Keep your skin nourished by adding hydrating essentials into your regime. Resident beauty guru, Rose Gallagher shares her tips on how to give your skin that extra TLC this season.
As soon as you get home from work, cleanse your face regardless of whether you’ve worn make-up that day. At best you’ll be cleansing your skin of any pollution and environmental aggressors, and at worst you’ll be removing grime and make-up.
For me nothing gives quite such a thorough cleanse as a hot, fluffy flannel. Garnier’s 2 in 1 Eye Make-up Remover, £3.29, Boots is a steal and will remove any prominent colours on the eyes and lips. For the rest of the face, try a cleansing balm to nourish and clean at the same time. Trilogy Make-Up Be Gone Cleansing Balm, £20.50, will melt away all make-up and dirt whilst leaving a hydrating, cushioned finish.
Taking your make-up off early in the evening will mean that your cleanser has all night to work its way into your skin, plus it will help to alleviate the drying impact from your central heating.
Skin cleansed, now it’s the time to pamper. This year masks have made a real comeback, especially with all the new textures and technologies. Nannette de Gaspé has blown my mind with her dry mask formulas, £60.
Reusable and bandage-like in texture, you apply these luxurious masks dry to cleansed skin and gently rub them to activate the nourishing process. For those who wish to achieve a more tightening, youth-infusing look, the new Glamglow Gravity Mud, £39, will be just the ticket. This silver face mask leaves you looking like the tin-man on initial application but peels off in one pleasing motion when dry.
For me, the crucial winter factor is layering moisture into each skincare step. Rather than skipping straight to a moisturiser, now’s the time for an extra hit of hydration. For those who want something calming, Bobbi Brown Extra Repair Nourishing Milk, £54, is divine. Richer than serum and not as heavy as oil, it melts seamlessly into the skin and feels instantly comforting.
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Those with drier skin will want something more hard-hitting, in which case Rosalena Rock & Rose Facial Oil, £42 from rosalena.co.uk is a must-have. I was initially drawn to this product for indulgent purposes (my name is Rosaleen so Rosalena was too good to pass up) but marketing aside these oils are plumping, nourishing and give me glowing skin by morning.
Now for the bedtime finishing touches. Every complexion will love the soft, rich texture of the new Aerin Rose Night Table Cream and Overnight Mask, £60, John Lewis. The clean, feminine scent is nostalgic of a dressing table from time gone by, and the rosy base will calm any skin irritation. Dry hands will be revived by Jo Malone London’s new Geranium and Walnut Hand Cream, £22, Jo Malone London at Grand Central Birmingham, one of the few to genuinely deliver a non-oily hydration, drying to a velvety finish.
Finally, for all-over comfort you’ll want to explore the new This Works Sleep Plus range. An avid user of the Sleep Mist, £26, Harvey Nichols for several years, I was delighted to recently discover Sleep Plus Hair Elixir, £26, Harvey Nichols and Dream Body lotion, £26, Harvey Nichols. Use these 10 minutes before you go to bed and you’ll sleep like a baby.
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