Hydration Heroes

Autumn is really setting in now, the clocks go back soon meaning cold dark nights cosied up under the blankets with a hot cuppa are fast approaching. And for a lot of us, the change in weather also signals changes in our skin. When the cold wind starts whipping away at my face, my skin can get very dry, particularly on my cheeks and forehead, so I'll be really upping the hydration in my skincare routine. Firstly, I'll be making sure to use Hydraluron before my moisturiser. This serum has a clear gel-like consistency and is packed full of the purest form of hyaluronic acid that holds up to 1000 times its weight in water, meaning the hydrating effects of your moisturiser last longer. This product also has long-term skincare benefits as with prolonged use it can reduce the skins need for topical moisturisers. Thanks to Caroline Hirons, this 30ml serum is now a must-have for all skincare lovers.

One moisturiser that I've found to be particularly effective in the colder months is Vichy Aqualia Thermal Rich, which is specifically targeted to dry and dehydrated skin. This non-greasy cream is lightweight and fast-absorbing whilst still being rich and moisturising enough to soothe dryness. It's also been specially formulated for sensitive skin (like mine). This stuff smells lovely and comes in a blue-tinted glass jar, making it seem a lot more expensive than it's £16.00 price tag (Escentual is currently selling this with 15% off making it £13.60! Link above). 

On a Sunday night, or even mid-week there's nothing better than running a hot bath and smothering on a face mask to really up the hydration. For a quick skin boost, the Superfacialist Rose Hydrate Intense Moisture Mask is a great 10 minute treatment. Another product that is suitable for sensitive skin, this mask includes white willow extract, Vitamin E and marshmallow extract for a plumping and refreshing effect. If you're not a fan of rose scents, this may not be the mask for you as it is quite strongly scented, but I don't find it too overwhelming and the creamy mask does a great job at boosting my skin. This mask only costs £8.99, so I can't wait to try some of the other affordable Superfacialist products by Una Brennan. 

For a more intense moisturising mask, the one and only Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask is the one for the job. This mango-scented mask contains hyaluronic acid, avocado oil and Japanese seaweed to quench the skin and prevent further moisture loss. I like to use this mask in place of my night cream at least twice a week, and in the morning my skin always looks plump, healthy and hydrated. 

Another problem for me when the cold weather sets in is dry chapped lips. Highstreet lip balms just don't really cut it for me, as they tend to be petroleum-based, meaning the hydration they offer is very temporary and just leaves my lips needing more product once it wears off. So this year, I've invested in the Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm in the hopes that it will keep my gob looking soft and moisturised rather than like a half-peeled orange. So far, I am really impressed. I love the sturdy glass packaging, the honey scent and especially the thick balm texture. This feels more like a treatment than a balm on the lips. It contains shea butter and plant oils to really nourish the lips and restore smoothness. I'll be smothering this on day and night throughout A/W as its such a pleasure to use and really feels like it's treating the dryness rather than masking it!

Finally, I couldn't write this post without including a body moisturiser! Even though I'm not one of these people that needs to religiously moisturise post-shower to avoid scaly limbs, I do love the way my skin feels after a good session with a body butter. The one that tops the list for me is the Body Shop Satsuma Body Butter. Oh my God. This stuff smells amazing. I think I've mentioned before that orange is one of my favourite smells, and basically if I open this, it takes all my restraint not to rub my nose in it. Like all the Body Shop Body Butters, this has a creamy texture that absorbs quickly and doesn't leave any greasy residue. They also come in great big 200ml pots (or smaller 50ml pots if you fancy trying before you buy), which are colour-coordinated to the fruit/plant/food they smell of. There will definitely be a body butter in the collection that you will love as much as I love this one, so I recommend having a good sniff of them all in store to find your favourite. Some of the most popular body butters include Strawberry, Mango and Coconut. 

What are your hydration heroes?

Holly xo