Winter skin savers
Do you get ‘winter skin’? Every year my lips and hands get so sore and cracked they actually bleed. TMI I know, but it's true.
Even though we're experiencing another lockdown, this time around we are planning to take alot more winter walks to keep our minds and souls refreshed.
During the previous lockdown we were 'shielding', so didn't go out for 12 weeks. Crazy times. This time the Government is not implementing 'shielding' noting how difficult it was on individuals and their families and acknowledging the isolation felt by those that were asked to isolate in this way.
As a result, I'm trying to be proactive and incorporate some of my favourite winter skin products to get my skin 'winter walks' ready. In addition, it's not just the elements that can wreak havoc on extremities. Indoor heating can strip a lot of moisture too cause uncomfortable dryness of the skin.
My scalp has already fallen victim and become irritatingly dry and itchy. So I have been trying to proactivley stock up on my go to cold weather skin soothers before other body parts follow suit. Here they are!
I've used this before and not only did it help tame my sensitive scalp, but it also left my hair soft and shiny, which is always welcome.
I briefly strayed away to another of my scratchy head favourites, Philip Kingsley's Itchy Scalp Shampoo, but it wasn't as good as I remembered. It didn't lather very well (which is not always a bad thing, I know - nasty Sodium Lauryl Sulphates) and it also wasn't very effective at it's primary purpose - soothing an itchy scalp. Not this time around anyways. It makes me wonder if they've changed their formulation or, indeed, if it was me that needed something different.
So back to good old Body Shop it is.
The Body Shop Ginger Conditioner
I don't normally use conditioner, but at this time of year it's necessary. My hair has considerably thinned post partum and tends to get weighed down easily. So, whilst I would normally avoid conditioner, I feel that my straw like tresses could benefit from some TLC. The great thing about this conditioner, is it's light enough to be massaged in the scalp (which is how it is intended to be used) and can be used on the lengths and ends of the hair too.
The ginger scent is very pleasent. It's quite subtle and aromatic and not pungent or overpowering. It's one of those smells that makes you think, 'This is going to do me the world of good'.I also feel the same way about noodle soup. This does not smell like noodle soup.
I love this stuff! It's such a great multi-purpose oil and I use it as a face and body moisturiser, as well as on cuticles, scalp and hair. It's super gentle and I used to use it on my son when he was a baby for massage time. I still use it on him now but topically. It recently salved sore, red dry skin around his lips.
It's deeply moisturising but light weight and easily absorbed by the skin. It leaves skin dewey rather than greasy after application. It's also non-comodogenic and I can use it on my face without breaking out. This time around I ordered an organic, cold pressed one I found on Amazon, but I usually use one from The Jojoba Company. It comes in a lovely frosted bottle and a handy pump dispenser.
I first saw this as one of the winners in the 2019 ASOS Beauty Awards and it caught my eye because I get really horrible cracked lips in winter. It gets great reviews on most of the beauty websites too and isn't too pricey, so I thought I would try it out. I like products that serve multi purposes (it feels more efficient) and one side is the lip balm and the other is the scrub. The balm is kind of vaseline like. A nice scent and a bit more of a solid texture. It's still easy to apply but, after using it a few times, it's just a bit 'meh'.
The scrub is better and very exfoliating without feeling harsh or uncomfortable on the skin. It's very neutral smelling which will either be a positive if you have a sensitive nose or a negative if you like fragranced products. It doesn't seem like we've got into the depths of winter yet, so my lips aren't too bad at the moment. Every week or so, I apply a thin layer and leave overnight and I can feel any dry skin slough away. I wouldn't say it leaves skins very soft, but just not uncomfortably dry!
This is my favourite lip balm. EVER. I bought a brand new tube and used it once. My son got his mitts on it and twisted the whole bullet out, put the lid back on and proceeded to squash it into the lid like he was pushing the plunger down on a cafetiere. Shea Butter is a bit of a dry skin saviour and this L'Occitane one has a healthy percentage of it, making it super rich and effective for chapped lips. It doesn't have a weird aftertaste or leave a weird white cast on the lips afterwards as some lipbalms I have tried do.
Nursem Hand Cream
I bought this on a whim as Space NK sent me a coupon code for £5 off my next purchase (no minimium spend), free express delivery and I needed a hand cream. I usually go for Aveeno, but felt like trying something different. I liked the fact that for every tube bought they donated a months supply of hand cream to a nurse or midwife. It's lightweight, easily absorbed, hydrating and helped soothe the eczema on my hands. The only thing I don't like is the smell. It's a kind of an ashy smell. But I think this is a personal thing as on many of the reviews, people comment on how lovely the smell is.
First Aid Beauty Ultra Rich Repair Cream
This is a great moisturiser for those days when I seek extra hydration or PMS skin days when my skin just feels really sensitive and I want something gentle. I only use a little bit of this and it goes a long way. It's all in the name really. I'm squeezing out the last few drops of this. I will re-stock, but over the winter I think I will just be using the Jojoba Oil as a moisturiser. This is the smaller tube and you can get this in tubs. I think it's meant to be for used on the body, as they have a seperate face moisturiser. That doesn't have good reviews though and I've had no problems with using this on my face.
So there you have it. My winter skin savers. Do you have particular products you trot out over the colder months. I would love to hear!
Comments
Post a Comment