December Favourites!

Hi All,

As this year draws to a close I thought I'd share with you a few of my favourite Winter products at the moment. I must admit that Winter is not my favourite season as it wreaks havoc with my skin- it's paler, duller, spottier, drier, and all around difficult to manage. Here are a few of the products that have helped me through these tricky Winter months so far!

1. Angels on Bare Skin

The first thing to say about Angels on Bare Skin is that it's a bit of a weird product, and I can definitely see why some people don't like it. It is a LUSH product which means that it is handmade from natural ingredients, and this particular cleanser lists almonds and lavender amongst its ingredients. It comes in a tub as a sort of smelly, grainy lump, and the idea is to mix a little in your palm with water to make a paste which you then rub into your skin as a cleanser.

Is it messy? Yes. Is it pleasant to use? Not particularly. But what Angels on Bare Skin does offer is results (at least in my experience!). It leaves my skin so incredibly soft that I can barely stop touching it, and redness is also significantly reduced. I don't know that I would choose to use this cleanser in Summer when my skin is reasonably healthy, but in Winter I find it gives me just the pick-me-up I need.

2. No.7 Instant Radiance Highlighter

The second item on my list is this lovely highlighter from No.7. I have had my eye on the Watts Up! product from Benefit for a while now but at £9.95 this seemed like a cheaper alternative so I decided to give it a try. I'm so glad I did! I use this every day now under my foundation to give a subtle radiance, and over foundation as a highlighter on nights out. I find it gives a lovely dewy look to the skin which is just what my skin needs for Winter. I also love the packaging of this product- it is like a shorter, fatter version of a Clinique chubby stick and fits perfectly into any make-up bag. The only negative I have found with this product is that it didn't sit very well with my Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation and needed rather a lot of blending. Other than that it has been a Winter triumph in my make-up collection!

3. Quinoderm 5

I mentioned that I often get breakouts during Winter, and this year I even got a bit of mild acne which had never happened to me before and really got me down. This product was an absolute saviour and treated it so quickly and effectively! I need to point out that this product was recommended to me by a pharmacist because I was suffering with mild acne and I would always, always check with your local pharmacist before purchasing for yourself as it contains Benzoyl Peroxide which can be harmful to your skin. I used a tiny bit of this on the affected area twice daily and within a few days it had almost completely cleared. I couldn't believe it as I had tried lots of conventional spot treatments like Clearasil and Freederm with no success, and I would certainly recommend looking into it if you are in the same position.

4. John Frieda Luxurious Volume Range

The final products I would recommend for Winter are the John Frieda Luxurious Volume range. I have been using the Shampoo, Conditioner and Blow Dry Spray to combat lank, Winter locks and I have rarely loved a shampoo more. My hair feels soft from root to tip and it has a lovely healthy bounce and shine to it that I love. I also use a touch of Frizz Ease to keep my hair smooth after straightening and I've been really pleased with the results so far- a definite Winter winner!

So there you have it- a few of my Winter lifesavers. I hope that you enjoyed my post and I promise to be far more disciplined with my blogging in the New Year!

Happy 2014 Everyone!

Rosie x

PS Please note these images are not my own