How to: Keep Skin in tip-top Shape During Winter

The extreme winter weather currently experienced by many parts of the Australia can be very harsh – your health starts to falter with the gripping flu, your energy sapped with the weather and you just feel like hibernating till Spring comes around. Worse yet, your skin suffers from a lack of vitamin D, dry and scaly skin and chapped lips.

And hydration is key to combat these conditions in these cold and chilly season so make sure to drink up on water and for your skin, keep them hydrated these products. They will be a saviour for the remainder of this winter.

Khiel’s Rosa Arctica Youth Regeneration Cream - 50ml 

A rich moisturiser that creates a thin veil of protection on the skin to lock in the moisture – it has a faint chocolate scent thanks to the cocoa butter and contain plant based squalene (olive source) to moisturise, vitamin E for anti-oxidising properties and the extract of rosa arctica the resurrection flower Haberlea Rhodopensis to help increase cell vitality for skin renewal. I had a small sample that I used for a week and it helped to keep my skin bouncy, moist and looking fresh. I personally love this in extra the mornings before the applying the SPF for its smooth matte texture or on top of a treatment serum at night.

RRP A$84 online or at Kiehl's counters at selected department stores

Clinique Turnaround Overnight Radiance Moisturise - 50ml 

For skin that need an extra helping hand, this is the one of the champion of night creams – slap this non-greasy but easily absorbed moisturising treatment all over the face before going to bed and this to help increase cell turnover and brighten dull winter skin. While is a great hydrating moisturiser, it’s name to fame is the time release salicylic acid that gently exfoliates to re-texturises skin, help fade blemish marks and smooth unevenness so your skin feel brand new in the morning again. With a week of use, you get velvetly soft skin with a healthy radiance that keeps your looking fresh. It seriously is that good that I’d say it’s made its way into my HG list of treatment products! 

50ml RRP A$90 online or at Clinique counters in department stores.


Uriage Thermal Water for Sensitive Skin 

Sourced from the thermal spring capital of France in Uriage-les-Basin, the name-sake water spray has highest percentage of trace mineral in any thermal water spray on the market. This thermal water not only hydrates and refreshes but has therapeutic properties and in France, patients with skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis go in droves to the French Thermal Centre to soak and bath in its mineral rich water.

Uriage thermal water is so soothing on irritated skin, even the most sensitive skin type will benefit from its calming and healing effects and the fine mist is just perfect to set your makeup – what a multi tasker! 

RRP A$10.95 / A$26.95  for 50ml / 300ml. Available at selected Melbourne or Sydney Stocklists or contact the company to order online.


Now lets not forget the body during the winter months, even if you cover it up under layers of clothing

L'Occitane Shea Butter Ultra Rich Body Cream - 200ml

This lightly fresh scented whipped texture body cream with 25% shea butter is a dry and dehydrated skin sufferer’s dream come true as the emollient cream is readily absorb by the body without leaving a greasy residue and keeps skin moist all day long. Along with linseed, marshmallow extract and apricot oil, you get all day hydration and within 3 days, any scaly parts of skin is transformed into the soft smooth skin, without any dry patches in sight. 

RRP $59.95 at  L'Occitane counters in selected departments, L'Occitane concept stores or online.                                                                              

Soap and Glory: The Breakfast Scrub - 300ml 

Exfoliation is another key factor to banish dull dry skin so this Soap and Body salt body scrub is the perfect aide for the job. This is my favourite because it smells like crème caramel thanks to its sugar and cupuacu scrubs particles to polish and buff while the almond and milk extract softens and nourish skin. Best of all, there is no hint of film or residue on skin after washing off unlike other salt body scrubs I’ve used before (I’m looking at you Body Shop body scrubs!)

RRP A$18.95 at Kit Cosmetics counters and online.

Uriage Bariederm Soothing Repair Barrier Lip Balm - 15ml 

Chapped lips are a common occurrence in winter and there is no better way to sooth and repair it than with an intensive lip balm. Bariederm barrier lip balm is a paraffin based product that forms a film over lips to lock moisture in and cold air out and prevent further dryness whilst provide relief from any cracked lips or chapness. The best thing is that an application last through light eating and drinking so meaning that you don’t have to re-apply frequently to the appearance of flakies at bay.

RRP A$19.95. Available at selected Melbourne or Sydney Stocklists or contact the company to order directly with them online.  

Refresh PLUS Everyday Dry Eye Drops - 30x0.4ml applicators

And finally, if you suffer from dry eyes because you are a frequent flyer, have been staring at a computer screen for way too long like I have or have foreign matter get stuck into your eyes, you will welcome this refreshing eye drops to relieve irritated or dry eyes. The innovative packaging resolves the problem with normal eye drops bottles where they can become contaminated very quickly and need to be thrown out after 6 weeks. You’ll appreciate these Refresh PLUS eye drops which come in single applicator so that you always have a fresh and sterile dose of eye drops every time. 

RRP A$15.70 at selected pharmacies and optometrists.

How have you been keeping your skin hydrated this winter?

Products features in this post were provided for consideration.

SOS For Winter Skin

Winter is notorious for cold conditions that dries out the skin. Add to that mix the sudden changes in temperatures as you head from heated indoors environments to plunging outdoors temperatures and you're bound to have a recipe for dry flaky patches and wind burnt chapped lips, all of which are symptoms I'm experiencing lately.

I've been using the following products to combat the windburn and drying effects of constant extreme weather changes in an attempt to restore moisture back into my skin and lips.

Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Booster 30ml*

• Packed full of hyaluronic acid (which is able to hold up to 1000 times its weight in water) and glycerin (a humectant), this gem binds moisture on  skin to keep you hydrated for hours on end.
• Restores moisture balance and revitalises skin and helps reduce and soothe the dry patches on cheeks and those sore runny noses. 
• A clear slightly viscous liquid, it is scented with lavender essential oils that also helps to calm skin from irritations and quickly absorbs to give baby soft skin - no joke!
• Also contains panthenol for tissue repair and algae extracts to restore the moisture balance. 
• You don't have to have parched skin to use this, if you're your skin is feeling tight or dry,  it's enough reason to pick this up and apply before your other normal skincare products to bind in the moisture content and relieve you from dry patches and lines, especially under the eye area. 
• Best used after washing on slightly damp clean skin to lock in all that glorious moisture content and you only need a few drops to get instantly softened skin.

Ingredients listing:

RRP A$100 at selected salons or cheaper online at the Facial Company.

This is a FITE product and its sale will help fund a female entrepreneur in a developing country. To find out more, visit www.joinFITE.org


Clinique Comfort On Call 50ml 

• This heavy duty cream is used to relieve seriously dry skin, and by serious I mean the wind-burnt dry cracked skin type of serious. 
• Given its its richness (a rich body cream texture), I recommend using this creamy balm at night as it's probably too heavy to use during the day, especially if you intend to apply makeup over your skincare products and take a bit of time to fully absorb into skin. If you're outdoors in the extreme weather during the day, then use it during the day as well - just make sure you top it with sun protection. 
• Contains olive fruit oil, shea butter to deeply moisturise, citrus jabara fruit extract to calm and trace amounts of hyaluronic acid to keep the moisture in. 
• Creates a barrier after application to prevent further damage and help to keep skin's moisturised whilst it soothes redness and irritations from extreme weather and reduce flaky skin. 
• Like all other Clinique skincare products, it is fragrance free and relatively scentless, which helps for those who are easily senstised by fragrance in their products (I'm usually not but when skin is irritated, anything can happen). 
• I don't use this every night, only when I find my skin very dry and would use for a few days during that period before converting back to my normal lighter moisturisers. 

Ingredients listing:

RRP A$83 at Clinique counters.

Dermalogica Climate Control Lip Treatment 4.5g

• This little lip balm is a godsend for my perennially dry lips which just cracks during winters. Seriously no amount of  daily exfoliating has stopped my chapping, it has only minimised it. With this lip treatment, I have only minimal exfoliating work to do at night - hallelujah!
• Contains Anti-Ozonate Complex to heal cracked, chapped lips and leaves a protective waxy film that prevents moisture from leaving and harsh extreme conditions from further drying up lips and gives hours of protections before any re-application is needed.
• Although fragrance free and goes on clear, there is a light but distinctive medicinal taste (most likely due to the Alkyl benzonate) to this balm which reminds me of zinc stick. It's not a deal breaker for me and honestly you shouldn't be licking your lips anyway as it dries them out even more so the taste should act as a deterrent for you lip-smacking people out there.
• Also good for bits of rough skin like finger and sore red noses or anywhere that needs soothing and protecting. 

Ingredients listing:

Helianthus Annuus (Hybrid Sunflower) Oil, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Ozokerite, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Fruit, Lecithin, Oils Of: Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange), Geranium Maculatum, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed, Superoxide Dismutase, Bisabolol, Extracts Of: Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon), Fumaria Officinalis, Fumaric Acid, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel, Lavendula Angustifolia (Lavender), Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf, Trifolium Pratense (Clover) Flower, Echinacea Purpurea, Symphytum Officinale, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Fruit, Boron Nitride, Titanium Dioxide, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Silica, Butylene Glycol

RRP A$19 at selected salons or cheaper online at the Facial Company.

Botanics of Australia (BOA) Intense Moisturiser with Lilly Pilly 225g*

BOA is an Aussie skincare and haircare brand that I've recently been introduced to. Interestingly, although the products are made in Australia with local signature ingredients, it is only marketed to and sold to international overseas consumers (weird how they think locals wouldn't love to use these local products too!). The good news is it's available online for purchase locally, is well priced with a good product range and from the products I've tried so far, are fabulous and value for money.

• This moisturiser is a whipped cream texture and is between the richness of body butter being lighter and softer but richer than body lotions. It has a delightful warm sandalwood fragrance and feels luxurious when it melts upon touching the skin. 
• My favourite part is that it's non-greasy and fast absorbing - it has a similar texture and feel to the L'Occitane Rich Renewal Cream that I love and comes in a nice big jar that is easy to scoop out the product to apply copious amounts of all over the body.
• Contains grape seed oil, Cocoa butter and Shea butter for intense moisturisation with lilly pilly, an Australia native fruit  that is packed full of vitamin C and fruit acids to assist with skin firming.  

Ingredients listing:

RRP A$17.95 or  cheaper online at FashionAddict.

Do you change your skincare regime for the seasons? 
What products are you currently using?

Products marked * were provided for consideration. All other products were purchased by myself.