We can’t let February go by without a decent shout out for this mini shortlist, it’s a bit of a pick-n-mix but every one of these products got rave reviews during testing.
Top Row, L to R:
Tropic Skincare’s Superfood Hand Cream
Why we liked it: Therapeutic enough for winter, fresh enough for spring and it’s all natural.
Gaia Spa’s Body Cream
Why we liked it: Beautiful bamboo packaging but all that aside, this is a rich, luxe balm/cream with a divinely uplifting citrus-inspired scent. Gorgeous for hand massages!
Caudalie Reservatrol Face Lifting Soft Cream
Why we liked it: You’ll find this for under £30 online, making this firms/lifts/nourishes day moisturiser quite a beauty steal for such a luxe-feeling face cream.
M. Picaut (Sweden) Calming Cocooon Cream
Why we liked it: Love a coconutty balm/cream that feels super-comforting? One of the best winter bodyguard skincare products we’ve come across since November, and Swedish beauty entrepreneur Mette Picaut is an all round brilliant woman. This brand has been one of the wows of the 2017 Awards…you’ll be hearing more about M. Picaut.
Summerdown Mint Reed Diffuser
Why we liked it: Refreshing in summer, massively uplifting in winter, this home fragrance find is from Summerdown Mint, purveyors of Black Mitchum mint which they grow and infuse into their food and bath/home products. A really lovely brand, the Mint & Lemongrass combo (sort of mint with an extra blast of sunshine, if you like) is a real winner.
Dermalogica Age Smart Skin Perfect Primer SPF30
Why we liked it: We’re already fans of Dermalogica’s blur-the-lines Hydrablur Primer but this, with its SPF30 and pretty much flawless coverage, is the ticket for spring/summer days when you can’t be bothered with a tinted moisturiser and foundation doesn’t feel right, yet you want an element of coverage. “Blur is the new BB”..and this primer adds luminosity too, as well as smoothing and priming skin perfectly pre-foundation.
Verso Skincare Lip Serum with Retinol 8
Why we liked it: Lip serums are a thing now, and Swedish brand Verso’s is one of the best – this one’s a super-protective, anti-ageing, softening, plumping makeover for lips. It doesn’t disappoint taste-wise, either (some do!) Retinol 8 is said to be eight times more effective than standard Retinol too, making this a genuinely hardworking multi-tasker. (Side notes: this one’s an investment buy and a mint version would be fabulous too).