For a product to appear here – especially one with a luxury price tag – I want to know not just that it works, but that it is pleasurable and practical to use. Each of the following are what I’d term gold standard; some may be pricey, but if you have the money, they are worth it (and so are you).
Here I’m focusing on those products I have come to rely on as I get older and observe my skin altering each year. These changes happen to us all due to decreasing elastin and collagen production and the slackening off of sebaceous glands which produce natural oils. Lifestyle and hormones also play their part: changes in weight (especially rapid), menopause, sun exposure and exposure to pollutants (including smoke) are likely to have an impact, and, critically, our genes have a lot to answer for – look to your parents for the best idea of how your skin could look age as you advance through life. There are many cosmetic options readily available, but for anyone wishing to resist the clinicians – for now at least – here are my tried-and-tested favourites.
FACE:
Zo Skin Health Soothing Hydro Mist, £45.50 healthandaesthetics.co.uk
ZO Skin Health blends luxury and science wrapped up in sleek packaging and delivering professional-grade efficacy. For anyone navigating rosacea or skin sensitivity this refreshing veil of hydration provides instant comfort to red, inflamed skin. Ideal for use in the case of a flare-up, this cooling spray leaves skin feeling dewy and nourished.
Teoxane Active Microscrub, £42 teoxane.co.uk
Teoxane have combined both physical and chemical exfoliants in this gentle scrub, combining scrubbing grains with Papain enzyme to create a formulation which will remove every scrap of dirt or debris from the face. Suitable for all skin types, the ‘magic’ ingredient is the patented Teoxane RHA®, proven to help plump and strengthen the skin. It needs to be massaged into the skin for a couple of minutes before rinsing away so I apply before stepping into the shower, massaging it in as I do my daily heel-lifts.
Votary Ultimate Rich Cream, £85 votary.co.uk
As the barometer drops, I find myself using my daily moisturiser to blanket my skin, protecting it against both chill winds and centrally heated indoor environments. I like it thick and rich, and Votary’s Rich Cream is superb in both regards. Amongst other ingredients, it contains ceramides to seal in moisture with peptides to stimulate collagen and elastin and help keep skin firm and supple. The formula is concentrated enough to require a little massage to work it in, leaving my face glowing and refreshed.
Aevi Nourishing Face Oil, £98 liveaevi.com
If my moisturiser is a winter blanket for my face, then a facial oil becomes the equivalent of cashmere socks. An extra nurturing boost, an additional act of self-care. What I love about Aevi’s antioxidant-rich blend of Nordic flower and berry extracts is its viscosity. You might look twice at the price but even my parched skin only needs one pump of this syrupy oil to feel restored and radiant, so one bottle will last a reassuringly long time.
BODY:
The Inkey List Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Body Stick, £15 uk.theinkeylist.com
This little stick has more than earned its place on my dressing table, not least because it is faff-free to use. Slick it over rough skin patches, areas troubled by KP bumps, nagging ingrown hairs, even bothersome spots and let it do its work. No need to rinse and results are evident after around a week. I used it on my elbows (and believe me, I could have grated cheese on them) which are now smooth and silky.
Sevin London Marble Black Bath Oil, £35 sevinlondon.co.uk
There’s nothing quite like a lingering soak in a warm bath to relax the body and ease the soul. Your choice of aromatics is a personal one, and for me, it is a seasonal one, too. At this time of year I’m craving something a little more decadent and intoxicating than the zinging citrus and breezy florals of the summer months. Sevin London are new to me but their Marble Black bath oil, with the spice of warm clove, woody oud and bright bergamot, more than hits the spot. The combination of oils and fragrance ensures my limbs are sweet-smelling and satin soft when I eventually emerge from the water.
Sensilis Sensitive Skin Lab Body Retinol Treatment, £36 sensilis.co.uk
A body cream (more a lotion, to be honest) with 1.63% encapsulated retinyl palmitate as the active ingredient. For those (like me) without a qualification in basic science, retinyl palmitate is essentially a stable form of vitamin A; a gentler, slower-acting cousin to retinol which can cause a negative reaction in some skin types. I have been ladling this across my neck and décolletage and then rubbing any excess into the backs of my hands and can (very) happily report that the striations on the former and the diamond cross-hatching on the latter are visibly lessened. My skin feels unbelievably soft and that glorious sensation lasts all day.
HAIR:
Pureology Smooth Perfection Shampoo, £24.70 sallybeauty.co.uk
I first came across Pureology when it was recommended to me by a very fancy London-based hairdresser back in the early 00s and since then I’ve found it to be one of those ‘if you know, you know’ brands with legions of dedicated fans from all walks of life who consider it an essential in maintaining good-looking, healthy hair. The brand’s ethical credentials are very good, and all formulations have the patented AntiFade© complex to safeguard against colour fading. Their purple Hydrate range is arguably the hero, but the Smooth Perfection magics away annoying frizz and protects from heat styling.
Christophe Robin Regenerating Mask, £52 christopherobin.co.uk
The headline ingredient here is prickly pear oil. Some readers may remember the excitement a few years back when Nigella revealed this as her go-to in maintaining her peachy complexion, and its capacity to hydrate has been harnessed in this deeply conditioning hair mask. I use it weekly in my ‘everything’ shower, stroking it over freshly shampooed hair and letting it get to work whilst I occupy myself with washing and depilating. The effects are immediate, my greys lie flatter, my halo of frizz is tamed, my hair feels fuller and more plumped, and shine is restored.
