: Muslin cloths for cleansing and large cotton pads.

All of these products are available from Boots and The Body Shop and I highly recommend them all.

How do you change your winter skin care routine? Do you have any products recommendations for me?

vxo