A silver lining of the past year has been having some extra time to dedicate to our self care routines. From taking a moment to enjoy a heavenly scented hand cream, spanning to a full-blown, full-body routine with all the trimmings, our beauty routines - as well as supplying their usual beautifying benefits - have also helped sustain us psychologically through trying times. But we’ve reached a point where it’s reasonable to have grown somewhat tired of your usual self care stash (or your more frequent use has seen you reach the last dregs of said products), so if you’re looking to treat yourself to some pampering products this week, might I suggest the following?
Start proceedings with a perfectly clean slate, via the elegant Rationale The PreCleanse Balm. As its name suggests, it’s designed as the first step in a double cleansing ritual to cut through sunscreen and makeup. It cleanses thoroughly but doesn’t strip: its formulation, rich in skin identical ceramides and lipids, protects the skin barrier that can often be comprised by over-enthusiastic cleansing.
This fan-favourite Laneige Sleeping Lip Mask has a new addition to its suite of delectable scents: gummy bear – and yes, it’s as delicious as it sounds. A pleasantly textured balm that softens without stickiness, it’s delightful before bed as intended but light enough for all day wear as well.
Comfort in a jar. The cosseting Resveratrol-Lift Firming Night Cream from Caudalie is just the thing to reach for if you (or your skin) are feeling a little world-weary, thanks to its cashmere-soft texture and delicate and calming scent of lavender and camomile. It features resveratrol, the antioxidant most famously known for providing the health benefits of red wine, as well as ever-reliable hyaluronic acid and olive squalane, leaving skin thoroughly nourished.
When I’m in a pampering mindset, I will almost invariably shelve my other cleansers in favour of a sensorial and buttery balm – and La Prairie’s Supreme Cleansing Balm is a perfect specimen in this capacity. Best used as a morning cleanse or as the second step of your double cleansing routine, its balm-to-oil texture also lends itself to use in a divine face massage. It’s an investment, but a little does really go a long way, so you will get the same results even if you’re economical with how much you apply.
By their very design, body oils encourage you to seek out calm. They’re not made for frazzled application when you’ve slept in and have exactly four and a half minutes to leave the house; they require time to properly sink in and to nourish in the way that oils uniquely can. This Works’s Skin Deep Dry Leg Oil is a gorgeous example: its spa-like scent makes for a shortcut to a more zen mindset, and its silky blend of 19 botanical oils never fails to hydrate my perpetually dry limbs.
If you skin is in need of a potent dose of hydration, the Ultraceuticals Ultra Replenishing Mask offers hyaluronic acid, plus soothing panthenol, ceramides, and vitamin E, to restore the skin’s lipid barrier and boost moisture levels. It will benefit all skins, but its calming formulation makes it particularly good for dealing with post-treatment sensitivity.
Sometimes I rely on a good shower as an effective, if only purely psychological, full stop: a last-dash way of rinsing off a particularly bad day and starting anew. In which case, I like to reach for products that provide both comfort and invigoration, like Frank Body’s Peppermint Body Scrub: you’ve got the familiar, warm baseline of coffee, that’s cut through with icy peppermint, to help scrub off dead skin cells as well as a bad mood. It’s also a great and refreshing choice after a strenuous workout or for some pep after a poor night’s sleep.
Mere’s range is a relatively new addition to my skincare arsenal, part of a groundswell of Australian beauty brands creating elegantly formulated, effective skincare. Their Resilience 8 Bio-Illuminating Face Oil is a particular standout, boasting a rolodex of skin-loving oils, including a number of locally grown botanicals: Kakadu plum, kukui, and prickly pear. I like to apply a fairly generous amount to round out my evening skincare, but a drop or two mixed into your moisturiser or foundation will add some pretty radiance in the day, too.
Story by Tess de Vivie de Régie. Holding shot of Kate Moss by Tim Walker, shot in the Ritz Paris.
