Empties - August 2019

Back in March I published my first ‘Empties’ post, where I spoke about some of the products I had used up. I really like hearing what bloggers thought about products they have completely finished, as it’s good to know they’ve given something a really good try, so I thought I would make it a regular series (well, as regularly as I can use things up anyway!) I’ll still be writing about some of my first impressions of products too, but I think talking about a product you’ve used over a longer period of time means you can really work out whether you liked it or not. It’s taken me a few months to build up another collection of empty products, but I now finally have a decent amount to talk to you about. So, here are some of the products I finished up in August!

My first empty for today is one that I’m pretty gutted about to be honest, as they no longer sell it – the Dream Time Temple Balm from Lush. I received this quite a few years ago now, but you need so little with each application that it lasted forever! The product is basically like a hard lip balm, but rather than putting this on your lips, you can rub it into your temples or other pressure points like your wrists. It is scented with lavender and chamomile, to help the user have a deep and restful sleep.

I got into a routine of applying this every night before I went to bed, and although I’ve found a different sleep balm to use now, I’m really missing this one! I often struggle with anxiety, especially at night – my brain just likes to run away with itself when the world goes quiet. But having the scent of this lingering on my skin was often enough to help me to do some controlled breathing and start to relax, so I could drift off to sleep. If you’re looking for a range of products with a similar scent, I would recommend checking out the Sleepy products, although unfortunately they don’t do a sleep balm any more.

Next up is the Dr. PAWPAW Original Balm, which I think I received in one of my beauty subscription boxes when I was still getting them. It is marketed as ‘the original balm you can’t live without!’ although, before finding it in my box, I had been living without it, as I’d never got round to trying it! It is made in the UK from a variety of natural ingredients including paw paw (not entirely sure what that is!) When these ingredients are blended together, they create a multi-purpose formula that can be used for a whole handful of things including as a skin protector, moisturiser, nappy cream and lip finisher. It also has healing properties and can be used on sunburn, skin irritations and as a hair conditioning treatment. 

I can’t claim to have used it for all of these things, but for those that I did use it for, I found it pretty magic! For example, back when the weather was colder, the inside of my nose became really sore. So I started putting a little bit of this on the sore places at night, and within a few days my nose had begun to heal! I also used it on my dry, cracked lips, and again, within a few days they were feeling so much better. I can’t believe after all the hype I’d heard, that I hadn’t got around to trying this out for so long. I really need to buy myself another tube now that this one is empty.

My next empty product was actually a free sample that my Mum received when she bought a standard sized item as a gift – the Molton Brown Ylang Ylang Body Lotion. This lotion is a relaxing blend of ylang-ylang, cardamon and sweet vanilla, and normally comes in a 300ml bottle with a pump. It’s not the type of fragrance I would ordinarily gravitate towards, which is why I love a good free sample, as it allows me to try things I wouldn’t normally go for. I actually liked the scent a lot more than I thought I would and with it being a higher-end product, the scent lingers long after you’ve applied the lotion. It’s a lovely thick product, but absorbs well and doesn’t leave you feeling greasy, which is always a bonus! If I were to buy a standard sized bottle, I’m not sure if it would be the first scent I would choose, but after trying the sample I definitely wouldn’t discount it as I used to.

Whenever I think of ESPA, I always think of luxury spa treatments and beautifully indulgent products. And the ESPA Optimal Skin ProCleanser certainly didn’t disappoint. This is a 3-in-1 skincare essential – an effective gel cleanser, exfoliator and mask that will help to nourish and visibly brighten the complexion. Moringa Seed Extract cleanses and removes all traces of make-up while gentle Jojoba Spheres buff away dull cells, revealing a radiant, youthful glow. 

I absolutely loved using this skincare product and always felt like I was giving my skin a bit of an extra treat. I particularly love the little Jojoba Spheres, which melt away as you massage the product into your skin. Because of these spheres, I would have to spend a little bit longer rubbing the product into my face, and it was nice to just take that little bit more time over my skincare routine sometimes. The full-size product is quite pricey, but if I were treating myself or asking for a gift, I would definitely go for this product again.

Another brand that automatically makes me think of luxury is Aromatherapy Associates, and I was lucky enough to try a sample size of their Hydrating Renewing Rose Cleanser recently. This is a rick and velvety cleanser, which is ultra-gentle yet really effective. Infused with an essential oil blend of radiance-boosting finest Damask Rose and complexion-balancing Geranium, it brightens and hydrates. Alongside that, silky Jojoba oil melts away impurities and make-up to leave skin dewy, freshened and petal-soft.

This was another product that I absolutely loved using as part of my skincare routine – I only wish it hadn’t been so small and run out so quickly! Rose is one of my favourite scents and always makes me feel quite nostalgic, reminding me of the Turkish Delight that my Grandad used to love. So I’m always excited to try any product scented with it. This felt comforting and gentle to use on my face, and left my skin feeling nourished and glowing without being too drying. 

Since my hairdresser started using hair oils on my hair, I have got quite into trying out different types and different brands. I recently finished using this Pantene Smooth & Sleek Dry Argan Oil, which is actually recommended for dry hair (although I wouldn’t necessarily say that mine is particularly dry). It helps to make the difference between straggly, dry ends and a luxurious glossy mane, and even with my fairly ‘normal’ hair, it left it feeling shiny and hydrated. The blend of Moroccan Argan oil and lightweight Pro-V complex ensures you get the benefits of Morocco’s famed beauty elixir, without the greasiness associated with the 100% pure oil. 

Proven to add moisture for 24 hours, the Argan Dry Oil is the ideal treat for thirsty strands and is particularly good for fine hair.  I have very fine hair, and find it can be really difficult to find an oil that doesn’t weigh my hair down. But thankfully, this one didn’t leave my hair feeling heavy or greasy. Plus the bottle lasts ages, as you don’t need a lot per use.

Unfortunately, there are always going to be products that I don’t get on so well with, and this time round one of those was the Garnier Pure Active Sensitive Anti Blemish Clarifying Tonic. I’m a huge fan of the Garnier Micellar Water, so when I saw this I thought I would give it a try. It is meant to help tighten pores and soothe skin. With Witch Hazel extract, it is formulated for sensitive skin with imperfections and combines effectiveness with a gentle, hydrating formula. It is also hypoallergenic and ph neutral for optimal tolerance.

I will say that it felt quite cooling and soothing when I applied it to my skin, but I really just wasn’t that keen on the gel-like formula. I found it quite messy, as it would drip off my cotton pad and be difficult to apply if I put even a little too much on. I don’t by any means think it’s a bad product, and like I said, I love a lot of other Garnier items, but I just don’t think this particular formulation was for me. I think I’ll probably stick to liquid toners in future.

This next product is one of my all-time favourites, and I’ve lost count of how many bottles of the Simple Kind To Eyes Make-up Remover I’ve bought now! It cleanses effectively yet is gentle around the delicate eye area. It is also an oil-free formulation and even removes waterproof mascara, as well as soothing the area around the eyes. This contains no artificial perfume or colour and no harsh chemicals that can upset sensitive skin. It is also dermatologically tested and approved.

As I said, I’ve been buying this for quite a while now – I’ve tried other eye make-up removers, but this is the only one I’ve tried so far that doesn’t irritate my eyes. I’ve used some that have literally had me crying in pain, despite saying they’re sensitive, while others haven’t particularly hurt, but they also haven’t removed my make-up. Whereas this one ticks both boxes for me – it doesn’t hurt my eyes and it removes my make-up really well. Plus, it is really inexpensive – what’s not to like?!

I’m pretty sure this next item came in some sort of Christmas gift set or something, so I’m struggling to find a link to the Baylis & Harding Wild Rose & Raspberry Leaf Hand & Body Lotion unfortunately. It has a lovely soft floral scent, which is perfect for a hand lotion that you don’t necessarily want to linger too long. The actual product is quite a thin lotion, a bit more on the watery side, rather than being very thick. However, this didn’t stop it from moisturising my hands well, especially over the summer months. I’m not sure how effective it would be during the colder wintertime, as I’m not sure it would be thick enough, but certainly for everyday moisturising when the weather is good, it definitely did the job.

The Aussie Deep Treatment 3 Minute Miracle Shine is another product that I continue to re-buy. This treatment deeply nourishes and revives tired locks into full beam shine in just 3 minutes. It gives dull hair a shine super boost adding gloss to every strand, with Australian Ginseng extract and Pearl powder. The Aussie products always smell absolutely delicious, and this one is no exception! I would definitely say my hair routinely looks tired and dull, but one use of this just peps it back up again and leaves it feeling hydrated and happy. I keep meaning to try some of the other Aussie products when I get the chance – if they’re as good as this one then I can’t see my bank balance being very happy!

I wasn’t quite sure whether to include the Colgate Plax Gentle Care Extra Mild Mouthwash, as it’s a bit different to hair and skincare products. But I use it so much I thought I might as well add it in, in case you’re looking for a new mouthwash to try! This alcohol-free mild formula has been specially developed for people with sensitive teeth and gums. It’s clinically proven to provide 24/7 bad breath control and fight over 99% of bacteria, leaving your mouth feeling fresh and healthy. 

I use this in the morning and the evening, as the instructions suggest, and like it so much that I’ve continued to buy it for at least a year now. I’m not a big fan of alcohol in mouthwash, as I tend to find it too strong and it leaves my mouth with a funny taste. So when I found this Colgate one without alcohol, I thought I would try it out. It feels gentle on my mouth, which for someone with sensitive teeth and gums is always good. And it never leaves me with a funny after-taste, but instead makes my mouth feel fresh and clean. Plus it’s pink (although of course, that’s not what initially drew me to it!)

I’m pretty terrible when it comes to moisturising my body, so I try and improve my chances of doing it by finding products that smell and feel nice on my skin. The Garnier Body Tonic Hydrating Lotion is enriched with Phyto-caffeine and seaweed extract, for skin that feels firmer and more toned. It has an ultra-fresh and hydrating formula, and promises smoother skin from just 7 days. I really love the smell of this lotion – it’s fresh and uplifting and always lifts my mood when I use it. The lotion isn’t particularly thick, which means it absorbs relatively quickly, so no sticky skin for ages afterwards. With regular use, I definitely started to see a change in the appearance of my skin, with it becoming smoother and firmer. 

I hadn’t used Herbal Essences for years before I decided to try this Herbal Essences Bio:Renew Shampoo in Grapefruit and Mint. It is crafted with a blend of essential antioxidants, aloe and sea kelp, as well as having 0% parabens, silicones, gluten and colourants. It promises to help bring your hair back to life, and this particular fragrance also helps to boost hair volume (which, as someone with ridiculously fine, flat hair, I am always looking for!) It smells incredible, as does most of the Herbal Essences range, and left my hair feeling bouncy and soft. It was nice to find a shampoo that doesn’t weigh my hair down, so I will definitely be trying some other products from the range to see what they can do for my hair. 

The last product that I’ve finished up recently is the Vo5 Nourish My Shine Oil Heat Protect Spray. Vo5 believe that hair shouldn’t be dull, life shouldn’t be boring and that you should never restrict your self-expression. They recommend using Vo5 spray for a silky smooth and shiny finish to your hair. It also features heat defence to help protect against damage caused by heat styling tools. I use this on wet hair before I start to blow-dry it by spritzing a few sprays across my hair both underneath and on top. It’s difficult to tell if a heat protection spray is working, but I definitely notice my hair feeling more dry when I don’t use this. I also think it helps my hair to look more glossy and healthy after every wash, and I like the thought that my hair is being protected from the heat of my hairdryer. 

And that brings me to the end of another selection of empty products that I’ve finished using recently. I hope you’ve enjoyed hearing about some of the things I’ve been using recently and find my reviews helpful if you’re looking to buy some new products yourself. I would be really interested to hear if you’ve tried any of these things and what you thought of them! Or, if you have any recommendations for things I might like to try based on what I’ve spoken about today.

What do you think of the products I’ve reviewed in today’s post? Are there any products you’ve been enjoying recently that you think I should try?

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Halloween at Lush

As it’s Halloween next week, today I thought I would share with you some of the spooky products on the shelves at Lush this October. Back at the beginning of the month, I organised a blogger event in collaboration with my local Lush store at Festival Place in Basingstoke. Unfortunately, when we arrived in Basingstoke, we found out they’d had to cancel due to a flood in their stock room, which was a real shame. But I managed to whizz round the store and get a few pictures of some of their Halloween products to share with you. So, without any further ado, here’s what I found!

The first thing that caught my eye (I wonder why!) was this ‘Bewitched’ Bubble Bar in the shape of a black cat. With a familiar blackberry scent, it also contains Bergamot Oil and Olbanum Oil for a spellbounding and comforting bath.

Next up is one of my favourites from last year, the Monster’s Ball Bath Bomb. Maybe it’s the Disney lover in me, but this one reminds me of a character from Monster’s Inc. It’s a mash-up of lime and neroli oils to uplift and tone your skin while you relax in a purple-y mixture of monster bubbles.

The next bath bomb to cross my path was an old favourite – Lord of Misrule. This is one that comes back year after year, and really signifies the changing seasons whenever I come to use it. A mischievous bath bomb, it features a spicy herbal blend of patchouli and black pepper oil to relax and warm you as the weather turns colder. The ruler of the pagan Feast of Fools inspires the name, and inside you might just find a surprise, but I won’t tell you what it is, as I don’t want to spoil the fun!

I don’t remember seeing the next product before (but I could be wrong – I don’t have a great memory!) The Pumpkin Bath Bomb looks just like those lanterns we carve and put on our front doorsteps every year. Sweet, comforting vanilla absolute and spicy cinnamon evokes the rich, biscuit fragrance of home baking. It’s just like having a bath in a bowl of sweet pumpkin pie (but without all the sticky mess!)

Another old favourite that always brings those festive feelings is the Sparkly Pumpkin Bubble Bar. It includes balancing juniper berry oil, uplifting lime oil and refreshing grapefruit oil to really give your bath that zingy edge. And look at all that glitter! I think Lush really needs to bring out some sort of bath cleaner for products like this!

The next product is one I definitely haven’t seen before, and I believe the whole concept is new this year. The Ectoplasm Jelly Bomb is a lilac shade with little white ghosts on the outside (how cute!) But what’s different about this bomb is that, once you’ve launched it into your warm bath water, it lets out a gooey jelly, which oozes across the surface. With brown seaweed to soften your skin, it also contains uplifting notes of tangerine and grapefruit to keep you in high spirits.

Something that really caught my eye as I was whizzing around the shop were these pink, sparkly pumpkins! The Pink Pumpkin Bubble Bar is similar to its orange friends, but instead contains toning geranium oil, uplifting bergamot oil and floral notes of jasmine absolute. Another one that is likely to cover your bath in sparkles!

Much like the bath bomb version, Lord of Misrule Shower Cream is a feast for the senses. Containing a herbal blend of patchouli oil, black pepper oil and comforting vanilla, as you rub this on your skin, organic wheat germ oil will provide a rich and creamy lather to leave your skin with long lasting moisture.

Another old favourite is the Magic Wand Soap, which looks magical in its full form, so definitely pop into a store if you get a chance. Bubbles of orange and tangerine will magic away any dirt, while pomegranate molasses will help you feel refreshed and leave you smelling sweet. The wand also contains extra virgin coconut oil to soften and soothe winter skin.

This little character will definitely brighten up your Halloween. Goth Fairy Shimmer Bar has a multitude of iridescent lustres in gold, green, purple and silver, to cover your skin in shimmer ready for those Halloween parties. Illipe and cupuaçu butters gradually melt to soften your skin and leave a fresh and fruity scent of almond, grapefruit and bergamot. I can imagine kids absolutely loving this one!

This Black Rose Naked Lip Scrub is another one I don’t think I’ve seen before. Rather than being in a tub, this one comes naked, so you can prep your lips for that red lip with illipe butter and extra virgin coconut oil. The caster sugar gently buffs your lips to keep them smooth and organic jojoba oil moisturises, leaving your lips kissably soft. Also containing Sicillian Mandarian Oil and Ylang Ylang Oil, the scent will uplift you, ready for some Trick or Treating.

There’s nothing like a good gift at this time of year, and Lush won’t disappoint you. Like it’s little bubble bar friend, this large Bewitched Wrap is something you should really get your paws on. Inside you will find some Lord of Misrule Shower Cream, Secret Arts Jelly Bomb and, of course, a Bewitched Bubble Bar.

And what would Halloween be without a Little Pumpkin? This spooky shell cracks open to reveal a cute Pumpkin Bath Bomb and a funky Pink Pumpkin Bubble Bar. Perfect for bringing those spooky feels over the next week.

I hope you’ve enjoyed finding out a bit more about this year’s Halloween offerings from Lush. Keep an eye on my blog and YouTube channel because in a couple of weeks I’m off back to Lush for our rescheduled event! So there will be another blog post coming up soon about their Christmas range, and hopefully a vlog about the event.

Have you picked up any products from the Lush Halloween range this year? What is your favourite one?

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Winter Skincare Saviours

I don’t know what the weather has been like where you are, but where I live it’s been absolutely freezing! I can always tell what the weather is going to be like by looking at my skin, and as soon as that cold weather hits, my skin gets very unhappy. My hands are usually the first to show it, with my fingers getting sore and cracked. But I also struggle with dry and itchy skin on my face and body. It’s not much fun, so I’m always looking for products that might help and have tried quite a few over the years. I thought I would share some of my favourites with you today in case you are also battling with the cold. As well as some of my personal favourites, I have also asked my friends and family for their recommendations, so I have quite a few things to share with you.

Body:

Let’s start with some body products – if you’re finding your skin feels tight, itchy, dry and flaky, using a good moisturiser is so important.

One of my favourite drugstore body creams I’ve tried is this Vitamin E All Over Body Cream from Superdrug. It’s an absolute bargain at £3.49 and I would recommend it time and time again. I started using it after a couple of operations, as I wanted something I could use on my scars. After a few months, my scars had faded so well, and I’ve continued to use the cream on areas such as my elbows, knees and even hands during really cold spells. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that helps to shield your skin against environmental damage and premature skin ageing. As well as containing vitamin E, this cream also includes a skin conditioning multivitamin complex of vitamins A, B, F and H.

When I was thinking about writing this post, I also wanted to talk to friends and family about their favourite products. One person I chatted to was my sister, who has been plagued with itchy and painful eczema for most of her life. She’s tried so many different creams and lotions over the years, but unfortunately has struggled to find anything that makes much of a difference. One product she has continued to use is Aveeno Cream, which was recommended by her GP and seems to help with the itching a bit. It is formulated with active colloidal oatmeal, which is proven to restore the skin’s natural barrier, making it great for eczema sufferers. It is also suitable for babies from three months, and although it’s a bit pricier, it does seem to work.

You might remember my post from a couple of months ago, when I chatted to you about some products the lovely people at Eucerin sent me. I loved them so much, so when they contacted me again and asked if I would like to try out their dry skin range, I jumped at the chance! This Eucerin Dry Skin Intensive Lotion* is formulated with urea (which might sound a bit odd, I know it did when I first heard about it! But my GP has prescribed things with urea before, and it’s actually a really great moisturiser that is naturally present in healthy skin). In many dry skin conditions the skin’s natural urea levels are decreased, which leads to further moisture loss. This cream helps to replace the lost urea, as well as containing natural lipids, which help the skin feel smooth and supple. It is particularly helpful for conditions like Atopic eczema. It does say it’s fragrance free, but I think it does have a bit of an odd smell, which I think might be the urea, as I’ve smelt it in similar products before. But it’s not overpowering, and the cream definitely helps so I’m happy to ignore it!

Nivea is a brand I’ve used for as long as I can remember and one I can always trust to take care of my skin. This Nivea Crème is a lovely thick formula, with the typical clean smell that Nivea products tend to have. According to Nivea, it provides the skin with all it needs to stay pure, nourished and smooth, and I can definitely vouch for this. You can pretty much use it everywhere – face, hands, body, arms and legs, and a 50ml pot is only £1.39 – an absolute bargain!

Face:

Next up, I’ve got a few face products for you. Although a couple of the body creams are suitable to use on your face, it’s often the case that the skin on your face needs different things to the skin on your body.

My first face product is another item from Nivea – the Nivea Daily Essentials Regenerating Night Cream, which is £3 at Boots at the moment. My one is for normal and combination skin, but they also do one specifically for dry skin too. Again, this cream feels thick and luxurious, lightly scented with the usual Nivea scent. Putting this on my face at night, I can really feel my skin drinking it up, and in the morning it feels soft and refreshed. The cream is enriched with good old vitamin E, Lotus Extract and Hydra IQ, which provide intensive moisture and support the skin’s regenerating process during the night. I wasn’t sure what Hydra IQ was, but according to Nivea it supports your natural moisturisation via the skin’s own water channels, therefore promoting moisture flow between skin cells. Sounds good to me!

Another Eucerin product I was kindly sent to try out was the Eucerin Dry Skin Replenishing Cream*, which is currently £9.75 in Boots (and also on Buy 1 get 2^nd half price on selected Eucerin). Like the other Eucerin product, this contains urea, but only 5% this time, and the scent (or lack of) is much nicer. As well as using this on my face (generally at night) it also works wonders on my hands and elbows and doesn’t irritate my skin, which is always a bonus.

Next is this Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Moisturiser that you can find in Boots for £12.99. I was intrigued to find out what a ‘water gel’ was, and am so impressed by the consistency of this gel. It’s lovely and cooling, which feels so nice when my skin is dry and itchy, and absorbs really quickly, leaving my skin feeling hydrated and glowing. It also has a really fresh, clean fragrance. The moisturiser contains a unique Hyaluronic Gel Matrix to instantly lock in intense hydration and continuously release it as and when your skin needs it throughout the day. It really is the product that keeps on giving! It is also oil free, so if you’ve got combination skin, this should still suit you well.

My final face product is the Champneys Spa Skin Plus Collagen Intense Night Cream. Unfortunately I can’t seem to find it online, but this one came from a blogger meet-up, where Champneys kindly donated products to go in goody bags. I love a good spa treatment, and the scent and texture of this face cream take me back to when my Mum and I enjoyed a spa break at a Champneys hotel and spa. Oh how I would love to go back there again! Every element of the Spa Skin Plus range is enriched with a collagen-boosting peptide complex, so it works to actively stimulate your skin’s collagen production and help fill out fine lines and wrinkles. As our body’s natural renewal process works best when we sleep, it’s the perfect time to nourish and replenish our skin. This cream is incredibly hydrating and my skin feels so good when I wake up in the morning. The cream includes raspberry seed oil to deeply condition and shea butter to soften.

Lips:

One thing I really hate is having dry lips, so you will always find a selection of lip balms in my bag and bathroom cupboard to keep them hydrated. There are so many great products out there – here are a few to get you started.

The first product you need to use to keep your lips feeling smooth is a scrub, and you can’t find anything that smells better than the Lush Sugar Plum Fairy Lip scrub. Unfortunately, this was a Christmas special, but you can find several other flavours including Honey, Bubblegum and Popcorn here. A mixture of smoothing fine sea salt, caster sugar and Fair Trade cocoa butter help to soften the skin and leave a delicious taste on your lips. Believe me, it’s very difficult not to lick it off afterwards!

One of my favourite stick lip balms comes from Burt’s Bees, who now boast 11 great flavours including strawberry, vanilla bean, pink grapefruit and wild cherry – yum! They’re great for popping in your handbag, and really nourish your lips. Infused with powerful fruit extracts and Beeswax to richly moisturise and soften your lips, they include nourishing oils and butters that make your lips feel healthy and happy. They are also 100% natural and free of parabens, phthalates, petroleum and SLS, as well as coming in recyclable packaging. I just want to try them all!

If you’re looking for something a bit more intensive, then look no further than Eucerin Dry Skin Intensive Lip Balm*. Another part of the Eucerin Dry Skin range that I was kindly sent, this intensive balm contains soothing Licorice Extract to relieve extremely dry and cracked lips, and reduce the redness around the lips due to dryness. I’ve been turning to this time and time again during the day to keep my lips protected from the cold. It feels soothing on my lips and it’s good to know it’s also suitable for sensitive skin.

Before I go to bed, I like to put something on my lips that can really work overnight to moisturise and repair them. For a few years now, I’ve been turning to Nivea Lip Butters most nights, and they really seem to help. They’re not something I would generally wear during the day, as they are very thick and creamy, so quite visible on the lips. But they’re perfect for night-time when I won’t lick them off straight away! They come in a range of scents including blueberry, coconut, raspberry and vanilla and macadamia – all of which smell so good (and there is an original one too). The moisturising formula with Hydra IQ contains shea butter and almond oil to provide intense moisture and long-lasting care.

Carmex is another brand I always go to for lip care products, and I particularly love this Carmex Moisturising Lip Balm in Cherry. You can either get this in a pot or a squeezable tube, which I must admit I prefer, so I don’t get it all over my fingers! Its unique formula soothes, moisturises and relieves, resulting in soft and healthy looking lips. So many times I have had cracked, sore lips, and Carmex have managed to get them back to feeling normal again. It also contains SPF 15, which is so important all year round to protect our delicate lips from the sun.

While I’m talking about winter skincare in general, I thought I would just share this Burt’s Bees Naturally Nourishing Vanilla Bean Gift Set that I received for Christmas. It contains one of their lip balms, but also some Ultimate Care Hand Cream, which is just as good at hydrating my skin as their lip products are. They do all sorts of combinations and products, so I would really recommend giving them a try.

Hands:

Last up in my winter skincare saviours are a few products I’ve been using to keep my hands feeling soft and smooth.

As well as hating having dry lips, I can’t stand it if my hands feel dry. It’s something I have experienced since childhood, and I remember being on holiday somewhere and crying because my hands felt so dry. So these days I try to make sure I carry some hand cream in my bag, and this Eucerin Intensive Hand Cream 5% Urea* really does make such a difference, especially during these cold months. The cream feels thick and luxurious, with the urea and lactate quickly soothing my hands even when they’re really dry. It absorbs well into my skin and doesn’t leave them feeling sticky, which I think is a sign of a good moisturiser. It’s been tested in clinical studies on people including those with hand eczema, and they found that there was an improvement in skin moisturisation of over 150% after just one week! Everyone in the study said their skin condition had improved, which is pretty good going I think!

My poor Mum really suffers with her hands, especially when the weather turns cold. She’s tried various creams from the doctors, but never seemed to find anything that helped. I decided to do a bit of research, and came across O’Keeffe’s Working Hands, which seemed to have a lot of recommendations from people with severely cracked hands. It had to be worth a try. It’s an interesting texture – more like a balm than a cream, and after a while using it, my Mum’s hands did improve. It’s a concentrated formula that naturally conditions your skin with a high concentration of glycerine, creating a difference you can feel within days. Although my Mum still struggles with her hands, this has certainly helped.

One hand cream that you can often find in my bag is the Nivea Hand Express Hydration Cream. It’s a fairly light texture, but doesn’t skimp on the moisturising, leaving my hands feeling hydrated and smooth. The formula contains a natural sea mineral hydrating complex, which absorbs almost instantly. It’s one of my current favourites, and I go back to it time and time again.

Another great staple hand cream is the Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Concentrated Hand Cream, which you can get either scented or unscented. This is a thicker consistency than the Nivea one, but it still absorbs very easily, although you only need a small amount! It gives your skin immediate and lasting relief, and I tend to turn to this when I need something a bit more intensive. It is enriched with glycerine and instantly relieves and protects seriously chapped hands. My hands definitely feel noticeably softer after using this.

Last on my list is The Body Shop Hemp High Moisture Cream. Now, I’ll start off by saying that this doesn’t have the best smell, so you need to prepare yourself for something that isn’t going to smell like some of their other yummy fruity products. But the smell doesn’t really bother me because the products work so well. The hemp helps to soften and protect your hands, and is sometimes the only thing that will offer some relief to my dry, cracked skin. I love to lather my hands in this before bed, and then wake up in the morning with silky soft hands. Definitely a bathroom cupboard staple for those chilly winter days.

And there we have it – my winter skincare saviours! This is just a selection of some of the products I enjoy to use throughout the winter months, but I hope it has helped you if you’re currently struggling with dry skin and need something to try.

Do you use any of these products to help with dry skin? Are there any others you would recommend that I could try out?

*I was sent anything marked with this to review. However, all opinions are my own and I only discuss products that I would genuinely try myself.

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