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.
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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.