Sneaking Extra Moisture into Your Routine

Your skin is dry, your hair is coarse and your lips are flaking and yet you don't really have the time nor willingness to overhaul your entire routine. I hear you loud and clear! The Winter is for snuggling on the sofa, slurping on soup not spending entire evenings cocooning yourself in body oil! With that in mind here are a few sneakily quick yet easy ways to incorporate a little extra hydration into your skin/hair care routine...

Sneaking Extra Moisture into Your Routine

Lush The Olive Branch Shower Gel
Sure the obvious choice would be to recommend a shower oil but not everyone enjoys the consistency and generally speaking they tend to be on the pricer side. Enter Lush The Olive Branch Shower Gel - a shower gel that features olive oil, essentially the best of both worlds. This has the most fantastic and difficult to pin point scent ever which really comes alive once combined with warm water. As mentioned above this little bottle of shower gel is infused with olive oil (be sure to shake before each use to really make the most of the oil) so that it not only cleanses the skin but nourishes and moisturises in one quick step, making it perfect for neglected, dried out Winter skin.A little goes a long way and unlike the shower oil this can be used as a shampoo on super dry hair too. Prices start at £4.75-£15.95, personally I recommend going in store to purchase but you can find it here - link.

Melvita L'Argan Bio Body Oil in Cream
I am very open at my lack of willingness to moisture the skin on my body. Well I have found the lazy gal and guy's dream in the form of Melvita L'Argan Bio Body Oil in Cream. As you can imagine this is a body cream which has been infused with Argan oil. The texture is thick, creamy yet lightweight at the same time, it is deeply nourishing and quickly absorbed without leaving behind any residue even on damp skin. I like that from the first application you can notice the change in the texture of the skin even the roughest areas of my body (elbows, knees) feel smooth from the get go. If like myself you find body butters a little tedious to apply and absorb, body lotions not quite hydrating enough and body oils messy this is the body cream for you - all the moisture none of the fuss. You can find it here via John Lewis - link.

Sneaking Extra Moisture into Your Routine

Dr. Jart Water + Act Skin Mist
Another category of product that I don't reach for nearly frequently enough - toners! I have been a little better in the last few months and two which I recommend to dried out skin include Dr. Jart Water + Act Skin Mist . This is a light refreshing toning mist which can be used in a typical toner sense (after cleansing) or a facial mist spray to cool and calm the skin. It is free from preservatives, alcohol and fragrance and has been designed to encourage any product applied on top to work more thoroughly. I own a good few facial mists and find this to be the best when my skin is drier - it doesn't overwhelm the skin but it does leave it feeling plumper than usual. If you work in an office or any environment that is heavy of central heating this is a great product to keep at hand for when your skin is feeling tight and dry. Simply mist over the face for instant relief, the good news is that it won't remove or alter your make-up. Find it here - link.

Clarins HydraQuench Cream Mask 
If you are starved of both time and moisture your face needs a sleep mask. A quick and easy product that you simply apply much like you would a night cream, sleep and allow it to work it's magic over night. My personal favourite has to be Clarins HydraQuench Cream Mask this blue tube never leaves my bedside table in the Winter months. I don't have an exact routine as far as this mask is concerned and simply reach for it when my skin dictates. Although this is a creamy formula it is light, cooling and not at all overwhelming nor pore clogging. I tend to use this in place of my night cream when my skin is tight/dehydrated or simply dry. I apply as you would any other facial mask (less is more with this formula), leave to skin into my skin and gently tissue off any excess before drifting off to sleep. Clarins HydraQuench Cream Mask not only rehydrates dry skin but leaves my complexion looking fresher, plumper and most importantly flake free! You can find it here - link.

Sneaking Extra Moisture into Your Routine

Clarins Instant Light Lip Balm Perfector
Really any tinted lip balm is your best foot forward within the colder weather to not only soother chapped lips but to prevent flaky, dried out skin in the first place. With a tinted lip balm you have a coating of hydration, a barrier of protection against the elements and a hint of colour. At the moment I am enjoying the Clarins Instant Light Lip Balm Perfector as they are perfect for popping into a pocket, come in the prettiest shades and have a nourishing gel like texture which glides with ease over Winter based lips with ease. Despite having a glossy finish they are not sticky in the slightest, on windy days you will be more than thankful for this...trust me! You can find them here - link.

L'Oreal Elvive Full Restore Leave in Conditioning Repairing Spray
Annoyingly I forgot to photograph this but it has quickly become my go to leave in conditioner. Of course not everyone needs one but if like myself you have dry, coarse hair be it due to the weather or heat/styling damage this should be your next purchase. Do not be put off by the super light consistency nothing seems to ease the tangles out of my hair quite like this, not to mention it helps to tame frizz and fly away hairs too. The way I look at it, leave in conditioner is the easiest way to add extra hydration to the hair. After shampooing all you have to do is mist this into damp hair and style as normal. Easy, peasy and utterly effective. You can find this via Superdrug - link.

Long live the lazy gal/guy beauty hacks ha!