My Winter Beauty Survival Kit

Some might think that switching up your skincare and make-up as the seasons change is something that is quite cliche, silly, ridiculous or unneeded (*cough my family cough*) but for me it is such a necessity (like, come on!) While my skin will sadly be forever oily, it does get really darn dehydrated in winter. Plus, who can say no to rocking a berry lip daily? So today I've decided to share what products have been my saviours this winter and have given the highly coveted status as being part of my Winter Beauty Survival Kit (capitalisation necessary).


Despite winter being much colder in Sydney than it usually is (well, as cold as it gets here anyway) and spending large amounts of time in front of the heater and in hot steamy showers, my skin hasn't fallen of the wayside and turned into a horrible dried up mess that it usually does. And for that, I can thank the beauty Gods for these products. As mentioned in my June Favourites post, my skin has been gulping down all the moisturiser I've been slapping on it. For my face I have been using the Aesop Mandarin Hydrating Facial cream, which I've been applying quite liberally all over my face before bed. By morning my skin is soft and supple without a dry patch in sight. For my body I have been using Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturising Lotion* which has done wonders for any dry patches I may have. It is also fragrance free which is great for me to use the during the day.

My hands can also get really dry (I'm not a glove wearing person, so annoying) so I have been using the Grown Alchemist Vanilla & Orange Peel Hand Cream that is really cute and small and very easy to take around with you. Plus, the smell is so delicious and fresh! On my lips I have been reaching for the Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip balm, which I use at night as a little bit of something faaaancccy before bed. This is honestly the best lip balm I've used and has kept my lips from turning into something gross and disgusting, so major kudos to that! However, for me the only downside is that it is a jar which makes it quite unhygienic to take around in your hand bag to use on the go. To remedy that I have been using the Malin + Goetz Lip Moisturiser which is quite nifty to carry around with you and is really good at re hydrating my lips when I'm out and about.

In winter my skin is also prone to a lot of breakouts and to combat that I have dug up one of my favourite face masks the Aesop Parsley Seed Mask. Along with my other favourite face mask, the Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask (which I reviewed here), I have been using these two weekly to fight those pesky pimples from appearing. The Aesop mask is quite pricey but is so worth it as it clears up my skin, leaving it feeling ridiculously clean and fresh. However, in winter this mask can be a tad on the harsh side as it leaves my skin also feeling dry and tight. For that I have paired it with the REN Gylocolic Radiance Renewal Mask which rehydrates my skin nicely. It also smells DIVINE I literally have to stop myself from licking it off from the areas around my lips.

Now let's talk make-up. In winter I love a semi-matte base with a bit of skin highlights, and to achieve that I have been using the Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Foundation, TheBalm Mary-Lou Manizer illuminater and the YSL Touche Eclat. This foundation is honestly up there on my favourite list as it is one of the few foundations that don't cause me to breakout, doesn't leave my skin looking like an oil party and stays in place for most of the day. Big tick from me! The Mary-Lou illuminater and Touche Eclat were in my June favourites and have both also been my go to all winter to add some life to the tops of my cheek bones, down my nose and in the inner corner's of my eyes. The Touche Eclat also does wonders for under my eyes. Another big tick from me!

For colour I have been saved by the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Dim Infusion. Despite the hefty price tag this blush is beeeeaaautifullllll both in packaging and on the skin. I don't think I have enough words to describe how much I adore this other than the fact that I NEED MORE (sorry in advance bank account). For some light colour for the lips I have been using Korres Lip Butter in Wild Rose which is lovely for just a flush of colour. For something a bit more I have been using MAC lipstick in Syrup and Plumful. Plumful has been in my Winter Survival Kit for a few years but I just recently purchased Syrup and the colour is just gorg! And last but definitely not least and probably my favourite product here, my By Terry Ombre Blackstar Cream Eyeshadow in Misty Rock. Reading reviews on this was not enough to prepare me for how much/how fast I would fall in love with this product. Honestly it is amazing. The colour payoff is great and it looks so good all over the lid. It is love guys, it really is. The price tag is the only thing holding me back but I definitely need more.

What have my fellow southern hemisphere-ians being using this winter? Have you tried any of these products?

Chantalle x