COMBAT THAT WINTER SKIN!

As winter approaches, many of us find our skin dry and irritated due to the harsh cold weather outside and dry heat inside.

You can combat these symptoms and protect your skin from further environmental damage by tweaking your skincare regime during the cold months.

Go for gentler cleansers and richer moisturisers. If you suffer from redness and irritation go for products with calming properties, tailored to sensitive or environmentally sensitized skin. For dry skin seek out emollient and rehydrating moisturisers. Look out for ingredients like Vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, panthenol and urea (for body lotions) and stay away from products containing alcohol, mineral oils and perfumes.

Even hair can feel drier than usual or you might find it frizzy and static. Use a nourishing hair mask twice a week, make sure you protect your hair properly when heat styling it and add some serum to lock in moisture and protect hair from environmental factors.

WRITTEN BY: PHILIPP UEBERFELLNER

Here are some products that ticked all of our boxes for top to toe nourishment:

FOR HAIR

MOROCCANOIL: REPAIR SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER; INTENSIVE HYDRATING MASK; MORROCANOIL TREATMENT.
OJON: DAMAGE REVERSE INSTANT RESTORATIVE HAIR SERUM; DRY RECOVERY INTENSIVE HYDRATING 2-MINUTE HAIR MASK

FOR FACE

DHC DEEP CLEANSING OIL
CLARINS HYDRAQUENCH: CREAM MASK; INTENSIVE SERUM BI-PHASE; RICH CREAM
DERMALOGICA: CLIMATE CONTROL LIP TREATMENT; AGE SMART SUPER RICH REPAIR; ULTRACALMING CLEANSER
LIZ EARLE: SUPERSKIN CONCENTRATE
LUSH: BUCHE DE NOEL CLEANSER
NUXE RƊVE DE MIEL: LIP MOISTURISING STICK; ULTRA COMFORTABLE FACE CREAM
ORIGINS: YOUTHTOPIA SKIN FIRMING CREAM
ELIZABETH ARDEN: EIGHT HOUR CREAM SKIN PROTECTANT

FOR BODY

NEOM ORGANICS: MOROCCAN ROSE BODY OIL AND BODY LOTION
LUSH: BUFFY BODY SCRUB
GOOD THINGS: ULTRA RICH CREAMY SCRUB; ULTRA RICH BODY BUTTER

The Best a Man Can Get!

I LOVE a ā€˜Smooth Operatorā€™, so I decided to carry out a test to find the best products to get a smooooth man! Being female I couldnā€™t do this by myself so I rounded up the troops and convinced them to change their shave routines for two weeks, and use the shave systems that I gave them. It didnā€™t take much convincing to be honest; boys love a new beauty product just as much as girls do!

Aveda

Aveda for Men Shave Cream Ć” Raser

ā€œVery nice natural smell, easy to apply, slight oil base leaving a friction less shave with great results. A very effective and simple product.ā€ 9/10

Kyoku

Facial Moisturiser SPF 15, Ā£43 for 50ml

ā€œAdds slight colour to tired skin, not oily with a slight toning of the skin. Leaving skin revitalised and healthy in appearance. Effective but the avocado is evident in the smell of it, which is its only down side.ā€ 7/10

KyokuForMen.com

Lush

Shave the Planet, Ā£11.10 for 250g

Prince, Ā£8.60 for 225g

ā€œBoth are good products, with an easy and successful application. An effective clean shave with a slight pasty feel, fragrance is a little feminine especially the Shave the Planet product. The Prince product is better. Both products have a natural feel to them, and are reasonably priced.ā€ 8/10

Lush.co.uk

Origins for Men

Skin Diver Charcoal Body Scrub, Ā£18 for 150ml

ā€œThis is an excellent product, the charcoal body scrub, olive oil and sea salts leave the body feeling fresh, alive and smooth for a substantial period after use, by far the best product, invigorating smell and simple to use.ā€ 10/10

Origins.co.uk

Barefoot Botanicals

ā€œIā€™ve been using these products for 6 weeks and found them to be quite good although a bit expensive in my opinion.

SOS Hydrating Shave Cream, Ā£13.95 for 100ml

The Shave Cream doesnā€™t really foam up as I would prefer using my hands but results in a close shave with not too much irritation.Ā  It could be that by using a classic style badger brush, more foam could be achieved, but Iā€™ve not tried it.

The shaved area is not left as dry as a conventional branded main stream sensitive foam or gel might leave it.Ā  The shave is smooth and I havenā€™t had any soreness from cuts or over zealous scraping.

SOS Post shave Face Balm, Ā£19.95 for 75ml

I like the Post Shave Balm, it doesnā€™t feel greasy and makes my face feel refreshed without the dry cracked feeling I have had with other products.Ā  I also like the fact that you are encouraged to use it all over your face.

The fragrances of either products are subtle and natural and donā€™t overwhelm.Ā  I personally am of the opinion that some fragrance is nice since it contributes to that clean feel but all too often post shave products can be too strong in their perfume.ā€ 10/10

I love this review, and despite ā€˜Mr Tā€™ thinking the product was a little expensive in the beginning, once heā€™d ran out he ordered more online! It must be good.

BarefootBotanicals.com

Organic Homme (Click here for full range)

1 Scrub It Exfoliator , Ā£8.95 for 125ml

ā€œAn effective exfoliator that works extremely well without feeling too much abrasion on the skin, (some can feel like scouring pads on the face) with a subtle dose of friction and a fresh citrus smell. This product is very effective with limited impact or irritation on the skin. With a moisturised cool feeling after rinsing, a very good product.ā€

2 Shave Now Wash & Shave, Ā£11.95 for 125ml

ā€œA reasonable good product but too fruity for a man to feel comfortable using. Nicer to wash your face with then use to shave with, making your skin feel fresh and vibrant.ā€

3 Cool Down Moisturiser, Ā£11.95 for 125ml

ā€œTo reduce razor burn etc. A small amount goes along way and good for cooling for men with sensitive skin. Smells like the filling in an After Eight mint, not overly masculine in scent but very organic in feel.ā€

7 Active Fix Repair Serum, Ā£15.95 for 50ml

ā€œFirms the face and adds a bit of vitality and life to tired skin. Quite a neutral invigorating scent which is fresh and clean, the product can be used sparingly so will last a long time.ā€

“To summarize: Organic Homme products feel and react to skin naturally, fulfil their product expectation with exceptional minimal impact to the skin, if only the scent were as masculine as its packaging.ā€ 8/10

OrganicHomme.co.uk

Personally I like a good smelling man with good skin, if that smell is slightly feminine, even better!

Oxy Shave

Oxy Shave Gel

“A thick gel like texture which protects inflamed areas around spots, it made shaving slightly difficult, but works effectively in preventing more irritation.”

Oxy After Shave Balm


“A reasonably OK product. Smooth feeling, not very oily balm. A small amount goes a long way with just a little needed. Slightly strange smell, but very it is a very effective product.

Oxy are all effective products and are value for money due to small amounts required for all the products.” 7/10

Oxy.co.uk

Xanthe Men

Meteorite Facial scrub, Ā£30 for 200ml

“This scrub contains meteorite powder for a microdermabrasion effect to aid the removal of deep impurities and strengthen the skin. Itā€™s worth the money, the scrub is a very effective and an overall good product that smelled slightly wheaty and organic. I liked the presentation, clinical and professional.”

Duo Face Foamer ā€“ Wash & Shave, Ā£12 for 200ml

“All in one cleanser and shaving gel has a great shaving feel and smell. Allows effective shaving with a refreshing feel at only Ā£12.” 9/10

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Valentine’s Gift Heart

I want it all and I want it now!!!

Click image for larger view

Clockwise Spiral from Bottom:

Valentineā€™s Cards from Ā£2.50, www.scribbler.co.uk

The Ex Factor Ā£1.95,

Tisty Tosty Ā£2.95,

Love Soap Ā£2.50,

Turkish Delight Ā£15, all available from www.lush.com

Black Ice ā€˜Loveā€™ Watch Ā£85,

Red Ice ā€˜Loveā€™ Watch Ā£75,

Pink Ice ā€˜Loveā€™ Watch Ā£75, all available from www.ice-watch.com

Leather Heart Paper Weights, Marc Jacobs

Prada Bears, Prada

Glam Princess Ā£45 for 50ml, Vera Wang available from major department stores

Bed of Roses Ā£5,

Heart Crop Ā£15, both available from www.annsummers.com

Theatre Mask & Rose Necklace Ā£16,

Queen of Hearts Ring Ā£18,

Tiger Ring Ā£18 all available from www.galibardy.co.uk

Leather 2.55 Jumbo Bag, Chanel

Fabric 2.55 Bag, Chanel

Rouge Allure Hydrabase in Lover Ā£21.50, Chanel

Red & Black T Bar Mary Janes, 3.1 Phillip Lim

Fleurs dā€™Ombre Rose Ā£77 for 100ml, Jean-Charles Brosseau Nationwide stockist 01524 762611

Red Covered Studded Shoe Boots, 3.1 Phillip Lim

Heart Phone Strap Ā£50,

Gold Charm Bracelet (also available in silver) Ā£150, all available from www.mulberry.com

Love Pure-Fume Absolute Ā£20 for 7ml, www.aveda.co.uk

Diamante Heart Stud Earring Ā£55, www.viviennewestwoodonline.co.uk

Ornate Metal Skull Clutch, Alexander McQueen

Kiss Me spf 20 Lip Balm Ā£10, Philosophy

Unconditional Love Firming Body Emulsion Ā£27.50, Philosophy

Unconditional Love Shower Gel Ā£17.60, Philosophy For full stockists call 0870 990 8452

Soul Soother Shower Smoothies Ā£2.49, Radox available from Boots, Superdrug and independent stores

Nail Laquer in Thanks So Muchness Ā£9.95, OPI

Nail Laquer in Off With Her Red Ā£9.95, OPI

Sterling Silver & Enamel Heart Charms in Pink & Red Ā£29.99 each, H.Samuel

Peonies In Paris Candle Ā£30, www.jonathanwardlondon.com

Taxi Coins Floyd Pouch Ā£70, Anya Hindmarch

Parisienne Eau de Parfum Ā£48 for 50ml, Yves Saint Laurent

La Nuit De Lā€™Homme Eau de Toilette Ā£42 for 60ml, Yves Saint Laurent

Red Large Studded Leather Cuff, Hermes

Red Monagram Vernis Heart Coin Purse, Louis Vuitton