5 bargain beauty buys that will help your skin recover from winter

Is your skin spring ready?

I always find winter plays total havoc with my skin, and come this time a year, I really need to give it some extra TLC in order to get it back to its usual healthy, glowing self. When it comes to beauty buys, I feel like we are always being tricked into thinking that more expensive automatically means better. However, this is not always the case – just look at the French and all their amazing pharmacy products. Seriously, do not even think about ever going to France without having a nosy in a local pharmacy to pick up some local beauty treats. And while we don't have these amazing French pharmacies on our shores, we do have our own ones, and Boots – which is always filled to the brim with great and affordable beauty treats. I recently tested the below six, and they impressed me so much I will absolutely be buying them again: 1. Bioderma Sensibio Foaming Gel There is a reason we all flock to French pharmacies when on holidays – because that's where you find all their best skin-perfecting secrets. I am a huge fan of Bioderma, and love their gentle and hard-working skincare and body products (and in the summertime, never go anywhere without their entire sun care range!). The brand new Sensibio Foaming Gel did not disappoint either. For my skin, which is on the dry and sensitive side, especially in winter, this gel was soothing and made my face feel super-clean, without leaving it feeling dry and irritated. The gel is free from paraben, soap, fragrance and colourant, meaning it is suitable for everyone, no matter how sensitive your skin is. €13.59, Boots     2. No7 HydraLuminous Concealer Struggle with dark circles and tired-looking eyes? Aren't we all. However, I cannot recommend the new No7 HydraLuminous Concealer enough – it covered dark circles perfectly and made my entire complexion look more awake and dewy – like I had slept my full eight hours, which I most definitively had not! €18, Boots   3. Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel I bet if you look for it, you probably have a container of Bio-Oil somewhere in your bathroom. I know I do. There is a reason Bio-Oil is the world’s best-selling scar and stretch mark oil. Because it works – simple as. And now, for the first time in 30 years, the makers behind the iconic oil have launched a new product – Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel, which is specifically created to tackle dry, dehydrated skin, and my elbows and heels are crying out for this right now. Traditional creams and lotions aimed at tackling dry skin are mostly made from water, with some containing up to 70 percent. This high water content is of little benefit to dry skin as water evaporates when it comes into contact with skin. However, the experts at Bio-Oil have pioneered a way to replace this in-active water with oil, making for a product that’s 100 percent active and packed full of highly effective, actively moisturising ingredients. Even better? The new Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel contains no preservatives, is dermatologically tested, hypo-allergenic, non-comedogenic (it doesn’t block pores) and is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin in adults and children over three years. €19.49, Boots       4. Avène Tolérance Extrême Mask Eau Thermal Avène is another one of those iconic French skincare brands that will forever remain part of my beauty and skincare regime. And the brand new Tolérance Extrême range is just proof at how Avène just keep doing wha they really do best – create amazing skincare products that work – at a price we can afford. I recently tested the new Eau Thermal Avène Tolérance Extrême Mask, and guys – if your skin is looking in any way dry or dull after winter, go treat yourself to this mask – and you'll see a difference after just using it once, I promise. I love how the Tolérance range, which is suitable for all levels of skin sensitivity and ideal for calming and detoxifying the skin, has the minimum number of essential ingredients mirroring the natural composition of the skin. It is also free from preservatives, parabens, fragrance and alcohol, and comes complete with a unique cap function hat prevents air, microbes and other contaminants from entering the tube, thus the contents of the tube are kept sterile throughout use. The products are also manufactured in a sterile environment without preservatives. €23, Boots 5. IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Pressed Powder Translucent  Perfect for keeping in your bag for middle of the day top-ups. Developed along plastic surgeons, the Bye Bye Pores Pressed is your perfectly portable compact powder is designed to help diffuse the appearance of pores and imperfections. Infused anti-aging, skin-loving ingredients including silk, hydrolyzed collagen, antioxidants and peptides, this best-selling, talc-free translucent powder goes on completely clear, won’t settle into lines or pores, and works for all skin tones and types to deliver a beautiful, shine-free finish at home—and on the go. €32.00, Boots.ie