Beauty Heroes For The Colder Months

Where better to start than at the top of my skincare routine? Once I’ve cleansed (normally with Dr Hauschka’s Cleansing Milk*) I’ll pat my face dry and then head to my bathroom’s beauty cupboard. There, I’ll apply a few drops of my Bioeffect EGF Serum (gifted), which promises to boost hydration and support my skin’s natural collagen production. It leaves my skin feeling soft and dewy, ready for moisturiser (a friend recommended Skin & Tonic’s Daily Renewal Moisturiser, and so far, so good!)

For deeper hydration, I’ve become an immediate convert of Bioeffect’s Power Cream (gifted). The weight of this cream is closer to a night cream than a daily moisturiser, meaning I can use just a touch of it for my whole face. And my skin loves it. It feels like a real treat when applying this face cream – it has a soft, clean scent and the little applicator makes it feel like I’m giving myself a tiny facial! The only product that rivals this is Argentum Apothecary’s La Potion Infinie, which goes to show that premium skincare really is worth the investment.

Next, let’s talk eye cream. Dr Hauschka’s Eye Cream* has been a hero product of mine for a good few years now, and after working through a few different brands of eye creams and gels (Ecooking, REN Skincare*) I’m happy to be returning to Dr Hauschka once more. This is the benchmark when it comes to eye cream – it has a tiny nozzle applicator, requires a tiny amount each time, and feels so good when patted around my eye and eye lid. The last time I had a facial, I was told that I absolutely needed to be using eye cream, so if you’re in your mid- to late-20s, take note!

Now, if you take anything away from this post, please let it be the need to wear sunscreen every day – even in the colder months. Baz Lurhmann was right. Listen to dermatologists. SPF is a daily practice, and it’s best if you apply it as a standalone product.

This year, I moved away from my usual sunscreens and tried both The Body Shop’s Skin Defence SPF 50*, as well as Palm & Pine’s SPF 30* (gifted) over the summer. Both products are cruelty-free, vegan, and comparable in price, but it’s Palm & Pine that takes the edge for me, with a lesser white cast and wholly recyclable packaging. I’ll be wearing this into the colder months too!

Next, let’s talk about retinol. 2022 is the year I discovered retinol. I’m probably way behind the beauty crowd on this one, but I’m glad that my TikTok has been serving me a barrage of recommendations to start using retinol, because, well, here we are! Retinol, also known as Vitamin A, is an active skincare ingredient that supports skin regeneration, promising brighter skin with better texture. I’ve learned from the Doctorly duo that retinol needs to be applied in a regimented way, too: start with once every three days, sandwiched between moisturiser. I’m now onto month three, where my skin can tolerate almost daily use, and my skin is dewier and brighter than ever. It’s The Ordinary Retinol* that I’ve been applying, but take care in choosing the right percentage if you’re just getting started.

Now let’s talk about hair and body. As your resident circular, regenerative girlie, I was stoked to see Davines come out with a regenerative beauty product. We Stand For Regeneration (gifted) is a shampoo with its principle ingredients coming from regenerative agriculture. Essentially, regenerative agriculture supports increased carbon sequestration and better soil health that in turn benefits its crops – in this case, green aniseed – and reduces its carbon impact. The shampoo itself is gentle, and takes a little teasing to get through all my thick hair, but has steadily become a bath-time favourite. (It can also be used as a body wash, but I haven’t used it as such.)

Another new in product is my Sans- deodorant (gifted). I’ll be honest, I was a bit hesitant to try this – put politely, I’ve found that not all natural deodorants suit me. I’m also seeing a lot more ‘reusable’ deodorant brands pop up, and I’ve had a bad time with some of the more plasticky brands. Sans- is a breath of fresh air. The deodorant comes with a lightweight, metal outer, that’s sleek and minimal. The inner capsule is beautifully scented, and made with a paper outer. Hey look, no plastic! Unfortunately, I can only wear this deodorant on my less active days, because I do sweat through it otherwise, but I still recommend it as a more sustainable option.

And now, we come to one of my soon-to-be-empty products. Weleda Skin Food* has been my beauty discovery of the summer, and one I’ll be repurchasing when it comes to an end!

This body butter is thick, creamy, absorbs quickly, and makes my skin feel silky soft. It’s like a little slice of luxury to apply this after shaving my legs, and it’s taken restraint to not slather myself in it entirely (!)

Finally, I wanted to share with you a recent revival in my makeup bag. I’ve been reintroduced to Ere Perez again, and their Oat Milk Foundation* (gifted) has become a new favourite. I’d previously been using an Hourglass foundation that I’ll be honest, dragged along my skin and just wasn’t liquid-y enough. Now, once I’ve primed my face, I like to use a mixture of this foundation, as well as my Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter* and Hourglass Concealer* for full coverage that’s still dewy all day. This is especially important as my skin gets drier with the change in seasons (even if I try my best to prevent it!) So these three are a powerhouse combination, and all cruelty-free too.