As winter rears its frosty head, there are plenty of beauty buys to reap whether you travel or stay close to home this year. Perfume becomes vital if you want to evoke memories of sunnier climes without leaving the house. Likewise, moisturiser is essential for when the cool weather begins to dry out the skin. Beauty gadget fans, stay tuned – these are some of the best ones to save your skin this winter, and they are travel-friendly, too. Below, find the ultimate beauty edit with all you need to get through the winter months, leaving you perfectly primed and prepped for the spring.
The best perfumes for winter
Scent has always had the power to magically transport us from the present moment to somewhere warmer, brighter and soothing. If chasing the winter sun isn’t an option, these scents might be able to scratch that itch in an immensely pleasurable way. Acqua Di Parma Zafferano is part of the brand’s Signatures Of The Sun collection, which uses precious ingredients to convey the warmth and brightness the sun creates. Their newest release is inspired by saffron and, alongside notes of herby bergamot and sweetness tonka bean, it’s the perfect combination of heady and invigorating. Also inspired by Italy is Bulgari ALLEGRA Passeggiata, which takes its name from the Italian tradition of la passeggiata, meaning the golden moments spent casually strolling and talking to friends. Whether those moments are spent heading to happy hour in Rome or walking along the cobblestone streets of Naples, this fruity floral scent with coconut water and ylang-ylang smells like laughter, cocktails and sunny beaches in a bottle.
Another scent reminiscent of warmer climes is Louis Vuitton Pacific Chill. Inspired by Californian living, energetic citrus notes sit alongside fresh basil, invigorating peppermint and earthy coriander. It’s a morning swim in Malibu, followed by a breezy coastal walk and a $30 smoothie from Erewhon. Meanwhile, Side Story Parfums Hotel Lobby uses wood scents to evoke the dark oak and leather armchairs of a decadent hotel entrance as a gentle wind wafts through an open window. It’s sophisticated, comforting and refreshing.
The best beauty buys to look after your skin this winter
If it’s cold where you are, these are the products that can help warm your bones and soothe your skin. Start with the Ameliorate Exfoliating Body Mitt, which buffs away dead skin cells without scrubbing too hard or damaging the skin like some products and loofahs can. The texture of the mitt helps to unblock hair follicles to lessen the risk of ingrown hairs and smooth keratosis pilaris or areas where the skin is rough and bumpy. It’s also far more practical for travel than a big tub of body scrub.
It might not be the most luxurious-looking product, but the Cerave Moisturising Cream is a saviour for those with dry skin or anyone who suffers from the effects of heating and dreaded airline air conditioning. Ceramides occur naturally in our skin, but boosting them topically with this cream can help the skin stay hydrated and repair itself. Fear not; there are smaller sizes for travel. Finally, a body oil has become a winter luxury and necessity for many, but Forest Essentials Soundarya Illuminating Body Oil does both by conditioning the skin with a nourishing, gold-flecked oil and imparting a saffron-tinged scent that takes the place of perfume. Slipping this on after a bath is like having an Ayurvedic spa in the comfort of your home – it’s fast become my favourite body oil.
The ultimate travel beauty gadgets for winter
Beauty gadgets have increasingly become a part of many daily repertoires, but they can be cumbersome to take with us when we travel. Enter Lyma Laser, an at-home device that uses low-level laser technology to help stimulate collagen production and skin healing. It’s the first FDA-cleared laser for at-home use and is said to be 100 times stronger than the LED masks that have become increasingly popular. Handily, it’s also smaller than said masks and far easier to travel with, which is just as well because you need to use it daily and consistently for 12 weeks to see results. DVali is one of the world’s most sought-after aesthetic doctors with an incredible experiential wellness centre in Selfridges on Oxford Street. Her Cutis Bone is the ultimate facial massage device that delivers 14,400 trans-oscillations a minute, with multiple settings to offer different techniques and results. I like it best for its depuffing effects, which is ideal post-travel if you suffer from water retention or if you need to look a little more awake if heading straight to the office.
I’ve never tried a hotel hair dryer I actually liked, so this MD London Brushless Dryer changed the game. It might be small, but it’s powerful and only weighs 360g, so you can take it everywhere in place of a travel dryer. It’s also ultra-quiet, too. Finally, if you struggle to get back into a routine when you travel, then Aromatherapy Associates Atomiser Connect could be worth trying – it’s become my new jet lag reset device. If I arrive home and need to sleep, a few minutes of the Deep Relax wafting in the air around me does the job, and vice versa if I need an energising boost to stay awake. Because it’s waterless and heatless, it’s portable (but it is heavy). It’s also app-controlled and can be scheduled to get you back into a routine.
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