Top Beauty Products for Surviving the Harsh Winter Weather

I start to feel really dull in the midst of Winter. Although it hasn't officially started yet, (It begins on 22nd December) I live in England and it gets cold here around late September. My sun-kissed glow has already started to fade, my split ends are visible and my lips are beyond chapped. The long, harsh winter weather has indeed kicked in, and luckily I have some products to share that will keep us in check until Spring/Summer comes along.

I'm one of those people who loves to be tanned, and I'm definitely not going to get one here in England until at least June *cry*. I'm not one for sunbeds - I told myself I'd never set foot in one after watching Final Destination 3, and after my mum telling me how bad they are for your skin. I've had a few spray tans for special occasions, like prom, but they're a little more pricey, and I wasn't a fan of getting practically naked in front of the beautician to get an all-over tan!

Thankfully, self tans exist and are actually quite easy to use. I first came across them when I was around 18 and I've never looked back. I use the Bondi Sands self tanning foam in the shade 'dark', which gives my body the pick-me-up it needs during the winter. I make sure to shave my legs and armpits the day before I apply, or at least a few hours before so that the tan doesn't sink into my pores and leave small dark dots all over my legs (not a great look). I shower and exfoliate before application and then moisturise any remaining rough patches on my skin to ensure that the product goes on smoothly. The scent of this stuff is incredible, as it leaves you smelling like a Hawaiin, coconutty dream. Once applied evenly all over your body you can leave it for as long as you'd like, I usually sleep in it overnight and wash it off in the morning, but if you have light-coloured bed sheets be warned that the product might transfer, however it does wash of easily! A bit of a cheaper alternative that I've found whilst being a student and having to save some money, is the St. Moriz fast tanning mousse. I find this tan especially great for those spontaneous nights out as a student, as you can leave the tan on for one hour before washing it off and you'll have a natural-looking glow. Again, the longer you leave it on for, the darker your tan will be.

I always find in the colder months that my hair becomes dry and brittle. A product that I've been loving to tackle this is the L'Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil. On the front of the bottle it claims to be a 'miracle hair perfector' and that's exactly how I'd describe it. Once I've washed my hair I use a generous 4 pumps and smooth it through the ends of my hair, really working it into the split ends. It leaves my hair smelling beautiful as it's infused with coconut oil, and it really brings back the moisture and much-needed shine. I also occasionally use it after I've blow-dried my hair, just before styling to leave it feeling smooth and prepped. Your hair will look luscious in no time.

Chapped lips are inevitable this time of year and it's not a good look, especially for us beauty lovers who adore wearing lipstick. I've been through all the lip balms from EOS to Maybelline's Baby Lips, but I finally found my holy grail that now doesn't leave my side. Carmex lip balm is by far the best I've tried and it has SPF15 to protect your lips all-year long. I use it throughout the day, and I apply a generous amount to my lips just before I go to bed which leaves them smooth by the morning. When my lips are especially dry and I want to apply lipstick, I smother them in Carmex and leave them for around 10 minutes, then I'll use a damp flannel in circular motions and really buff the dry flakes away. I'll then apply a small amount of Carmex and my lips are smooth and good-to-go for lipstick application.

I have had dryer skin than usual as the weather has gotten cooler, especially on my hands and underneath my eyes. I have tried numerous hand and eye-creams that didn't work, and after a visit to the Pharmacist I was encouraged to try E45 cream. I didn't get on well with this because I found it to be way too thick, and it didn't really help my dry skin. I turned to the internet for advice and learnt that baby moisturiser was a holy-grail product for many people with the same issue as me. I bought the Child's Farm baby moisturiser and have been using it for around a month now. It made so much sense to me, as a baby's skin is so delicate, so this moisturiser couldn't possibly make my skin any worse. Although it hasn't completely cleared up my dry skin, it has certainly helped to reduce the appearance of dryness, and reduce the itching and redness on my skin.

*Disclaimer: All of these products work for me personally, and may not have the exact same effect for you. Please read the directions for use and the ingredients of each product before trying them yourselves, to make sure you are not allergic to anything. Also, where applicable, make sure that you have a patch test first. All opinions are my own.