Soothe and Pamper

Bathe your way to softness

Slipping into a steaming, scented bath is the ultimate warming winter treat. To emerge with pampered, not parched skin, the trick is to zone in on bath and shower oils, gels and scrubs that nourish and condition. For softened, velvety skin, switch to a salt–and–oil scrub; the salt will smooth while the oil conditions – try Jo Wood Everyday Tula Exfoliating Salt Scrub. For skin–pampering body cleansing, you can't beat Clinique's new Deep Comfort Body Wash (coming soon). It's enriched with sodium hyaluronate and glycerin to help prevent skin hydration – and you can tell; it soothes, moisturises and cleanses without stripping the skin.

More great skin smoothing salt scrubs:

• Caudalie Crushed Cabernet Scrub
• Sanctuary Spa Essentials Salt Scrub

Pamper your body with massage

"During winter we get less oxygen and nutrients to the surface of the skin thanks to the cold, the drop in natural light, and the fact we move around less, and this can really exacerbate skin issues," explains Balance Me aromatherapist Sian Jones, who suggests a mixture of massage and body brushing as the solution. "It's the best technique for combating winter skin at home," she says. Try sweeping the Botanics Hip and Thigh Body Brush towards the heart. After bathing, massage your moisturiser in using simple strokes up the legs and arms in the direction of the heart. "The top layer of the skin will feel soft and gorgeous and the bottom layers will benefit from the increased circulation that brings oxygen and nutrients and takes away dead skin cells," says Sian.

Get your circulation pumping and your skin glowing with these great massage treats:

• Cowshed Grumpy Cow Uplifting Massage Oil
• Good Works Good Vibrations Body Oil

Drench skin with luxurious oils and balms

Take the beauty insider's tactic and indulge seriously thirsty limbs by swapping your body lotion for a moisture–drenching oil or balm. "Not only will this soothe and replenish the skin but will also protect it from the elements," says Sian, who uses Balance Me Super Moisturising Oil and Rose Body Balm on her A–list clients. "They're great to use on even sensitive skins," she says. We also like Trilogy Everything Balm. For a luxurious body treat, try this layering trick: apply your body oil and follow with a rich body moisturiser like Korres Quince Body Butter.

Pampering body balms we love:

• Clarins Relaxing Body Balm
• La Roche–Posay LIPIKAR Lipid Replenishing Body Balm

Lavish hands and feet with attention

Layered up in winter woollies, feet and hands are ripe for some TLC. Nourish hands with a hand cream or lotion, "ideally one that only needs applying once or twice a day and that works on treating the skin whilst protecting," says Sian. Try Trilogy Rose Hand Cream or Aveeno Intense Relief Handcream. To treat your feet, whip up a warming foot soak using Botanics Foot Soak and follow with a rich foot cream or lotion like Boots Luxury Deep Moisturising Foot Cream.

Indulgent buys for silky–soft hands and feet:

• Burt's Bees Almond Milk Hand Crème
• Decleor Beaute Des Pieds – Comfort Foot Cream

Dos and don'ts for a happy winter body

• Don't stop exfoliating. "It is as important during winter as summer to exfoliate away dead skin cells to reveal softer, brighter looking skin, something we often forget once the cold sets in!" says Sian.
• Do keep a multi–use balm to hand for chapped lips and dry bits.
• Don't go for a too–hot bath. It's tempting, but hot baths can be drying and dehydrating. Love them too much? Ensure you always slather on a rich moisturiser afterwards.
• Do continue body brushing. "Buy a great skin brush and work up your legs and arms and across your body always in the direction of the heart," says Sian.