While I love a bit of snow, cold weather generally makes my skin itch.
My skin has got more sensitive to cold weather as I’ve got older and I shrivel up like a sun dried tomato at the first signs of frost. What’s that all about? I really should be living in the Caribbean. I also find it harder to drink the required 8 gallons of water or whatever it is we’re supposed to drink daily and no thank you, I don’t want to switch to fruit-bowl smelling herby/fruity teas.
So I keep myself protected against the drying cold with a battery of good face creams, which today I’m show-and-telling with you. I’m also hoping you’ll do the same back to me as I’m always ready to try something new.
I’ve used this lovely image of Helen Mirren -above, by Martin Schoeller, completely untouched- because I liked it, isn’t it fab to see her un photo shopped? I’m afraid my skin looks no where near as good as Helen’s in this weather, I wonder what she uses?
My go-to favourite cold weather cream, which I’ve been using for years, is the Wild Rose Beauty Balm from Neal’s Yard. It’s a fabulously multi purpose, waxy balm you can use as a cleanser or as a night time balm, or a rehydrating mask or as a day cream when the going outside gets very cold. It smells like a rose garden and is free from all those synthetics, parabens, artificial fragrances an’ all, as you’d expect from Neal’s Yard. I am never without a pot when travelling either, due to its multi purpose-ness.
The richest, best value mid-range day cream I’ve found for cold weather, when you need a bit more protection, is Liz Earle’s Superskin Moisturiser with natural neroli. This is a joy to spread on your poor scrappy skin to give it extra omph before you hit the windy outside. Many people love Liz Earle’s range for its emphasis on natural ingredients and not too high prices. I must admit it’s the only product in her range I’ve tried, but I love it. I’ll use it now until the weather warms up a bit and it’s safe to reduce the cream-layer factor,
If you are more of a night protection person, then I’d urge you to think about the waxy nurturing and heavenly smell of Decleor’s Aroma Night Balm, with added neroli. Nothing in the Decleor range smells anything other than gorgeous, and I am a total sucker for a good smelling cream, but this really does revive red cheeks and dry sore skin. I also smooth it on my lips- which are always dry in this weather- where it soothes things nicely.
Then for the brave, my sister (a beauty-on-a-budget-guru) rates the Body Shop’s Hemp Foot Cream (yes I checked, she really does mean the foot cream) on her face and has done for many years and swears by its richly smoothing and soothing properties. ‘Bloody fantastic’ is in fact how she described it. You heard it here first.
Finally, definitely my favourite never-be-without waxy balm to sooth lips, legs, elbows, hands, face and anywhere else you fancy rubbing it is Goe Oil, made purely from plants, flowers and fruits. It comes in silvery tubes of buttery loveliness, smells divine and costs more than I should spend, but really we need something nice to cling onto while we battle the elements. I can not recommend this enough, for the chamomiles/lemon/beeswax smell if nothing else. It works better in cold weather, in warmer climes it goes a bit runny, but be warned, it’s very addictive.
Now, what do you use on your face against the cold? Any tips?
I’m a bit rubbish at remembering to do this regularly, but I do a lot of cycling in the wind and rain and use Embryolisse (which you can get in Boots. or France) and an Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour lip protector stick. They both seem to work fine. HM looks totally fab.
The Liz Earle hand cream, the hot cloth cleanser and a waxy balm she does (can’t remember the name offhand, was given some at Christmas & was a lifesaver whilst in hospital) are all fabulous. (Sis buys in industrial quantities from QVC). And they hit my ‘no animal testing’ targets.
I love Neals Yard, I use their Frankincense cream, the Wild Rose packaging looks lovely. Coconut oil is good for dry skin, if you don’t mind smelling like a Bounty bar and if you use the organic variety there’s no nasties.
Just what I need – a list of tried and tested products for the cold. You’re so right, this weather is not good for our skin – something I think every morning when out with my dogs! Will now do something about it, thanks Amanda. PS which one is most likely to make me look as good as HM?!
Baby bottom butter from waitrose (honestly its brilliant, I take it everywhere). Tell your sister its also very cheap
8 hour cream is fabulous – I get dry cracked hands in the winter if I’m not careful and this, left on overnight, really helps heal them. And it comes in unscented now, which is brilliant (the original really stinks!). Homeoplasmine – a kind of soothing Vaseline – is also brilliant for red itchy face splotches. La Roche Posay Rosaliac AR anti-redness cream is my favourite moisturiser in cold weather – not too rich, it really soothes and eases blotchiness. Wonderful stuff.
Fabulous tips womenfolk, I am going to try the La Roche-Posay Rosaliac cream asap, good to know Liz Earle is a good bet and perhaps we’ll ALL look as good as HM after this….and Homeoplasmine and Embryolisse…who knew? Keep em coming! Ax
Bow down to H(elen) M(ajesty) “The Queen”! Doesn’t she look amazing?
In this weather I use Elizabeth Arden 8 hour night cream – it does smell rather medicinal (think it was created originally for horse hooves) and the shiny gunk doesn’t look too romantic at bedtime – but boy does it do the job!
I swear by Liz Earle’s Superskin Concentrate facial oil. Most of the year I just use it at night, but in the winter I mix it with day cream as well.
Embryolisse is excellent. It used to contain…no no I won’t go there. Trust the French skincare!
Dr. Hauschka – Rose day cream. My favourite. xx
Love the HM picture. Try Emma Hardie Age Support cream and the cleanser; both heaven in a pot around the £35 mark. Also try the guru that is Caroline Hirons and her blog. She is so generous with her knowledge and keeps it all real, my skin is well behaved for the fist time ever following her advice.
Agreed Liz Earle Superskin oil is fantastic, cures all ills. Comes in a little roller too, i just roll it on some bits like cheekbones and then mousturise all over. Also started using Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream in the summer and it still seems to work perfectly in this weather. Spendy but lasts a few months.
More French skincare!
Cetaphil Moisturising Cream – High Tolerance is great for skin that is sensitive as well as dry.
It gives good protection in winter and re-hydrates the skin. It is a no frills French product that does what is says on the box!
At around the £10 mark I think it’s a great buy.
To my surprise, Weleda Skin Food…bought it for chapped hands. But I mopped it on my face one wintry night and lo…woke up to dewey, moist, plumped up face. And it was mine!
I think the Sea Buckthorn has something to do with it…whatever, it works.
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