We are almost half way through June. which means we’re right in the middle of winter. I’ve been living in Jozi for 16 years now and the one thing I still haven’t gotten used to is the freezing and harsh winters. 

My Skin Takes a pounding….

In the Jozi winters. My hands get raw from the cold and my skin gets dry and flaky in ways it never did living in Cape Town, I think it’s a combination of the freezing morning and evening temps combined with very dry weather conditions.

My Essentials List

So over the years, I’ve developed my own personal list of top to toe products that are part of my every day arsenal to combat the harsh winter conditions on my skin.

Let’s start at the top and work our way down shall we?

My Face!

Last week, I shared my three current favourite facial oils. Facial oils are essential for maintaining my skin throughout winter and I’ve been using them for years, but recently, I added the following products to my list of facial must have’s especially now for winter:

I have started using the Oil Milk Cleanser and Skin Tonic from Skin Creamery and these products have totally lived up to my expectations.

The Oil-Milk Cleanser is like no other cleanser I’ve ever used and has totally wiped away my previous preference for a foaming wash. The cleanser has a really thick consistency but once dampened between your hands it glides easily over your skin and effortlessly cleanses, while also removing make up. I’ll also add, that it’s FANTASTIC at removing eye make up. I gently cleanse my entire face, including my eye area and it removes all traces of mascara and make up. My skin also isn’t left with that horrid tight feeling I always got from foaming washes and best of all, my skin feels soft after cleansing.

The Skin Tonic is also quite unique. The water phase contains Malachite, a mineral-rich crystal extract with powerful antioxidant and skin protecting properties. Baobab fruit powder, which is high in vitamin C, is infused into organic rose water to create a vitamin-rich floral splash. Rose water gently balances the skin’s PH and adds a touch of toning magic.
The omega-rich oil layer gently hydrates and conditions the skin. This oil layer mixes effortlessly with the water phase to form a rejuvenating tonic for damaged or tired skin.

So my skin feels soft and hydrated and while still damp from the Skin Tonic, I apply my facial oil to aid in it’s absorption. 

I am totally sold on these two products, you can buy yours here:

https://thebeautifulstore.com/search?type=product&q=skin+creamery

Lips…

Need extra special attention in winter time, with the dry air and freezing temps, I am quite prone to chapped and dry lips, but these beauties keep my lips soft and supple and moisturised all day and night. 

During the day I use the EOS Shimmer Balm. It’s soft and applies easily and leaves a light shimmer, I especially like it on the days when I want a more subtle lip look, I apply it over a layer of my favourite lip pencil colour or on the days when I’m wearing no make up, for a subtle shimmery lip look.

At night, I love Oh So Heavenly’s Lip Domes. They are deeply moisturising and quite greasy, I know that sounds off putting, but when I get into bed at night, I love to feel deeply moisturised from my head to my toes and these lip domes are divine. I’ve bought for my girls too because both of them are struggling with chapped winter lips.

Body….

I’ve used the Oh So Heavenly Body Wash Cream and Body Lotion for YEARS! I love that they are also a cruelty free brand and no other body wash comes close! As a side note, we use the entire range in our home. From their hand soaps, which come in convenient refillable packs and work out to be the most cost effective, to all the body washes and body lotions for both the girls and I. So you can expect to see their products feature a bit in this post.

Both the body wash cream and body lotion contain yoghurt and milk proteins so they are deeply moisturising. They also smell divine and I find them really gentle, especially on Ava, who has the most sensitive skin I’ve ever come across, almost everything gives her a rash. 

Environ’s Derma-Lac Lotion has also been a firm favourite of mine, this goes back to my years in the beauty industry and working in beauty salons. The Derma-Lac Lotion is also one of those products that you’ll try and then be blown away by the results. It comes out the bottle like an oil and is quite slippery when applied but it penetrates the skin perfectly and you will definitely see results with improved moisture and texture of your skin. I’ve been using this one for YEARS and I still swear by it!

Hands & Feet:

I’ve actually blogged about Pedirelax before. It was a product originally sent to me for review and which I now cannot live without. Pedirelax foot treatments are deeply moisturising but without leaving that horrid oily residue that makes your feet slip in your flip flops in summer or your feet stink and sweat inside socks and stockings in winter. In my opinion, there is no better speciality foot moisturising cream. 

Anther Oh So Heavenly product features as my favourite hand cream. The Oh So Heavenly Q10 Anti Ageing hand cream is divine. Aside from the fact that is smells amazing, it also is deeply moisturising but without leaving a greasy residue. 

 Have you tried any of these products?

What was your favourite? And if your favourite not featured here, then what is your favourite winter skin life saver?

Disclaimer: This is NOT a sponsored post. I bought all of the products featured here and wanted to share them because I love them!