Top Picks: The Two Hand Creams That You Can't Brave Winter Without

It's that time of year again...wrap up warm and make sure that your precious skin is protected from the harsh elements out there. While you can't simply avoid going outside for the whole winter season (I would if I could, trust me), you can take some measures to lessen the damage. Wearing gloves and protective clothing is a no-brainer, but it's not just the cold that is the culprit here. Heating systems can be particularly drying to the skin, especially when constantly changing environment going indoors and outdoors all the time. Like most smart women (and men) during wintertime I make sure to have a trusty hand cream with me at all times to protect against redness, blistering and flakiness.

If you're not sure which hand cream to invest in this year then look no further. These two are my ultimate faves and will not let you down this winter...

Ahava Mineral Hand Cream

Made with dead sea water and so is enriched with all the minerals and goodness that come from the natural wonder. Produced without any harsh ingredients which means that even sensitive hands can use it too. You only need a really small amount of this cream to make your skin all smooth and supple and applying once really will last you all day. Great for protecting against harsh climates but also perfect for repairing hands from the wear and tear of daily life. Subtle but noticeable fragrance.

Sakare Hydrating Hand Cream

What's great about this cream is that it is easily absorbed and non-greasy, so you are able to apply and straightaway continue on with life. Not only does this vitamin E enriched formulation hydrate skin but it actually works to reduce pigmentation. Very clever. Again a minimal amount is required to soften dry, weather cracked hands, meaning that one tube will see you through the winter easily. Definitely a worthwhile investment!

I find that hand cream makes for a great gift if you are unsure what to buy someone. Everyone needs it and it's something we often forget to pick up when shopping. Make sure you give them one of these brands and your present will be a sure success.

Best Product for Gentle Make-Up Removal (Sakare Calming Milk Cleanser)

The name says it all...Calming Milk Cleanser. And calming it certainly is.

If your nightly make-up removal ritual is to rub a cleansing wipe over your face until it feels clean and then head straight to bed then you should reconsider! Face wipes are not only full of chemicals and other nasty stuff that you don't want to be rubbing into your pores but are also extremely dehydrating. Studies have shown that they don't actually fully remove all traces of make up but just spread them all over your face. Sleeping with traces of make up on your face can lead to irritation, dehydration, and even blemish outbreaks. The rubbing action which is required when using these wipes for make up removal can also be damaging to skin, and even increase signs of ageing.

Many people underestimate the power of a good, gentle cleanser as they are caught up in more fancy products like serums and masks. The truth is that if you have a steady skincare regime in place with quality products you won't need anything else to make your skin look it's best.

Personally I follow the Sakare skincare regime of cleansing, toning and moisturising morning and night. If you don't wish to enter into a regime with 3 stages every morning and night please consider to adopt cleansing, even if just for the purpose of make up removal.

Sakare Calming Milk Cleanser is completely natural and so can be used by any skin type, no matter how sensitive. It's calming due to the unique combination of chamomile, rose water extract, and vitamin E, and will leave your skin feeling 100% clean and even moisturised.

To use simply massage all over your face and remove with a cotton pad or damp cloth. I like to repeat twice: once to remove my make up and a second just to pamper my skin. If you really wish to treat yourself then place a cloth in hot water, ring out the water then place it over your face. The steam will open up your pores and sweat impurities out.

Since using the Sakare cleanser I can't go back to face wipes as I now realise how damaging it is to your precious skin. You only get one face so treat it well and it will last you!

Beauty Product Reviews: Sakare Luxuriating Body Butter vs Tom Ford Private Blend Body Moisturiser

Two of the biggest names in the luxury beauty world right now: Tom Ford and Sakare. What happens when you take a similar product from each brand and compare them? Who do you think will come out on top? Read on to find out....

'Neroli Portofino' Private Blend Moisturiser from Tom Ford 

This fashion world giant is also making a huge impact on the beauty world. Everyone knows that they have the most amazing range of lipstick shades, but what about their other beauty products? I invested in their body moisturiser to find out.

Extremely creamy, this product will do what it sets out to do: moisturise your skin. The mixture of olive fruit oil, grapeseed oil and date seed extract soften the skin with a lasting effect. Not one for using in a hurry as the cream does take a while to be absorbed by the skin, but once it does you will feel a million dollars.

The product is infused with the fragrance 'Neroli Portofino' which has notes of bergamont, lemon, mandarin, lavender, and rosemary. Personally I liked the fragrance but I'm not sure that it will be everyone's cup of tea, and it's not so discreet either. Sensitive skin sufferers might find the amount of fragrance irritating to the skin. One thing I loved about this lotion is the look of the bottle: sophisticated yet up to date like all Tom Ford products.

Sakare Luxuriating Body Butter

Sakare are another company which don't fail on the presentation front, all of their products reflect the quality and luxury of the ingredients themselves, especially this body butter. The gold and brown colours used on the labelling and packaging are the exact colours used to decorate the stores themselves, and there is a nice consistency to that.

Now for the product itself, arguably one of the Sakare best sellers it's not easy to surpass. The cream is extremely rich, full of minerals, anti-oxidants, and vitamins, you really feel that you are feeding your skin something healthy. And the results can be noticed straight away...I experienced a healthy glow that earned me a few compliments and prolonged my summer holiday tan.

The thing that I love most about this product is that it is absorbed into the skin much quicker than other lotions, enabling you to apply even in the morning before running out of the door. Very lightly fragranced and so is suitable for those with sensitive skin or people who are looking for something more subtle.  

Personal Verdict - It's difficult to choose between these two as they are both of such high quality from renowned luxury brands. Sakare is great for everyday use as it is absorbed quickly and has a subtle fragrance, whereas Tom Ford is more fitting for when you have time to spend getting ready for say an evening event and also want to make more of an impact with a stronger fragrance.

Who's your all-time favourite luxury beauty brand? What other high class body lotions would you recommend that I try? Have you tried these products and have something else to add? Would love to hear all feedback!!