I am not a fan of the cold, but luckily we are more than halfway through Winter, and it hasn’t been all that bad, aside from a few cold fronts. Unfortunately the air in Joburg is very dry, but aside from using a humidifier, there are a few skincare switches you can make to keep your skin hydrated and happy. I have put together a little Winter Beauty Edit with some product recommendations, as well as two important tips.

A cream cleanser- I love a good cleanse, and in Winter it is no different, except I switch from foam and gel cleansers to a cream cleanser, especially for my morning cleanse. My skin needs all of the hydration it can get! When wearing makeup I would still double cleanse, but I would follow up with a cream cleanser instead of foam or gel. I have been using the *Cleansing Milk from Nikel Cosmetics for a couple of months and it is gentle and nourishing. It cleanses the skin without stripping it and it is a no-rinse formula, although I prefer to rinse my face after massaging it in. It has a gentle pleasant scent that isn’t overpowering.

A hydrating face mist- I love face mists all year round, but especially when my skin needs that extra bit of hydration and care. A spritz after cleansing and before applying your serum, or even after applying makeup gives skin that extra bit of plumpness needed. The Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist soothes and hydrates and smells divine.

A face oil- I love a face oil, I usually use one alone or over my serum and leave out my moisturiser. Face oils help to lock in moisture, hydrate the skin and give it a healthy glow. I am currently using the  the REN Rose O¹² Moisture Defence Oil and I cannot even describe how much I am loving this! It smells divine, and makes my skincare routine feel so luxurious. It is also so hydrating and nourishing but not greasy at all and sinks right in, I have been using this both morning and night for about two months and have seen a reduction in my dehydration lines.

A nourishing face cream- Winter calls for a more hydrating, richer, more nourishing face cream, especially at night. A face cream that protects the skins barrier and feels luxurious on the skin. I have been testing the *Nikelnutris Face Cream and it is quite thick and rich, and best suited to very dry/ageing skin types. For this reason I don’t use it every day, but I like to use it once a twice a week at night to give my skin a nourishing treat. You only need a teeny tiny amount as it melts into the skin and spreads well.

A hydrating face mask- I like to mask once or twice a week, and usually switch types of masks depending on what my skin needs, which is currently all of the hydration. Overnight hydrating masks are my favourite kind of masks, they require the least effort, and instead of a night cream you just slap the mask on and go to bed. The Lamelle *Serra Lipid Recovery Mask is soothing and hydrating and helps to repair the skin barrier, I have been using it overnight and it has been a life saver. It doesn’t mess my pillows, sinks right it and my skin just laps it up. It is gentle, has a very subtle scent and would work well for sensitive skin types too.

A hydrating body lotion- As cold as it is, I try to moisturise my body every day, but even then my skin is not happy with all of the layers of clothes and the lack of hydration. My shins are the worst! I usually layer on the thickest body butters in an attempt to keep my skin soft and nourished, but I have been using the Lamelle *Soothing Body Lotion recently and I am impressed by how it locks in moisture while still being light and non-greasy.

A scented candle- I love home fragrance, I love floral, citrus scents and moody, spicy scents. There is nothing better than a flickering candle to make a room feel warm and cosy, add a lovely scent and I am sold. I am loving the Charisma Candles Woodlands Collection in Crushed Lemongrass and Bergamot Zest, mostly for its wooden wick that crackles and transports me in front of a fireplace. It also smells amazing and burns well!

Now for two important tips:

• Stay Hydrated- Nutrition expert, Andrea du Plessis and Mirjana Brlečić, the founder of Nikel Cosmetics agree that a lack of water can lead to dull, dehydrated and sensitised skin.
• Maintain A Healthy Diet- A healthy diet is essential to keep your body and skin strong. Du Plessis recommends a diet rich in protein, vitamin C, zinc and copper.

I hope you found my Winter Beauty Edit helpful? You can also check out this post for a few other Hydrating Skincare Picks.

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