Prevention is better than cure! That’s why I like to get my skin ready for winter by adding a few products into my daily routine! Sure it takes a little extra work, but since this our second winter back in Jozi (Durban doesn’t really get all that cold), I’ve mastered what my skin needs and I don’t want to be caught off guard again… Dry patchy shoulders and dead skin, I’m talking to you!
In the tub
When it comes to bathing, I love adding oils to my bath for an extra bit of moisture. For years, I’ve used Bio-Oil (R146.95 for 200ml), which is great and really nourishes your skin, but lately I’ve been introduced to another moisturizing bath oil and for moment, I’m loving it! Not that anything could take the place of my beloved Bio-Oil. I go through these products rather quickly, since I add them to every bath, so I like to have both on hand.
Epi-Max Bathe (R52 for 250ml) contains evening primrose oil, vitamin E and pure lavender essential oil to help keep your skin nourished and feeling beautiful – especially in the cold. It’s a great product for eczema sufferers or if you generally have very dry skin. Just a quick tip on this bath oil, if you wear silver jewellery and don’t take it off before you shower/ bath be sure to do so as I found it tarnished my bracelet (which later came right with a bit of polishing).
I also recently started using The Ultimate Buffing Cloth from Dermalogica (R265) and it’s already done wonders in terms of gently exfoliating my skin. In winter, I get quite dry, especially on my shoulders, and it usually starts the minute the colder temps hit. So far my skin is polished and there are no dry patches in sight! It’s made from an extra-durable nylon material so it rinses and dries quickly for greater hygiene too! I think it will definitely be one of those products that goes everywhere with me.
Butter Up
Nothing feels better than buttering up your entire body in beautiful creams in the winter time. I like to switch it up between a few faves, because I like using them all, and so I find myself reaching for different ones depending on how my skin is feeling.
Dermalogica Body Hydrating Cream (R760 for 473ml’s) is a lovely, light lotion that helps to hydrate the skin and lock moisture in. It contains Lactic Acids and natural hydroxy acid extracts from Sugar Cane and Apple, as well as Lavender, Patchouli and Orange essential oils combined with Green Tea to help soothe and soften. What I love about it is how light and easy it is to apply and that my skin literally soaks it up in seconds.
Charlotte Rhys Body Butter in No17 (R127.50 for 300ml’s) is such a beautiful body butter, locally made and extremely well priced for the amount of luxury and indulgence you get in the tub! Besides the sleek and sophisticated packaging, this body butter smells amazing and while it is a “butter” it’s not thick while at the same time, not too lotion-ey either. It melts into the skin, leaving my whole body feeling soft and luxurious!
Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Soy Milk And Honey Whipped Body Butter is my uber luxurious body butter for the winter. It’s thick and incredibly indulgent! In the summer time, I prefer to use the Kiehl’s Creme de Corps lotion, but in winter, I’m all about the Soy Milk and Honey Whipped Body Butter. It provides 24-hour hydration that’s rich and decadently soothing. It absorbs quickly considering it’s a butter, but I can definitely feel the moisturizer being loaded on my skin.
L‘Occitane CREME CORPS Whipped Shea Butter (R435 for 125ml) is another decadently delicious body butter I love in the winter. I first tried it out last winter and fell in love with it! It’s got the most beautiful, fluffy whipped like texture that feels soooo good to apply and my skin loves it!
Vaseline Intensive Care Advanced Repair Fragrance Free Lotion (R26.99 for 200ml or R44.99 for 400ml) is a great lotion to use when I want something lightweight and fragrance free. It contains a blend of glycerine, to draw moisture into all layers of the skin and Vaseline BLUESEAL to prevent moisture loss.
Vaseline Intensive Care Cocoa Glow Body Cream (R37.99 for 350ml or R47.99 for 500ml) is another beautiful, rich and yummy body cream that doesn’t cost a lot and works like a charm! Oh and it smells amazing too!
Hair-Raising Situations
When I was at school, I never understood those girls who would not shave/ wax their legs at all in the winter. Sure, keeping your body hair-free in summer is a must (since you show you legs), but even though I am more of a slacker about shaving/ waxing in winter, I think it’s important to still get it done!
Nair recently launched a range of beautiful products to the South African market, that now include Argan Oil, which is known for its natural and restorative properties.
The Nair Argan Oil Washable Roll-On Wax (R279.95) is the coolest wax you’ve ever seen. It comes with a practical roll-on applicator making it super easy to apply, and when you’re done, you just rinse it off and re-use it again. To use it, heat it in the microwave for less than a minute, roll it on then quickly place the non-woven strip (in the pack), smoothing it over the layer of wax and rapidly remove the strip as you would with normal wax. It’s pretty genius. The results last up to 4 weeks!
If you’re not keen on waxing, then try out the Nair Bikini & Underarm Glide On (R89.95 for 100ml) or the Nair Shower Power Cream (R124.95 for 200ml) which are both suitable for dry and sensitive skins and they work wonders in the shower – so there’s no excuse! I actually love the Bikini & Underarm Glide On as it’s so easy to use. It’s like applying a roll-on deodorant, with the added benefit of getting rid of those hairs. Oh and both give you up to seven days of smoothness.
The Nair Argan Oil range is sold exclusively at Clicks stores.
Little Extra’s
I tend to spend way more time in the bathroom in the winter time, so I try to make the experience more enjoyable by lighting up a lovely candle.
There’s a ton of candles I love to use, but in the winter, Fireside Treats from Yankee Candle (R339 for 411g) is my go to! I love the smell of it!
Another cute candle that looks so pretty in your bathroom and burns a beautiful scent is the Charlotte Rhys Mini Candle (R69.85). Or give someone a gift with a trio of Mini Candles from Charlotte Rhys (R275 for 3mini candles).
Don’t wait ’till it’s too late
I used Filorga’s ultra nourishing Detox Body Treatment to get my body summer ready, but as I said earlier, prevention is better than cure, so I’m going to load up on this throughout the winter too! I love how lightweight and creamy it is and it really helps improve the elasticity of my skin.
Formulated for woman over 35 years old, it’s an ideal product for those who want to give their skin a nourishing glow – and which woman doesn’t? It helps to rejuvenate and improve the quality of your skin, while stimulating the skin’s natural detoxifying mechanisms.
What products do you find yourself reaching for in the winter? Comment below, and let me know!
xx
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