6 Ways To Winter-Proof Your Beauty Bag This Season

It’s now bitterly cold and rainy which means much time will be spent indoors with your best friends; Netflix and a fluffy hot water bottle (though, actual friends are good too). And just as no one favours the shiny chin and forehead look come summer, in winter, coming home from a long day at the office with flaky mascara and dry, chapped lips is scarcely a favoured look either. But exactly which beauty/skincare products should you dust off and prioritise for the cold climate??It’s all about going back to strong basics with key items to revive and restore your skin during the harsh weather. Scroll for six ways to ensure your beauty bag is fully equipt for the winter season:

1. An Exfoliator Is A Must

The weather conditions alone can wreak havoc on your once perfectly smooth facial surface and all the added heat doesn’t help matters. The key to alleviating the problem is to start with a really good exfoliator. You’re meant to exfoliate at least once a week as is to rid yourself of those dead skin cells and pesky flakes, but when it gets really cold, you may need to exfoliate a second time, depending. We’ve prepared a list of products we love over yonder and are particularly partial to Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective Skin Brightening Exfoliator, €29 and highly rate these face cleansing devices. The rest of your body needs TLC as well, and your skin will thank you for using The Body Shop Cocoa Butter Cream Textured Body Scrub, €19.

2. A Moisturise, Moisturise, Moisturise?

Gone are the warmer months in which a light moisturiser will rid you of that tight sensation; a thicker cream is the only way to go. The aim of your cream should be to keep the face extra-hydrated, thus ensuring a smooth, flake-free base pre-makeup application. Clarins’ HydraQuench Cream-Gel, €45 is a perfect choice. It’s light and virtually weightless and its special gel formula contains a bevvy of natural ingredients such as Katafray and Sorbier bud extracts, which help maintain a protective barrier between your skin and keep it hydrated, without causing an oily t-zone. And if you want to go all-out? Creme De La Mer’s Moisturising Cream (30ml), €140?is your only woman. Facial oils are another great option and Creme De La Mer’s Renewal Oil, €180 will be your skin saviour.

3. A Decent Cleanser Will Go A Long Way

If your skin can’t cope with excess exfoliation, a really good cleanser will be just as effective. Starting out with a light, micellar water (BIODERMA SENSIBIO H20 100ML, €5.50) is good and when you have time, a double cleanse is worth it. This second cleanse when done with a massage motion really gets the blood flowing and helps your complexion to glow, heal and repair itself. Liz Earle’s infamous Hot Cloth Cleanser, €19.00? will help you do the job in minutes and Eve Lom’s Cleanser, €50 for 100ml is also brilliant.

4. You Still Need To Use SPF

Just because the warm weather is a long way off, this does not mean that you can skip the sunscreen. In fact, according to research, snow (should it greet us with its icy presence this year), reflects about 80 percent of the sun’s harmful rays – far more than other surfaces like sand or water. If your daily moisturiser doesn’t contain a sufficient level of SPF, then you’ll need to apply sunscreen to your face and neck. Studies also say UV rays are responsible for about 70-80% of skin ageing and wrinkles, so there’s no excuse not to use the stuff. If you’re going to be spending time outside, be sure to slather on a sunscreen with SPF 30 or above to all patches of skin that’ll be exposed to the winter rays. We love Cr’me de la Mer SPF 50 UV Protecting Fluid, €95?and Bioderma Photoderm MAX Aquafluide SPF 50+, €20-?25.

5. Use More Water

Of course, drinking water every day is the best way to guarantee a hydrated and healthy glow, but using products with some extra H2O will also help you keep on being your beautiful self. Thermal spring water sprays have become hugely popular in the last while; simply spritz them on to feel their refreshing, hydrating goodness. Vichy’s Eau Thermale and La Roche Posay’s Thermal Spring Water are two tried and tested favourites.

6.?Do A Product Swap

It’s also a good idea to change up certain products in your beauty bag. Firstly, ditch the matte makeup: Save your powdery finish foundations for the hot, humid months. In winter, it’s a good idea to use a more hydrating formula, especially if you have dry skin already. YSL Le Teint Touche ?clat Foundation, €40 is a gem, as is Rimmel Match Perfection, €9.99. Keep the soft, smooth look going by opting for a sheer wash of tint on your cheeks. An oil-free cream blush or liquid cheek stain will bring that ?natural? flush to your cheeks, without setting into fine lines or wrinkles. Here’s a list we prepared earlier and in case you’re wondering, we heart NARS The Multiple, €41. A matte eyeshadow from your favourite eye palette works next and when it comes to lip care, any of these beautiful lip balms will provide you with a smooth base. Our current favourite is Cr’me de la Mer’s Lip Balm, €55.