KEEPING UP APPEARANCES:Oil-based beauty products add a slick of moisture to parched winter skins, writes PHYL CLARKE.
IN MY EXPERIENCE, January is not the month to propel yourself to the gym or to join (yet again), your local WeightWatchers’ meeting. No, gently does it. Spending these weeks reorganising and reassessing, while weaning yourself off the stodge and embracing hearty home-made soups, is not too drastic a shock to the system and by the end of the month you’ll be ready to get serious. February is the perfect time to earnestly embrace the new you and you’ll more than likely overtake the gung-ho January starters who have run out of steam.
Being kind to your skin will also reap rewards in this harshest of months, and I love to treat mine with luscious oils and unguents.
Cleansing oils are a really gentle way to remove make-up as the oil melts into skin, making a cotton pad glide across the face without dragging. My evening cleanser of choice is Chanel's Précision Huile Confort(€35) as it gently but effectively removes all traces of eye and face make-up. Another good oil-based cleanser is from Nadur Organics, which has the benefit of being Irish, organic, and great value at €28.99. See nadurorganics.ie.
Now for some facial nourishment. Decléor's Aromessence Excellence(€85) is an anti-aging serum oil which smooths and regenerates. Use it in combination with Baume Excellence(€96.60) at night for maximum benefit.
People with oily skins often shy away from using facial oils, but using a balancing formula such as Dr Hauschka's Normalising Day Oil(€26.10) addresses this problem, and has a light and non-greasy texture. Use it alone or mix in with your moisturiser.
The oil creating the biggest beauty buzz at the moment is Rodin Olio Lusso, which was developed by Linda Rodin, a New York-based stylist and editor who had an expert panel of celebrities, make-up artists and models to test her formula. The ecstatic response propelled her to market the oil commercially and I'm chomping at the bit to try this beauty insider's favourite. (£90 from beautyworkswest.com)
Body oils are a fabulous treat for winter skin. You can choose to use a bath oil or to anoint skin with treatment oil after bathing (or both, if you’re me).
Jo Wood may have problems with her husband Ronnie, but she can soak them away with her own delicious Amka oil which combines jasmine, neroli and bergamot to uplifting effect. It costs £44 from jowoodorganics.com
Sumptuous Moroccan Rose Otto Bath Oil(€40) from Ren has stress-relieving and soothing properties. Tel: 1890-947245 for stockists. If you want more get up and go, Clarins Huile Tonic(€44.20) refreshes and tones, which is great for that exercise programme you'll be taking on next month.
A two-in-one product is a bonus and I would say that you're getting a three-in-one with Elemis Frangipani Monoi Moisture Melt Oil(€48) which is a dry skin saviour, a hair treatment and a fragrance all in one. from spiritonespa.ie
Another fabulous oil is Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse, a bottle of which sells every 16 seconds. Face, body and hair can all benefit from this cult dry oil; it's a classic. €21, from Clerys, Dublin 1.
Nails and cuticles can also benefit from a nourishing oil. One of my favourites is Solar Oil, with its sweet almond fragrance, which conditions and strengthens nails and cuticles. It costs £9.95 (€11) from hqhair.com. The Cowshedrange is a therapeutic blend of botanical essential oils and its Cuticle Oil uses apricot oil to nourish and protect. It costs £18 (€20) from cowshedonline.com.
New to our shores is Flexitol Skin Nourishing Oil, an Australian blend of 11 natural oils which is a great all-rounder for evening out skin tone and helping to reduce stretchmarks and scarring. Handy spray pump applicator, too. €12.50 from pharmacies.
Last but not least is good old Johnson's Baby Oil, which may not have the luxe element or the wonderful aromas of some of the above, but it's the silky moisturising treatment for baby and for you.