As the weather gets cooler, and the evenings darker, it can be tempting to hide away from the world and our skincare regimes! So we asked the Flossie staffers what their favourite winter rituals are. From hair care tips, to a recipe for perfect winter skin and an amazing soup recipe, be inspired this winter and create your own winter ritual!
Anya Merryfield, Fashion and Beauty Editor
My favourite winter ritual is…
The pre-bed skin pamper has to be my favourite winter ritual. I love snuggling into bed post-shower, after applying my favourite beauty products, for the ultimate snuggle sensation (and winter-worthy feet and hands) my favourite thing is to massage (or have someone massage in) a lush moisturising lotion. My current favourite is Neutrogena Norwegian Formula that can be used on hands, elbows, knees or anywhere that needs a little extra moisturising power. After my luxury massage I pop my feet and fingers into some pretty, snugly soft socks and gloves, clad myself in some fuzzy PJs and pop into bed with my book. Not only does it feel amazing as I drift off to literary-induced sleep, I wake up in the morning with heavenly, healed skin!
1: Neutrogena Norwegian Formula body moisturiser $9.95 from Neutrogena stockists
Nadia Keane, Campaign Manger
My favourite winter ritual is…
Getting my bed snuggle prepared! This involves changing my cotton summer sheets to flannelette winter sheets, getting a new pair of fluffy PJs and then (most importantly) the luxurious mink blanket, which will follow me from the couch to the bed and back to the couch for the next six months. This Maison d’Or Mink blanket from The Warehouse is my pick for the cooler months!
2: Maison d’Or queen size mink blanket $49.99 from The Warehouse
Marama Castle Brown, Agency Sales Manager
My favourite winter ritual is…
Apart from soups, stews and apple crumble, my favourite winter ritual is netball each Saturday with my 13 year old daughter Nicole. To avoid the biting cold on the sideline, here’s a few tips… Jump up and down whooping and yahooing – you’ll be warm in seconds! Buy thermal long-johns and socks! Ladies, sometimes you have to sacrifice looks for comfort – so definitely don’t wear heels! Your toes curl up and go numb; is it worth it? Steal hubby’s woolly jumper…. “First up best dressed”. Put a hot water bottle in a soft back pack…mmm! Take a thermos with hot chocolate and an extra cup to share with someone else. Be encouraging on the sideline. It warms the hearts of others
We have a big old villa with an open fire place in the dining room. If hubby has forgiven me for nabbing his favourite woolly jumper that morning, we’ll arrive home around 1pm to a fire blazing and soup bubbling in the pot…. Yum!
3: Thermos Flask Cheery Bomb $22.94 from Living&Giving
Ramarea, nzgirl editor
My favourite winter ritual is…
Buying a new pair of warm, fluffy pyjamas! Nothing makes winter that little bit easier than a pair of super comfy and cute PJs. They must be slightly baggy, good quality (you don’t want them to turn to mash after only a few washes) and the best ones can double as trackies (so you can pop down to the dairy or laze in them all day without feeling too guilty). Find a winning pair and you’ll never want to get out of them!
5: Printed floral basics $AU59.90 from Peter Alexander
Tee Twyford, Editor-in-Chief
My favourite winter ritual is…
Winter in my world definitely spells chocolate pudding season – delightfully soft chocolate sponge centre, oozing in a delicious piping hot chocolate sauce, what’s not to love on a chilly night? What looks like hours of laboured love, careful measuring and requiring an oven, can actually be whipped up in less than 15 minutes in your trusty microwave! Take gorgeous nostalgic bowl, melt in 60 grams of butter (that’s just over the little marker they put on the packets), stir in 1.5 cups of self-raising flour, 1 cup of castor sugar, a ¼ cup of cocoa, ¾ cup milk and 2 teaspoons of vanilla essence. Beat with a wooden spoon until smooth. Sprinkle over 1 cup of brown sugar, 1/3 cup cocoa and then pour over two cups boiling water. Whack into microwave for 12 minutes. Serve with vanilla ice cream or pouring cream. Divine!
4: Mixing Bowl $3.99 from The Warehouse
Bonnie Frankland, Commercial Director
My favourite winter ritual is…
My favourite winter ritual is getting wind swept at the beach. Call me crazy but I love dressing up warm and going down to the beach on a really cold, blowing-a-gale day. This is an occasion where you pull out jeans, long sleeved snugly tops, coat, scarf, mittens and a beanie. Walk along in the midst of Mother Nature’s power, even if only for 20mins. When you finish and huddle back in the car it feels amazing. Yes your skin feels dry but there are lovely creams and moisturizers to fix that. Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the great outdoors. Animals go crazy in the wind so treat the pooch too!
6: Veeresana hat $89.95 from Untouched World
Angela Palmer Office Manager
My favourite winter ritual is…
My winter ritual is all about comfort food, preparation and presentation. Winter Saturday mornings are extremely busy with various sports activities – rain or shine. This year I’ll be wearing my new Hunter wellies and my Swanndri by Karen Walker to keep me warm on the outside, but keeping warm on the inside is always very difficult. So when we get home I like to make my own version of a delicious won ton/dumpling soup – a little bit Donna Hay, a little bit whatever I’ve got on hand. All the fussy preparation has to have been completed the night before - I get those lovely won ton wrappers from our local Asian market, and fill them with chicken mixed/minced in the magi mix with ginger, chilli, spring onions, coriander plus whatever other herbs we have to hand (basil, mint, parsley, chives), and hoi sin sauce to bind. Once filled, with the edges crimped, I store them in the fridge.
Then on Saturday morning, fresh from having spent an hour or so on the sidelines, with my nose still freezing, I bring a pot of chicken stock to the boil with a few drops each of sesame oil and soy added for flavour. The kitchen is instantly transformed. As I drop the parcels into the boiling stock, the aroma of ginger, chilli, and herbs fills the air. This soup deserves the appropriate vessel. I present my dumplings in beautiful black noodle bowls we were given as a wedding present, with chopsticks and Chinese soup spoons to match. If the winter sun is shining we sit outside, if it’s raining we’re on the couch. The smell fills the kitchen, and chilli and ginger bring warmth, the whole experience is the perfect end to a long morning. Within minutes, the cold has disappeared. I’m warm all over, inside and out, feeling light and satisfied all at the same time – I think the word is content! (And it’s not even 11am!).
7: Nest nourish bowls $24.95 - $34.95 from Nest
Louise Saunders Campaign Assistant
My favourite winter ritual is…
My favourite winter ritual is to purchase myself a snug dressing gown for those cold winter nights huddled up next to the fire and those freezing mornings after you’ve just jumped out of bed. I usually go to Farmers to make my purchase as they generally have the best deals and good quality, with cute colours to choose from but I found this snugly version at james&august and it’s on sale!
8: Sam robe $50.00 from james&august
Vicky, Senior Campaign Manager
My favourite winter ritual is…
Applying ghd Rejuvenation Night cream. The great thing about this product is that it is for all hair types, you apply it at night so it’s hassle free, and it leaves your hair feeling amazing afterwards. The night cream comes with a towel wrap which makes for easy and clean application. The Rejuvenation cream works wonders on tired, stressed, dry, damaged hair. For me this is the ultimate indulgence in winter – particularly between seasons, and also after I’ve had my hair coloured. I have thick, blonde-treated hair that I use ghd’s on, on a regular basis… so the ghd Rejuvenation Night cream is like gold when applied - my hair feels amazing and so healthy – I love it! The towel wrap also makes you feel all snug in bed, while the treatment works its magic! I’d also recommend using the Opulent mask treatment in addition to the night cream. As the Opulent mask is made for coloured hair, used together, the treatments help repair the heat and colour damage.
9: ghd Rejuvenation Night cream £19.75 from ASOS
Looking for a skincare saviour? We’re giving away Beauty Ed. Anya’s favourite winter skin, Neutrogena Norwegian Formula. Click here to find out how you can be in to win one of 10 packs containing the complete range!
What’s your favourite winter ritual?
Which of the above do you indulge in?
Let us know below.
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