What’s in your vanity cabinet? Three IMAGE beauty writers reveal the skincare products they can’t live without

From gua shas to day creams, we asked three of our beauty writers to share their favourite skincare products right now.

Our beauty arsenals are a bit different to what we had stocked last year. While we’re still combatting winter dryness, much of us are spending more time investing in our skin’s health.

Lockdown has forced many of us outdoors on walks and hikes in the cold, making restorative skincare products a priority. BB creams and primers used before applying a full face of makeup have been switched out for nourishing face oils and moisturisers with SPF.

This shift can be seen by glimpsing into our beauty writers’ vanity cabinets, filled with deep cleansers, SPF day creams and collagen serums.

Holly O’Neill

Beauty Editor and Deputy Digital Editor

“My favourite thing to do for my skin right now is to do a really good cleanse, take some time applying a serum to my face and neck and then massage it all in with a gua sha. 

“My skin looks bouncier and brighter within minutes, especially if I use a serum packed with hydrating, smoothing ingredients like Olay Regenerist Collagen Peptide 24 Day Serum.”

Lauren Heskin

Editor, IMAGE.ie

“My absolute must-have is an emollient cream, I use it as both a cleanser and a moisturiser. My skin is super sensitive and I’m prone to eczema around my hairline and eyes so I need a heavy-duty moisturiser. It also makes for a great cleanser and doesn’t leave my face feeling tight.

“I always cleanse with the emollient cream loosened with a little bit of warm water and then I wash it off with a washcloth. Washcloths are very very inexpensive and can be washed a million times over without falling to pieces. They’re also great for a little exfoliation as I cleanse.

“Finally, I cannot live without SPF. I’m always good at putting sunscreen or moisturiser with SPF, like Olay Regenerist 3 Point Anti-Ageing Lightweight Day Cream, on my face in the morning but with so much hand washing lately, I’m bad for reapplying on my hands throughout the day. However, all that hand washing is leading to dry hands and broken, eczema-prone skin so I have a few little tubes of hand cream with SPF scattered through the house – one on my desk, bedside table and bathroom sink.”

Megan Burns

Deputy Editor, IMAGE, Image Interiors

“My skin never enjoys the combination of cold weather and central heating that winter always brings, so at this time of year I cannot start the day without a good face oil to really protect and soothe my skin. 

“My lips also tend to get dry at this time of year so I rely on my collection of lip balms I have dotted around everywhere – in the bathroom, beside my laptop, in multiple bags, and even a few coat pockets, so I’m unlikely to be caught without one.

“Like every other person in the country, I’m currently making sure to get out for a walk every day, so I also need a product with SPF like Olay’s Regenerist Whip Light Moisturiser, which has SPF 30. It has a nice matte finish that can be hard to get in an SPF product, as well as being light yet super-moisturising.”

Olay Collagen24 range is available at Boots. Selected Olay Regenerist range is available at Dunnes Stores and Tesco stores nationwide.