The 7 Skincare Essentials Saving My Skin This Winter

When it comes to Winter skincare I want moisturising, reparative, soothing and nourishing. Preferably all at the same time. The extreme combination of frosty winds and warm, dry, heated rooms don’t do skin any favours, and without the right skincare products my face can look flaky and dull, and feel tight and uncomfortable in no time. Last month I did a blog post all about the general product switch-ups that are stellar for Winter affected skin (a Hyaluronic Acid serum, a nourishing cleanser etc. which you can read here) but today’s blog post is all about the specific products that are saving my skin this chilly season. Some are newer favourites, others I’ve loved for a long time, but they’re all incredible and have earned their place front and centre of my skincare shelf this season.

Q+A Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Cleanser
I’ve only been using this particular cleanser for a bit over a month, but let me tell you that the love is real. Before this, I was using a now discontinued Clarins cream cleanser (why do brands discontinue good products!?) but this has definitely filled the void it left in my heart and for a much smaller price. This leaves my skin feeling really cleansed, but also hydrated, and not in the way that some ‘hydrating’ cleansers do where they leave a slight oily film over your skin, this just feels like it’s moisturised my face, but then rinses off beautifully and completely. Perfect as a second cleanse, or works as a first cleanse to break through SPF or light makeup.

Pixi Milky Tonic
Nourishing and moisturising. I have a full review here, but in short, this is what you want if your skin needs soothing and a little extra moisture in your routine. The light tonic (almost like an essence) contains Jojoba Seed Oil and Oat Extract for hydration and nourishment. Plus, it works great rubbed into dry hands throughout the day without the annoying greasiness that usually comes with thick hand cream.

Jordan Samuel Hydrate Facial Serum
I use a hydrating serum every day of the year, so this is hardly a Winter addition to the routine, but it is a Winter essential, and this is the one that I keep reaching for. It’s lightweight, absorbs perfectly, isn’t tacky or sticky in the slightest, layers well before and after other products, and is just an all-around good egg. Full review over here.

Murad Intense Repair Cream
This is a fairly recent addition to the beauty shelf, but I worked my way through two of the mini-sized versions before committing to buying the full-size. This isn’t really a cream, it has an almost slippery, thick, balm-like consistency that I find works best when I warm it between my fingers and gently rub it into my skin. It’s pricey, there’s no two ways about it. However, I find that I need such a small amount that I can see this lasting a really long time, definitely longer than a typical cream moisturiser of the same size (50ml).

Kenkay Extra Relief Moisturising Cream – Body
Okay, so this isn’t the sexiest of products, but when we’re talking boring essentials for Winter a body cream is an absolute must-have by most people’s standards. This one is great because it contains Aloe Vera and Sunflower Oil, and is specifically formulated to repair the skin barrier for people suffering from sensitised skin conditions such as dermatitis and eczema. It works wonders for dry and dehydrated skin too and comes in a huge 500g tub at a very reasonable price point.

Garnier Hand Repair Hand Cream
I’ve struggled with dry hands since forever, but 2020 (aka the year of the hand sanitiser) saw my hands get in the worst condition in living memory. I’ve always been able to find hand creams that I liked and that worked for me, but over the last six months it didn’t matter that I put cream on every day, my hands were still parched and sore, and every time I put on hand sanitiser it felt like lemon juice on a paper cut. Ouch! For the past few months, I’ve been coupling the Tonic Milky Tonic during the day and the Garnier Hand Repair overnight. It’s loaded with Glycerin (emollient and moisturising) and Allantoin which actually exfoliates dead skin cells as it hydrates and soothes. Allantoin is often used in products designed for ‘injured’ skin to promote wound healing making it the perfect ingredient for really dry and unhappy skin.

Essie Apricot Cuticle Oil
When I remember to use this product, I seriously love it, the problem is getting into the habit of using it regularly because it really does make such a difference even just using it a few times each week. The combo of the moisturising Apricot Kernel Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Sweet Almond Oil and Sunflower Seed Oil creates a really nourishing blend to tackle dry cuticles and improve overall nail health. I’ve started leaving the bottle beside the television, that way when I sit down to relax after dinner, I see it and it reminds me to do it while I watch.

What are your Winter must-haves when it comes to beauty products?