Winter skin savers

So, it is pretty flipping chilly and I've got my coat and scarf out. In the coming weeks I will no doubt be wearing a hat and gloves too. At home, I have the central heating totally cranked up, in my car the heating is set at 24 celsius and at work, the radiators are on full blast.

Cosy as it is, this adds up to major trouble for my skin.

As you know, that makes me very angry indeed. I'm a big believer in keeping you skin tip-top, because after that the make up just looks so much better. But it is a real struggle and requires some tweaking from your ordinary routine to a new winter regimen.

Here are some of the products that are my winter essentials.

Dermalogica Ultra Calming Cleanser

This cleanser is really fabulous during this time of year. My face can feel pretty beaten up because of the chill, the wind and then the heat, but this cleanser really soothes the skin. And it cleans a treat. This is perfect for this time of year as it doesn't clog the pores, washes grime and make up away beautifully, and reduces redness.

Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser with Shea Butter

If I need a cleanser which is a tiny bit more enriching but still cleans like a dream, I turn to this rich and creamy Clarins wash. Goodness, it makes your skin feel so good and nourished that you don't need to rush and put your moisturiser on. A real treat and I tend to use it a few evenings a week.

Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Masque

Yes, I know, I love Dermalogica. But with good reason. The products are amazing, and this is a real wonder product in my view. I actually do not use it in the recommended way, which is slather it on, leave for 15 minutes and then wash off. I actually only use it in the morning and I like to smooth it on after washing my face, leave it to absorb and then apply my moisturiser. I use a blob about the size of a 5 penny piece. Skin hydration is vital - the skin cells plump up and as such your complexion is smoother, brighter and more youthful.

Avon Anew Clinical Lift and Firm Pro Serum

This is the serum that I like to use after I wash my face of an evening. The serum is seriously silky and glides onto skin beautifully. After application my face looks and feels much smoother and a lot firmer too! A real treat for tired skin.

Simple Kind To Skin Replenishing Rich Moisturiser

I really like this a lot. It is light but very moisturising, repairs and protects but is not greasy. It absorbs well and really is great for under my day make up. Big fan. It's not pricey at all so you can afford to splash out on other items like the facial wash or the masque. It also works really well with these other products. So don't be afraid to mix and match your skincare brands.

Waitrose Baby Bottom Butter

This is my winter skin saver secret weapon. I know it's for babies' bums, but to be honest it is such a dream cream I cannot live without it. While I know it doesn't have anti-ageing properties, I also know that patting a dab of this wonderful olive oil, lavender and chamomile-scented 'set oil' into my face of an evening after a particularly cold or windy day, makes my skin feel and look amazing. It's cheap as chips too and chemical-free!

Product of the day!

Today's product is best for the over-40s.

It is Anew Solar Advance Eye and Lip Sunscreen.

I've given this to my dear old mum (she'll be furious if she discovers that I've called her that) and she loves it!

It is double ended so you can shove it in the handbag and top up the sunscreen as the day goes on.

It isn't highly perfumed which is refreshing and also, some sunscreens can be quite potent, in that they can make your eyes sting or water, but this doesn't!

Mum says the downside is that it is quite thick, but she doesn't mind so much as she just applies a dab and tops it up during the course of the day.

All up, this is cracking and at £13 it is well worth it because you get two products for the price of one!

I'm a (not-so-secret) make up lover. That's right, that's right!

I. LOVE. MAKE UP.

There, I've said it.

Perhaps not the most shocking of revelations. Certainly not worthy of having my phone hacked, or of people crossing the road to avoid me, but my love/obsession is all-consuming.

When I say to my boyfriend,'I won't be long, I'll just do my make up and we can leave', I ALWAYS hear a sigh, and I know, I just know, he is rolling his eyes.

What's worse is when I say, right before going to bed, ' I'm just going to take my make up off', he replies, 'I'll see you in a couple of hours then'. Cheeky, I know. But not entirely wrong either.

You see, like you I'm sure, I can't help myself. In fact, I cannot deny myself anything. I'll be in Boots, Debenhams or even Sainsbury's for goodness sake, and I can't keep my mitts off facial wash, exfoliators, tweezers, blending brushes, moisturisers, serums, primers, cream blush, powered blush, mousse blush, I've tried every kind of eyeliner (my current favourite is an Avon one, which I'll tell you about later) and there isn't a moisturiser out there that has been loved, loathed, recommended to my friends or chucked in the bin in a fit of pique after one week and a whole load of breakouts!

So what I'm saying is, I am going to tell you all about my star products, my must-haves, the things that I know that, like me, you won't be able to live without.

So to get things started I'm going to let you into my current eyeshadow secret. And I know you will be as potty about this range as I am. Checking out Superdrug the other day for a hair masque I, naturally, had to have a butcher's at some of the treasures in this Aladdin's Cave. And I am thrilled with what I discovered. I came across this lovely mineral-based palette and I am now an addict.

I love this Sleek make up i-Divine Original eyeshadow palette!

The brand is Sleek Make upThe range is called i-Divine and this particular one is the Original - appropriately it was the first one I bought.

There are loads though, 12 at the moment, and they are all fabulous, but as well as Original I would say my other two faves are Bad Girls and Monaco, so keep you minces open for those.

Bad Girl and if you are looking for the perfect smoky eye, then this is the one for you.

So why do I love Sleek i-Divine so much? It's simple really. The colours are magnificent and there genuinely is something that will suit everyone, whatever your skin colour or tone. They are very highly-pigmented indeed, so they really stand out and more importantly, stay on. I've used everything from the smoky, sensual colours to exciting neon colours and have created a lot of different looks for very occasion. They last ages too and blend like a dream. And the best bit? Well, they are only £6.49! I've bought mine from Superdrug, but they are also available online from www.sleekmakeup.com

This is the Mediterranean-inspired Monaco - perfect for the Summer!

By the way, re: the hair masque. I opted for Tresemme Restructuring Deep Conditioning Treatment Masque. Excellent and a bargain at only £4.99 for 500ml - brilliant!!

For glorious hair, grab one of these!

I'll be back with more super face and skincare secrets soon, so keep checking out this page.