By BR Amelia
Winter can be a perilous time for we beauties! We can have an attack of the lizard skin thanks to our limbs being wrapped up warm 24/7. Panda eyes thanks to unexpected downpours. Chapped lips thanks to punishing winds. It can get a little uncomfortable. BUT... winter can be an amazing time too! Rich lip colours, vampy nail polishes. Lingering warm showers that warm the tips of our toes and the cockles of our heart (whatever they are, I'm still unsure...)
Of course, winter gives us a great excuse to update our beauty cabinets! So what's on our winter wish-list? Check out our top ten winter wonders - and they're all under $20*!!
Winter winds and dry, heated rooms can leave your lips feeling dry and uncomfortable, which is why a lip balm is a handbag-must during winter. Of course, New Zealand being New Zealand, we have to protect our lips from the sun even in the colder months, which is why Blistex is a great option. With an SPF of 15 it's both protective and moisturising. RRP: $5.69.
Va-va-voooooom! Would you look at those nails?! Sophisticated, sultry, chic. Perfect for those days when the clouds darken with an impending thunderstorm, or those nights where you're hanging out by a roaring fire, a glass of merlot in hand. OPI Lincoln Park After Dark. RRP: $19.95.
Depending on your skin type you might find your face needs a little extra added moisture during winter, which means finding a more intensive moisturiser. Tabby's pick? Simple Kind To Skin Replenishing Rich Moisturiser. RRP: $11.99.
It's not just our face that needs an extra helping hand during winter, it's our, er, hands, too. You really can't go past Vaseline Intensive Care for fabulous hand creams. I remember seeing them on my grandmother's draw. In my mother's handbag. And now there's one in mine, too. Perfect for dealing to dry, uncomfortable hands without leaving a sticky residue. RRP: $4.29.
A little lippy can lift a look - especially in winter when we can bring pure attitude to our lips with richer, more luxurious colours. (Yes, you can wear these colours at any time of the year, but winter just works so wonderfully with them.) We think the shade 'So Merlot' by Australis is simply ravishing. RRP: $19.00.
Is winter wrecking havoc on your feet? Dry skin. Cracked heels. Sure, nobody is likely to get a look at them, but you know they're there. Treat your tootsies to some tender loving care with Neutrogena Norwegian Foot Care Dry Rough Feet Cream and come summer you'll be sandal-ready! RRP: $9.99.
Winter, actually, anytime in New Zealand, you can find yourself caught in a downpour, and if you've not got an umbrella or hooded raincoat, well, you know what happens next - panda eyes! Avoid like you've had a run in with an angry fist with a waterproof mascara, like Maybelline Great Lash Waterproof Mascara. RRP: $16.99.
An official favourite of our very own Queen Merilyn - Skinfood's Body Butter is not only one luxurious moisturiser that'll soak into your skin and leave it silky smooth, it also smells so good you could eat it. RRP: $19.99
Winter's not only a time to treat your skin, it's also the perfect time to kick back and pamper yourself. What better way to do it than with a bath and sheet mask, or Netflix and sheet mask, or a book and sheet mask? On our must-have list? Freeman Beauty Infusion Hydrating Sheet Mask. RRP: $7.99.
Dark nights and chilly temperatures lend themselves to the burning of candles - especially all things vanilla. BR Kellie discovered this particular scent when shopping for toys at Farmers. They had the diffuser sitting above the fairy princess dressup section and it was so good she hunted down the range and sniffed each candle until she found the matching scent, Vanilla Caramel. RRP: $18.95.
So there you have it, our top ten under twenty must-have wantable products for winter. Do any take your fancy? What's on your winter must-have list? Chat away!
*All prices are sourced from official New Zealand product websites, New Zealand pharmacies and/or New Zealand supermarket websites. Depending on where you shop from prices may vary.
That Blistex is my super salve. This winter it fixed my chapped, cracked and bleeding lip in 36 hours... had tried 3 other lip balms before this. I have also been using it to soften my cuticles. Very effective, and cheap!