WINTER WONDER PLAN
Don’t let Jack Frost play havoc with your looks!
Brrrr! It may be cold outside, but the weather shouldn't get in the way of a beautiful you. It's easy enough to snuggle into a chunky knit to keep warm when the cold weather arrives, but damp days, sharp winds and central heating can all wreak havoc with your looks. "Skin and hair become parched in winter because they're exposed to dry air, both from the cold and indoor heating," says Dr Tom Mammone, executive director of Clinique research and development. But help is at hand - just wrap yourself up in the very best protective beauty treats...
WINTER-PROOF YOUR FACE WITH: LAYERING PRODUCTS
Faces take a battering in winter so it's important to slather them with a protective shield. This stops the cold getting in and prevents moisture getting out. You can keep using your regular moisturiser, but it's worth investing in a facial serum to apply underneath it. We love Ren's Rose Synergy 012 Restoring Facial Serum, £39.25. Its oily consistency will sink
down into the epidermis (the bottom layer of skin) so you'll get a higher level of moisture and better protection. Always apply face products after you've dried your hair in the morning, as the heat from your hairdryer will lessen the effect of any moisturiser. Drink at least eight glasses of water a day to hydrate your skin from the inside.
WINTER-PROOF YOUR FEET WITH: AN AT-HOME PARAFFIN TREAT
Your feet may be out of sight, but they shouldn't be out of mind. Estée Lauder's Body Performance Smoothing Manicure/Pedicure Treatment, £17, is an at-home version of a warm paraffin wax pedicure in a salon. Smooth on before bedtime and wake up with super-soft tootsies. For a quick, intense moisture blast, massage your feet with Vaseline or an ultra-hydrating body cream. Wrap your feet in a warm towel and rest on a hot water bottle. After 15 minutes rinse and pat dry.
WINTER-PROOF YOUR HAIR WITH: THE SPRAY-ON UMBRELLA!
"Damp weather is the worst culprit for making hair wilt and drop," says celebrity hairdresser Lee Stafford. Which is why his Climate Control Protection Spray, £5.49, is genius. It keeps hair in place and holds back the frizz when it's pouring. And because central heating can leave hair dry, give it some TLC once a week. Slather your normal conditioner all over, pop on a shower cap, and hop in a hot bath. The steam and cocooning effect of the cap will help conditioner get to work at the roots.
WINTER-PROOF YOUR MAKE-UP ROUTINE WITH: OLIVE-BASED FOUNDATION
Nothing major needs to change with your winter make-up apart from your foundation. You need to use something that protects and provides day-long coverage. Dermalogica's Sheer Tint Moisture SPF15, £25.20, contains the perfect winter foundation ingredient: olive extract, which contains super-powerful antioxidants to help protect your skin against damage. It's available in light, medium or dark, and you can either apply one coat for a sheer colour or two for full-on coverage. Plus the SPF15
will protect your skin from the winter sun (yes, that really does exist, even in the UK!).
WINTER-PROOF YOUR HANDS WITH: RUB-ON GLOVES
Washing dishes in winter is a major cause of dry, chapped hands. If you can't avoid it then make sure the water isn't too hot so your skin doesn't flake and chap from the shock of going from cold to hot. Afterwards, slather your hands in Clinique's new Deep Comfort Hand And Cuticle Cream, £14, available from November 1. Make it last longer by only applying it to the backs of your hands, which are the areas that desperately need extra moisture. And don't forget your nails - stop them from chipping in the cold by smothering them with olive oil.
WINTER-PROOF YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM WITH: A COLD-BUSTING BATH
Not only will a hot bath filled with a capful of Aromatherapy Associates Support Breathe
Bath And Shower Oil, £34, soak your troubles away, it'll also help keep colds at bay, thanks to antibacterial eucalyptus, tea tree and peppermint oils. You can also fight winter colds by adding a few drops of echinacea tincture to your regular body moisturiser and applying it all over!
BY JENNIFER CAWTHRON PHOTOGRAPHY: FOLIO-ID, PIXELEYESPHOTOGRAPHY.CO.UK STOCKISTS: AROMATHERAPY ASSOCIATES (AROMATHERAPYASSOCIATES.COM), CLINIQUE (CLINIQUE.CO.UK), DERMALOGICA (DERMALOGICA.CO.UK), ESTÉE LAUDER (BOOTS NATIONWIDE), LEE STAFFORD (BOOTS NATIONWIDE), REN (RENSKINCARE.CO.UK)
This article has 1 comment
i would like to know where i can buy Lee Stafford climate control protection spray, which was in a recent magazine
By elaine thomas. Posted November 13 2009 at 12:52 PM.