Expert reviews: 4 winter winners

Many of us fill our frosty winter weekends by curling up in front of the fire with a good book, taking long leisurely baths or baking devilishly delicious treats...

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But the beautyheaven team uses their downtime to test out and review beauty products (yep, it’s a hard life). Here are some of the products winning us over so far this winter:

head & shoulders Thick & Strong Shampoo and Conditioner

bh’s Vanessa says:

I have been using the head & shoulders Thick & Strong Shampoo and Conditioner for just over four weeks now and I am absolutely loving the results. I have incredibly thick hair, however due to damaged ends from constant heat styling over the past couple of years, I have seen my fair share of hair fall-out! Since using this combo, I have noticed a significant increase in strength towards my ends and overall hair appearance. I also do have some dandruff from the seasonal changes, so knowing the products are helping to combat dandruff, as well as strengthen my hair from the roots to the ends, makes me so happy!

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The smell is lovely and not overpowering, and my hair feels so incredibly smooth and silky after washing with the shampoo and conditioner. I will be repurchasing this duo simply because it's a great investment for my hair, and it's very well priced for what it does.

Lady Jayne TanglePro

bh’s Steph says:

Having long hair, I’m constantly trying to find products tough enough to tame my strands while remaining gentle enough to prevent breakage and damage – something I’m sure all of my fellow long-locked ladies understand! So when the vibrantly pink Lady Jayne TanglePro landed on my desk I was excited to see how it would work for me. This paddle-style brush has multi-length bristles, made of a flexible, silicon-like material that gently glide through my hair while removing any tangles and knots. I was actually really surprised at how well it works at detangling for how gentle and smooth it feels. The brush head has a slight curve to it, so with the rubber-grip panels on the handle I find it really comfortable and easy to use. The only downfall would be the short length of the bristles, it’s not as effective on my wet hair however I find it still does a decent job. To be honest I never thought I would like a hair brush so much – this is definitely a winner in my books!

Trilogy Rosehip Oil Antioxidant+

bh’s Beth says:

With the office heating on pretty much all day every day at the moment, I can literally feel my face drying out as I'm sitting at my desk. Thankfully, my winter skin struggle has given me the opportunity to test drive some hydrating skin care products – including Trilogy Rosehip Oil Antioxidant+.

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I've been a longtime fan of rosehip oil as it's so nourishing and glides onto skin really easily – including the dry/rough patches. My favourite way to use Trilogy's is to mix a couple of drops in with my daily face moisturiser. Granted, it takes a little longer for the formula to sink in (so I need to allow 10 or so extra minutes before I apply my make-up, otherwise I look a little greasy), but it's worth it for that extra hydration boost. I also feel like my foundation goes on much more smoothly, which is an added bonus. If you've never tried rosehip oil before, you will probably be struck by the scent – at first it reminded me a little of nori/dried seaweed, but I got used to it pretty quickly! The golden formula is also really lovely to look at (I realise this is purely an aesthetic thing but still, it makes me love it that much more).

As far as hydrating oils go, this one is quite light – so I think of it as more of a hydration booster, rather than a skin repairer. I love that it contains skin-loving omegas 3, 6 and 9 and vitamin-rich oat extract, and also that it's a 100 per cent natural formula (big tick). When used in conjunction with a quality day and night moisturiser, it helps give me that soft, plump skin we all want (but struggle to achieve) in winter.

Lanolips Rose Hand Cream Intense

bh’s Sam says:

In winter I am a hot water fiend. My showers are just a degree under boiling and every time I wash my hands, I also take the opportunity to crank the heat. But as satisfying as a hot stream of water is, my habit had begun to take its toll on my hands. My cuticles were appearing whiter, drier and cracked and my hands always felt a bit tight and rough. I’ve always been shocking at using hand cream, but I popped this one besides my keyboard hoping to make a change. I don’t know whether it was the attractive packaging or the addictive scent but I began applying it at least twice a day.

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Because it’s the intense version, the cream is really thick and you only need about a 5 cent piece worth of product to do both hands. If you don’t like heavy hand creams this probably isn’t for you, because it feels a bit more like a balm and takes a while to absorb. It’s actually not too dissimilar to how the original Lanolips feels, just a little more creamy than oily. It doesn’t bother me, because I mostly just use my hands to type, but for others it’s probably best used just before bed. The scent is beautiful and not overbearing like some rose-scented products, but if you don’t like rose there’s also a lemon version. Overall, I’m happy with the product as it’s made me a hand cream user and after two weeks of using it, my cuticles seem much healthier and my hands are definitely smoother.

Have you been trying out any new beauty products this winter? Or tried any of the ones above?