It’s that time of year again where my skin gets super dry, the eczema starts to flare up, and a little extra care is needed to keep my skin looking halfway decent. With the temperatures dipping below -10 Celsius this week, the heating has been doing a number on me and I’ve been trying to be extra conscientious of skin and body care. Plus it’s always nice to take some extra time for yourself when the sun sets at 4:30. I thought I’d share a little roundup of the new and old favourites I’ve been falling back on this season to keep my skin feeling its best.
Everyday Skincare
VICHY MINERAL 89 – It’s a cult favourite for a reason. I switched over to Mineral 89 from a similar hyaluronic acid product about 6 weeks ago, and it’s been doing wonders for the overall state of my skin. I think the key to this one is that it has no fragrance; products with added perfumes tend to irritate my skin and ultimately have the opposite effect of a hydrating serum, but this one has been doing exactly what I need it to do. With consistent use, I’ve been noticing reduced dry patches and an overall healthier-looking complexion.
DR. JART CERAMIDIN CREAM – This is one of those products I always fall back on whenever my skin feels lacklustre or dry. I’ve been using it off and on for nearly three years now and it really never disappoints — I tried living without it for a while and I crawled right back. Think of it like an occlusive layer that locks in everything underneath, but it also contains ingredients such as ceramides and shea butter that protect the skin’s natural moisture barrier. I truly think it’s a must-have for anyone with dry, sensitized, or eczema-prone skin, especially in the winter.
PAI ROSEHIP BIOREGENERATE – I’ve been using rosehip oil for many moons and I feel like Pai just does it best. Rosehip fruit and seeds contain omegas, antioxidants, and vitamin E, all of which keep the skin looking soft, healthy, and glowy. Pai’s whole mission is around creating products for sensitive skin, and I’ve yet to come across a product of theirs that I haven’t loved. I like using the oil after serums but before moisturizer to get the most out of this powerhouse ingredient.
FIRST AID BEAUTY ULTRA REPAIR CREAM – Contrary to popular opinion I love a thicker moisturizer all year round, and this is my go-to morning and evening cream in the summer. In the wintertime, it’s my perfect day cream and packs the perfect amount of hydration. It contains shea butter which is one of my favourite ingredients for skin barrier health, as well as allantoin for soothing. I’ve recommended it to a few friends now and they’ve all loved it as much as I do.
WELEDA SKIN FOOD ORIGINAL ULTRA-RICH CREAM – A celebrity and makeup artist favourite, this stuff has never let me down. It’s got an almost balm-like consistency that softens with body heat, and it packs a moisturizing & soothing punch with beeswax, calendula, and chamomile. I like to use it on any dry or rough patches, but most especially around my eyes (yes eyelid and under-eye eczema is unfortunately a thing). It’s got an herbal scent which takes some getting used to, but now I just find it soothing. This product does contain sweet almond oil if you have allergies like I do, though I’m not sensitive to topicals.
All Important Lip Care
FRESH SUGAR LIP POLISH – My lips are always the first thing to go the second the temperature drops, so I always have to make sure I’m putting in a little extra care here. I use this Fresh lip scrub on a weekly basis to buff off the outer crusty (TMI?) layer of skin that accumulates this time of year. Sugar is also a natural humectant so it helps the skin hold on to moisture. I also find that sloughing off the dead stuff helps my lip balm work a whole lot better.
KIEHL’S LIP BALM #1 – My absolute can’t-live-without lip product. I’ve got a tube in every room, one in each of my bags, plus a few extra hanging around for good measure. It’s the only lip balm I’ve found that doesn’t irritate my skin after extended use, and it’s packed with proven moisturizing and soothing ingredients so you know it works.
MERIT SHADE SLICK – I’m not sure if this is just a me-issue, but when my lips get remotely dry they lose all their natural colour and I start to look a little bit ill. I recently started using the Merit lip oil to bring back a touch of colour to my lips while hydrating them at the same time. The product contains rosehip oil and shea butter (can you tell what my favourite nourishing ingredients are?), and has the look of a gloss without the tacky texture. The ‘Au Naturel’ colour is the perfect my-lips-but-better shade and it looks so natural for everyday while injecting a bit of life into my colourless winter face.
For the Self-Care Evening
PAI CURTAIN CALL BRIGHTENING MASK – This is the mask I pull out when my skin is feeling dull and needs some replenishment. It’s a 10-minute mask that contains omega-packed rosehip oil for nourishment and strawberry leaf for radiance. It’s truly one of the only masks that gives me instant results the next morning, and I always wake up looking like I got an amazing night’s sleep and a facial, all at once.
BIOSSANCE 100% SUGARCANE SQUALANE OIL – If you decide to pick up one item from this list, I think it should be this one. Squalane is a lightweight and replenishing oil, and this one is formulated with renewable sugarcane squalane rather than traditional shark-derived squalane. I love to use this all over my body in the wintertime and before a facial massage to give that little bit of slip — it’s really a multi-purpose product that can be used all over. I’ll also use it as the final step in my nighttime skincare routine when I’m feeling extra dry. Squalane is incredible for the skin and Biossance do some really amazing squalane-based, sustainable skincare.
WELEDA SKIN FOOD BODY BUTTER – The more versatile cousin of the cream, the body butter has a more spreadable texture that is easier to use all over the body. Same herbal scent, with the addition of shea and cocoa seed butter. It really melts into the skin and doesn’t leave a greasy residue like so many body butters do.
TAN-LUXE THE WATER – Few things make the skin look healthier than a slight tan, especially for me when I’m January-level pasty, and The Water is one of the best tans I’ve tried. It contains vitamins B, C, and E, all of which are great for hydration and radiance, and as far as tans go, it doesn’t smell super funky. I’m by no means a self-tan expert, but I really like this stuff for when I’m in the mood for a little extra self-care.
BASTIDE MIEL DE LAVANDE HAND CREAM – Probably one of my favourite smelling hand creams, although I wouldn’t expect anything less from this Provence-based company. I’m an Aesop hand cream faithful and never thought I’d find one that compares, but this one is really up there for me. It’s maybe a tiny bit lighter in texture but feels equally as luxe as the Aesop. I also love the teeny size of this one for carting around with me all day when I’m out.
NÉCESSAIRE THE BODY LOTION – A wildcard addition but one I’ve fallen in love with this week via a Sephora sample. I love everything about this lotion, from the texture, to the (lack of) scent, to the results. It’s been doing a real number on the eczema patches that I’ve currently got on my back, and instantly removes the aggravating itchy sensation that often comes with flare-ups. I’m truly impressed and will absolutely be purchasing this stuff in full.
