We’ve entered the true depths of winter, when the cold is so cold on your face in the morning that it scalds like a sudden heat, and everything feels that bit more glum. Like many of us, I tend to seek comfort from the season in small everyday things. A bowl of homemade coconut rice pudding always settles my shivers, and a kindly beauty product or two can settle irascible nerves and skin respectively. I’m less interested in glamour in December cold than I am in comfort. Seek it where you can.
Pestle & Mortar Erase & Renew Double Cleansing System (€76)
Double cleansing is essential to good skin – nothing else will improve your skin as dramatically. The “Erase” part cuts through makeup, and “Renew” removes the traces to reveal comforted, pristine skin.
Kiehl's Breakout Control Blemish Treatment Facial Lotion (€49)
This Kiehl’s product got my skin through an angry hormonal breakout recently. Overuse will result in flaking but the salicylic acid formula helps to calm and clear temporary breakouts.
Roger & Gallet Aura Mirabilis Legendary Cream (€45)
I’ll admit to completely underestimating this moisturiser when I first saw it because I associate Roger & Gallet with fragrance. And I was wrong – this is sumptuous; the best moisturiser I’ve encountered in a long time, you’ll feel the difference in skin by morning and it preps skin for makeup like nothing else.
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream All-Over Miracle Oil (€40)
Neglecting body moisturising at this time of year is tempting but results in itchiness, flaking and general discomfort. This all-purpose oil makes the job easy and leaves skin feeling comfortable.
Sunday Riley Tidal moisturiser (€78)
This offers instant soothing hydration which is the best response to the drying effects of radiators. I love this moisturiser above all others for injecting water into any skin type.
Labello Original Neon Limited Edition (€2.50)
At this time of year, I use lip balm with such frequency I often go back to good old Labello. When you need a unisex, inoffensive protective barrier from cold, it works beautifully, and the new neon packaging is rather fun.
This Works Deep Sleep Bedtime Story gift set (€38.50)
This set combines This Works’ classic Deep Sleep Pillow Spray – a calming, instantly relaxing blend – with bath salts in the same fragrance. It eases frazzled nerves and sets the mood for sleep.
Jo loves Smoked Plum & Leather (€76 for 50ml, joloves.com)
The new fragrance from Jo Malone’s fragrance brand is the best of winter – hot leather is reminiscent of fireside cosiness on Christmas holidays. Sweet plum smells almost mulled and is headily intoxicating. It is unisex and available in a candle if you’d rather drench the house in it.
Rose Jam shower gel (€6.50 for 100g)
The annual release of Rose Jam from Lush is a holy day in the beauty calendar. Luckily, you have until Christmas to pick up a bottle of this decadent rose, vanilla and lemon shower gel. I’ll occasionally wash my hair with it for the pure joy of the scent alone.
