Beauty

Winter is all about getting warm and your bathroom is the perfect place to thaw out after a long day out in wild winds and drizzling rain. After all, what sounds better than sliding into a scented bubble bath and smoothing on a self-heating mask?

We’ve found the best four ways to get warm this winter, even if you’ve only got time to fake a golden glow with a brush of bronzer.

Imagine using a mask that actually heats up after you’ve applied it. Well, they are called self-heating masks, and we love them! Winter takes its toll on your skin as it battles the cold, then you head inside and switch on drying heating that zaps moisture faster than you can ask, ‘where’s my Ugg Boots?’.

Our pick of the self-heating masks is The Body Shop Warming Mineral Mask. It’s packed with seaweed, cleansing kaolin clay to suck impurities out of your skin, cinnamon to warm and Zeolite that releases heat when it comes into contact with water. While a warm mask feels lovely, the heat actually helps to draw out impurities and soften skin.

The Body Shop Warming Mineral Mask 100ml, $27.95

If you’re yet to discover the power of a great face scrub, read on. Dull, blotchy and flaky skin problems can all be solved with the help of a gentle scrub that removes dead skin cells and grime. But the benefits of an exfoliant don’t end with perfectly cleansed skin. By sweeping away surface debris you’re allowing your moisturiser to properly penetrate into the skin, meaning you’ll soak in the full benefits of your skincare ingredients.

Try Estee Lauder Idealist Dual-Action Refinishing Treatment for the latest self-heating exfoliant. It boasts a long, impressive list of skin perfecting ingredients that buff, smooth and soothe the skin and promise an exfoliating alternative to micro-dermabrasion or a 30% glycolic peel. Or Olay Regenerist Thermal Skin Polisher that has micro-crystals and glycolic acid to exfoliate, and an Exothermic Mineral Activator that gently heats the scrub as you massage it into your skin.

Estee Lauder Idealist Dual-Action Refinishing Treatment 75ml @ selected Myer and David Jones, $98 & Olay Regenerist Thermal Skin Polisher 125ml @ Priceline, pharmacies and selected supermarkets, $19.99

No matter how hard your day has been you can soak away your stress in a sumptuous bath. Start by lighting a scented candle and jump into the tub. Then starting at your toes, massage yourself with a spicy scrub like Molton Brown Warming Eucalyptus & Ginger Body Scrub. It uses sea salt to exfoliate and detox to the body, warming ginger root to increases circulation, while Australian eucalyptus oil goes to work soothing muscles and flexing its anti-vital, antibacterial properties.

Molton Brown Warming Eucalyptus & Ginger Body Scrub 300g @ selected David Jones, $70

If your pale complexion is in need of instant warmth, fake it with a brush of bronzer. The earthy brown tones mixed with a hint of shimmer will lift your look and give you a healthy, golden glow. For a streak free finish grab an extra large bronzing brush and brush bronzer on with long sweeping movements. Apply a pop of blush to cheeks and you’ll look like you’ve spent the week in sunny Waikiki. Try one of the brilliant new bronzers, our pick is Yves Saint Laurent’s gigantic new Collector Sun Powder, the new The Body Shop Nature’s Minerals Bronzer, $39.95, made especially for those with sensitive skin, and the lovely floral embossed Clinique Fresh Bloom Allover Colour in Almond Blossom, $59.

Yves Saint Laurent Tresor D’Afrique Poudre de Soleil Collector Sun Powder @ David Jones, $118