Winter skin SOS: The €12 product I can’t live without at the moment

If you grow up in a country where winter frequently sees temperatures dropping down to -10/-15 C (and sometimes even colder!), you quickly learn the importance of nourishing your winter skin.

And even though I live in Ireland now; I am still religious about making sure to use different and more soothing products in winter, when the cold-ish air outside and the hot, heated air inside can quickly play havoc on my skin. And when it comes to my absolute must-have, I am delighted to say it is an absolute bargain of a product – and one that is also completely natural and non-toxic. Say hello to Weleda's Skin Food – a €11.99 product so amazing it not only has cult status in the skincare world but is also a firm favourite with many celebs, such as Joss Stone, Rihanna, Fearne Cotton, Amanda Holden, Claudia Winkleman and Anthea Turner; plus actresses Julia Roberts, Brooke Shields, Kerry Washington, Winona Ryder, Priyanka Chopra and Lili Taylor. And if that doesn't convince you to pick up a tube of this the next time you're out and about, well, then maybe this will: Top models and fashionistas Alexa Chung, Suki Waterhouse, Victoria Beckham, Helena Christensen, Carolyn Murphy, Chandra North, Doutzen Kroes, Jacquelyn Jablonski, Angela Lindvall, Jessica Stam, Claudia Barila, Behati Prinsloo, Lyndsey Wixson, Dree Hemingway, Karen Ferrari, David Gandy and Andrew Cooper are all fans too. Why is it so amazing? What makes this gloopy, almost reminiscent of liquid glue balm so great? The answer, no doubt, lies in the all-natural ingredients, and the secret formula, which has remained the same since Weleda first introduced their all-purpose Skin Food moisturizer in 1926. This enriching balm, chock-a-block with extracts of organic chamomile, calendula and wild pansy to soothe rough skin, plus rosemary to revitalise dull complexions, is not only perfect for areas of rough skin (knees, feet, elbows), it is also a godsend when you are flying, as it will keep your skin from dehydrating onboard in that dry air. I use it every night on my hands and feet, slathering it on before I go to sleep, and a couple of nights a week, I also use it as an overnight face mask, just applying a thin layer onto my freshly cleansed skin, and cleaning it off the excess product with a damp cloth the following morning. It is hands down the one product I could not leave the house without, always carting a tube of it around it my bag, while having another one on my nightstand at all times. When the weather is particularly cold, or when I am at home in Norway during the winter, I use a thin layer of it on my cheeks, as a defence against frost and icy winds. I love how it contains no mysterious or harmful ingredients, instead of getting its refreshing fragrance from pure essential oils like sweet orange and Lavandula. Need another good reason to try it? I have friends who swear by Skin Food to tame their brows and use it as a glow-booster or highlighter, dabbing a little bit on over their makeup in the morning. Trust me, as far as beauty buys go, this is one you not only can afford without breaking your post-Christmas budget, it is also one your skin and body will thank you for buying – trust me.