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4 essentials to living your best life this winter, according to the experts

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By Eva Hall
30th Oct 2019
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4 essentials to living your best life this winter, according to the experts

We all feel a little ‘meh’ when the season changes from bright to dull, warm to cold, and dry to wet. But could your change in mood be down to illness? Why not give yourself the best chance of being the best version of you this winter with these 4 winter wellbeing essentials? 


https://youtu.be/g4X7BavEvTg
It’s hard to feel motivated when the colder months creep in. ‘Tis the season for winter woollies, sky-rocketing heating bills and general weariness.

For some of us, this tiredness and lack of motivation could just be a reaction to the changing climate – no one likes rain! – but for others it could be a sign that you are run down, or at the start of an illness.

The experts at LloydsPharmacy have put together a winter wellness guide, full of essentials that make it easy for you to be practical about your health, from sleep, to skincare, health supplements, and flu vaccine advice.

1. Sleep

Sleep is critical to health and wellbeing. Lack of sleep can affect our mood, our ability to function, and too much sleep can impact our metabolism and our whole body clock. In winter, we find ourselves implementing an earlier bed time as the nights get darker quicker. But if you are ill with a cold, it can be hard to get the recommended seven to nine hours sleep you need. The health experts at LloydsPharmacy recommend seven to nine hours sleep a night. Here are ways to ensure you get a restful night’s sleep, in winter and beyond.

Lucy Wolfe Sleep Through Relaxing Rub


We trust Lucy Wolfe with getting our baby to sleep, so why not take her advice on helping with our own sleep pattern? Gently rub this lotion onto the chest area, and even on the soles of your feet, for a relaxing and soothing night’s sleep. It promises to promote rest and relaxation, while also relieving symptoms of anxiety and upper respiratory issues and pain. It’s suitable for the whole family, from babies to grandparents, and it’s vegan-friendly too. Sweet dreams!

Sanctuary Sleep Dream Easy Pillow Mist


It can be tough getting to sleep in the winter months, especially if you’re feeling under the weather. Coughing and wheezing can keep us awake, as well as the colder climate. This pillow spray is infused with midnight flowers and lavender oil to help you drift off into a relaxing snooze. Just lightly spritz your pillow, and a sound night’s sleep awaits you.

2. Skincare

We all know by now that we should be switching up our skincare routine in the winter. While you should still wear SPF every day – UV rays are present all year round according to the experts at LloydsPharmacy – winter weather impacts on your skin in a different way than summer sun. Internally, central heating can irritate and dry out the skin. Externally, harsher winds can leave our skin red, puffy and dry, on our face, lips and hands. Here are some skincare essentials that should see you through winter, and into the New Year.

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse riche


A luxury skincare product, this rich oil nourishes and repairs the skin after a cold winter day. Your skin is left feeling satiny smooth, while the natural oils return to the face.

Trilogy Vitamin C Booster Treatment


Even though the skies are grey, we want to glow through winter! This intense brightening beauty booster brightens up the dullest complexions. The product is so active, the two components are kept separate until the wearer is ready to start their brightening  treatment. A 6% high potency natural vitamin C powder mixes with the hyaluronic acid base concentrate when the vessel is popped, creating a two-week intense skin brightening treatment. You’ll look like you just returned from a spa weekend, even if the weather isn’t playing ball.

Avene Hydrance Aqua Gel Cream


The skin needs deep hydration and moisturising during winter, and this all-in-one aqua gel does both. It soothes the skin while having a detox effect thanks to anti-inflammatory, soothing Avène thermal water. This is one product you’ll want to wear day and night. We recommend using it as part of your daily skincare routine in winter, and lathering it on for a mask effect at night.

La Roche-Posay Lipikar Baume AP+


La Roche-Posay is a cult brand every skincare aficionado has in their bathroom cupboard. This gentle moisturising balm intensely hydrates and reduces skin dryness. It is non-greasy and quick drying, perfect for busy women or mums on the go. It can also be shared by the whole family… if you can bring yourself to share!

3. Supplements

As part of a healthy balanced diet, supplements are a good idea all year round in Ireland with us lacking in sunshine and vitamin D. Coupled with our busy lifestyles, sometimes we don’t always get the nutrients we need. LloydsPharmacy has a wide range of supplements to help you feel the best version of you through the winter months, and put an extra pep in your step.

Solgar Vitamin D3


These vegetable capsules are a premium formula delivering vitamin D in the form that is easiest to use by the body – D3. Supporting optimal wellbeing, the benefits of the ‘sunshine vitamin’ are numerous and well documented, but particularly for immune and bone health, especially in winter.

Udo’s Choice Ultimate Oil Blend Omega 3, 6 ,9

Certified organic, Udo’s Oil is a seed oil formulated to contain the perfect ratio of 2:1 of Omega 3 and 6. What’s more, it’s the richest vegan source of omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids available in Ireland. These wondrous essential fatty acids play a key role in many functions including heart, brain and vision health to help you look and feel amazing, inside and out.

Optibac Probiotics For Everyday


Suitable for every day use, this supplement helps your gut with each capsule containing more than 16bn live microorganisms. It’s also vegan-friendly, and a high-quality option to those looking for a high-strength natural bacteria product and offers a guaranteed 50bn live cultures per capsule until the end of expiry.

Revive Active


Busy mums often feel tired and zapped of energy. Revive Active was created with the modern person’s lifestyle in mind to boost your energy levels and leave you feeling revived, active, and the best version of you.

4. Flu vaccination

Any one who has had the flu once, knows they don’t want to contract it again. The flu vaccine is the most effective way to prevent flu.

Children from 10 years and up can now be vaccinated against flu. This year’s vaccine contains four strains, including swine flu. The experts at LloydsPharmacy say that the flu vaccine cannot give you the flu.

– Who should get the vaccine?
LloydsPharmacy recommends that everyone should consider getting a flu vaccine, but it’s especially important that the following at-risk groups get vaccinated:

  • Persons aged 65 and over
  • Those aged six months and older with a long-term health condition
  • Pregnant women (vaccine can be given at any stage of pregnancy)
  • Healthcare workers
  • Residents of nursing homes and other long-stay institutions
  • Carers (the main carers of those in the at-risk groups)
  • People with regular contact with pigs, poultry or waterfowl

 

– Is the flu vaccine safe?
Flu vaccines have excellent safety records; the most common reactions are a sore arm or possibly feeling hot. The most common side effects will be mild and may include soreness, redness or swelling where the injection was given. Headache, fever, aches and tiredness may occur. Some people may have mild sweating and shivering as their immune system responds to the vaccine, but this is not flu and will pass after a day or so.

See here for more information on the flu vaccine, including information for pregnant women.

See LloydsPharmacy.ie for more information on how to get your health on track, and how the team there can help you stay motivated to be the Best Version of You.