Winter skincare is so important. With ongoing uncertainty, came lots of change: dry skin that is suddenly oily, formerly supple skin that you now find is dehydrated and starting to sag… but what are you supposed to do?
Over the last few months, more and more people are asking what they can do to scientifically rejuvenate their skin but in an environmentally friendly and sustainable way. To help with a myriad of skincare concerns, I’ve rounded up a list of reliable and verified products, brands and salons below. All products tried and tested by yours truly.
Winter skincare – Monat
Revered vegan haircare brand Monat recently expanded its successful business to include skincare. My only issue – what took them so long?! Back in 2019 when the brand branched out, it sold over $4million worth of skincare product within the first two days. Now they’ve expanded their range further to suit the drier and dehydrated skin type, which is the good news I’ve been waiting for when it comes to winter skincare.
My skin has been all over the place lately, and I find myself needing extra spurts of hydration throughout the day now more than ever. Thankfully, the new range includes a moisturising serum and face mist (great for those long hours at the desk or working at home). Both products of course contain the holy grail of hydration, hyaluronic acid, as well as polyglutamic acid (a humectant known to inhibit the natural breakdown of moisture in your skin), anti-polluting marine algae and vegan collagen to promote elasticity of the skin. The entire skincare range is vegan, cruelty free, uses only clinically tested ingredients and fragrances that are approved by the European Health Commission. The original range also includes a selection of cleansers, scrubs, moisturisers and eye creams that are suitable for both normal/dry and oilier skins. I look forward to seeing what other hydrating products Monat have up their sleeve!
For more information, visit monatglobal.com
Winter skincare – AlumierMD Eyeconic kit
AlumierMD sources ingredients from sustainable and ethical suppliers and strive to make sure that products are the cleanest products available. Packaging is recyclable and they do not cover boxes in cellophane to decrease the amount of waste.
Designed to prevent and correct ageing eyes with medical-grade results and provide a soothing self-care routine, AlumierMD’s new Eyeconic kit contains medical-grade products, meaning they optimise the bioavailability of each molecule in the ingredients, with formulations that promise to deliver exceptional results including Alumineye™ and Retinol Eye Gel. Together, these iconic products help prevent and correct ageing around the eyes and provide some much needed self-care.
The kit is available following a consultation with a skincare professional as these are medical grade skincare products. I met with Dr Xu virtually and talked through how to use the products in detail. “AlumierMD’s Eyeconic kit is an exceptional solution for tired, puffy eyes”, says Dr Xu. “By using both products, you will experience a 360-degree approach to targeting the signs of ageing around the eyes.”
The Eyeconic kit costs £110 and is available via AlumierMD’s online portal, following an online consultation with a licensed skincare professional.
To find out more about the Eyeconic kit, find a local AlumierMD clinic here: alumiermd.co.uk
Winter skincare – Kalon Parlour
If you’ve been reading my skincare pieces for a while now, you’ll know I am a real sucker for a good facial. Which is why I was so excited to hear of a new, gender-neutral spa on the block, and one that only specialises in ethical beauty and practices. Kalon Parlour (pronounced Kay-lon), with a fantastic location in Fitzrovia just off Oxford Street, is one of the only stockists of cruelty-free and vegan premium skincare brand Orveda in the UK. Opened in late 2021, the salon offers 3 Orveda facials, and also HydraFacials if that’s more your thing. Beautifully decorated, with pastel colours and soft furnishings throughout, the whole vibe at the salon gives off understated luxury. With a bartender and barista onsite, as well as fresh juices made at its beautiful marble bar with rose gold flourishes, it feels more like a luxury resort than a medispa in the centre of London.
Orveda, despite being a relatively little-known French brand, has beautiful deep ivy green product packaging (all available to buy at Kalon FYI) and offers a signature mix of antioxidant enzymes, natural prebiotics and a Kombucha bio-fermented black tea within its products that work on skin barrier, tone, texture and luminescence so that you can get your glow back! Kalon Parlour treatments also tend to focus on your skin’s specific needs and tailor your treatment accordingly. At Kalon, the overall experience is not just skincare or winter skincare, it’s a lifestyle.
For more information and to book a treatment, visit kalonparlour.co.uk
Winter skincare – Germaine de Capuccini
So, onto vitamin C. I always tell people they need a minimum of 4/5 products in their winter skincare routine. A solid cleanser, SPF, retinol, a moisturiser and a good topical vitamin C. I have been pretty happy using some well-known high street brands for my vitamin C thus far, as I believe you shouldn’t pay through the nose to get the best results. Little did I know a brand called Germaine de Capuccini would come along and change my perception of vitamin C and what it can do for you.
Quickly glancing over their website, I saw that they committed to making vitamin C 6 times more potent and effective due to a patented HCG, otherwise known as a combination of Hyaluronic Acid, Lysine, and Glutamic Acid. So far, so scientific. But vitamin C can be pretty problematic – it is photosensitive, so it deteriorates with exposure to both light and oxygen, making it very tricky to package. – PSA: All vitamin C topical products should be sold in an air pump and used within a certain timeframe to maximise efficacy -. How do the good people at Germaine de Capuccini explain that within their range? Well, in their signature C+ serum, not only is it locked tight but you have to activate it yourself by mixing a self-contained vitamin C powder into the serum, which is then tightly secured in the bottle and ready for you to use daily. If you are looking for something to brighten dark spots, even skin tone and give your face an all-over glow however, I’d recommend the more comprehensive Timexpert Radiance C+ Launch Set, which includes the famed aforementioned serum, but also a lovely light moisturising cream and eye contour cream to maximise the effect on your skin.
As always with vitamin C, please make sure to use SPF all over your face and neck as your skin will be more sensitive after use. A Germaine de Capuccini facial is also available at select spas across the UK, including at the glorious Landmark Hotel in London and Loch Lomond Golf Club Spa in Scotland.
For more information, visit germaine-de-capuccini.co.uk
Winter skincare – Doctors Formula Dragon Blood range
I have previously extolled the many virtues of Dragons Blood extract in my other articles, given its anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties, it helps to treat wounds, rashes and other skin-related problems. Applying the naturally derived red tree sap topically through serums/creams forms a barrier-like second skin and shields from environmental damage, and nourishes dry, dull skin. Doctors Formula, a science-based pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical company, have a new Dragons Blood range to add to their roster of marine collagen and probiotic skincare products.
The new set of products includes a moisturiser, serum, cleanser, and wrinkle and redness reducing serums. The innovative recipe includes citric acid from citrus fruits, an AHA (alpha-hydroxy acid) that exfoliates and removes dead skin cells, resulting in a brighter, more even complexion. This range would be perfect to use after the alcohol and rich food-fuelled excesses of the festive season, and is helpful to combat the results of stress on the skin. Dragons Blood can also help in delaying the ageing of the skin, and is reported to be 50x more effective than vitamin E as it kills free radicals (responsible for breaking down our skin’s collagen) and is rich in antioxidants.
The range is available here: doctorsformula.co.uk
Winter skincare – ZO Skin Health
To end, I thought I would finish with a classic. ZO Skin Health is a skincare range set up by renowned dermatologist Dr Zein Obagi, which deals with all skin issues and focuses on preventative and protective care for skin. In his incredible range of products, I’ve recently become besotted by the exfoliating cleanser. It has encapsulated vitamin E so it doesn’t give your skin that dry and tight feeling after cleansing, and jojoba esters to gently (and sustainably) exfoliate. The packaging is simple yet effective, and comes in a generous 200ml size. I also use it as a second step in my double cleansing routine, finding that it removes the last remnants of makeup with ease. It is now an essential in my skincare regimen and I would happily recommend it for those with normal to combination skins.
For more information, visit: zoskinhealth.com
All imagery courtesy of the brands featured. Leading image courtesy of Unsplash.