Is it winter or is it spring? With ice, snow and freezing temperatures, you’d be forgiven for thinking it could be January outside and not mid-March. Dry skin, chapped lips and frazzled hair can be the result of this prolonged harsh weather, so read on for my round-up of the best new products around that will save the day, and not break the bank.
Herbal Essences has extended its indulgent Bio:Renew range with the Passion Flower & Rice Milk Shampoo and Conditioner duo, £6 each, from boots.com. They provide a shot of nourishment to the hair, giving deep hydration and a luxury feel – due to their rich formulas – which is perfect for wintery days.
Scented with orange blossom, citrus and passion flower, hair feels clean and silky smooth afterwards with the light fragrance giving an uplifting effect. Both the shampoo and conditioner has a luxe rich and creamy texture.
Passion flowers have long been used in homeopathic medicine to keep the body relaxed and healthy, while rice milk boosts the immune system with its natural antioxidants. As well as these qualities the range also uses sea kelp and aloe, which, combined, help to restore and protect the hair – leaving it shiny and in tip-top condition.
Astral Moisturiser – usually available in its iconic blue pot – has long been a ‘supermarket sweetheart’ of beauty lovers. Launched in 1953, it’s retro logo still remains the same as does its ‘all-rounder’ appeal. A versatile moisturiser, it’s great for a multitude of uses, can be used all over, and is perfect for all the family. It’s hydrating after a shower, nourishing after a day in the sun and the perfect base for after cleansing or pre-make-up. It has an intensely rich formula which protects your skin from head to toe and keeps essential moisture locked in – so you can still feel it working hours later.
The brand has now launched a new Cocoa Butter version, £4.19 from Superdrug.com, which is super-pampering and locks in moisture for long-lasting use. It sinks in like a dream and as well as improving the condition of the skin, it leaves limbs and body with a nice sheen and gently scented with sweet cocoa butter.
This is perfect for travelling as it can be used to cool skin down after too much sun-time, as a post-shower body moisturiser and as a skin primer for the face. Many users also use it to double-up as a make-up remover.
Finally, perfect for filling the hours that we are all spending cocooned at home are these sheet masks from Skin Republic. What better way to prep the face for the sunny days ahead?
The Gold Hydrogel Mask, £6.99, from graftonsbeauty.co.uk has been specially formulated using a unique hydrogel material to intensely hydrate and soothe. With natural plant extracts and minerals, it is infused with a rich serum which instantly peps up the face to leave it glowing and radiant.
Leave it on for 30-40 minutes and then gently rub in any extra serum. You’ll notice an instant effect of luminosity and plumped-up skin. Inspired by Cleopatra, who slept with a pure gold facemask every night, and Geishas, who used to rub pure gold leaf on their skin for a youthful complexion and incandescent glow, the mask harnesses the anti-ageing benefits of gold in an intense shot of goodness.
The Bubble Purifying + Charcoal Sheet Mask, £5.49, meanwhile, is made from activated charcoal powder – the beauty ingredient of the moment and works to deep clean the skin and clear away any blemishes. Activated charcoal acts as a magnet to extract dirt and oil from deep within the pores, so it is perfect for problem skin. The mask also uses fruit acids to gently remove dead skin cells, to reveal a bright and luminous complexion. The oxygen-rich mask reacts with the air to create a deep cleansing, exfoliating foam, for a more radiant look.
First of all, you rub the sachet to activate the bubbles, then you apply the sheet for 15-20 minutes and you will feel the formula begin to bubble and foam up with a light tingling effect. Once you remove it, you can massage in the extra bubbles and then rinse off with water. Skin is left gloriously clean and lifted. The perfect spring clean – if only spring would arrive!
