Winter can be brutal on the skin. Volleying between the blast of dry heat indoors, cold wind, hot showers, etc... dries out my face, rendering it ashy. Rich oils and moisturizers help, but they are so much more effective after exfoliation. While I love daily mechanical exfoliating (eg, konjac sponges, Foreo cleansing brush, hot cloth cleansing...), a gentle chemical peel can be incredibly effective at whisking away complexion dulling debris.
This mask is wonderfully effective at restoring the glow, and in just a few minutes. Fruit enzymes, including papaya, tingle on the skin as they dissolve dead skin cells. The difference after rinsing it off is impressive; skin looks fresher, tighter and healthier. A wallet-friendly must buy, this–and their plain argan oil– are my favorite of Acure's products.
NYR Organic Wild Rose Beauty Balm
Neal's Yard Remedies, from the U.K., is one of the oldest clean beauty lines, with an extensive catalogue of skincare and makeup with a strong botanical bend. A fantastic introduction to the line is their one pot wonder, the Wild Rose Beauty Balm, a glass pot filled with a golden oil that melts upon contact into a versatile skincare task force. It works as a balancing mask (I love putting this on after a workout and before hopping into a shower; the warm steam really helps this balm absorb and work it's magic), a melting cleanser, or a moisturizer. This balm has been particularly healing for my nose after a succession of autumnal colds, and (don't laugh) I've used this on my infant daughter's dry patches, which has been the only thing to clear them up. Plus, it comes with a white muslin cloth to lightly polish off the treatment, to further up the Downton Abbey vibe.
It's a great addition to a minimalist's top shelf, but what makes this balm stand apart is the elegant wild rose scent (think clean garden rose, not the dated musky variety), which veers decidedly spa-like with the inclusion of Geranium and Patchouli–both of which offer balancing and skin strengthening properties. Plus, it's high in Rosehip Seed Oil—nature's Vitamin A—to help boost elasticity and cell turnover, and Borage, a darling of aestheticians due to its proven inflammatory and nourishing effects.
One bonus method of using this is to melt a small amount in the palm of your hand with a loose foundation for a smoothing, winter-ready glow. I'm particularly fond of this effect when paired with the red lips or smokey eyes seen during the holidays; it's much more modern than a powdery matte face.
