Elsa McAlonan’s Beauty Upgrades: How to heal your lips with wonder balms

Elsa McAlonan’s Beauty Upgrades: How to heal your lips with wonder balms

  • Elsa McAlonan reveals a selection of lip balms for winter to help heal our skin
  • British beauty expert rounds up the best nourishing hair creams for you to try 
  • She asks if there is a cream that can have the same effect as laser treatments 

WHAT’S NOW & HOW TO DO IT: WONDER BALMS 

Lipstick may have taken a back seat during lockdown but, with all of those wintry walks, sales of lip balm are soaring. 

For a hint of colour, try Bobbi Brown Extra Lip Tint (£27, bobbi brown.co.uk). It uses nourishing botanicals, too.

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Charlotte Tilbury’s new Hyaluronic Happikiss (£25, charlottetilbury.com) contains hyaluronic acid and C-peptide to plump lips and reduce the look of vertical lip lines.

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For dry lips, opt for Crabtree & Evelyn Nourish + Renew Lip Balm (£14.50, crabtree-evelyn.co.uk), as it uses plant butters to soothe.

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For a balm that doesn’t stick to your mask, try Bali Body Coconut Lip Balm SPF15 (£9.06, uk.balibody co.com), which creates a protective barrier.

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And for luminous shine, try +Rose Lip Nourisher by Pixi (£10, pixibeauty.co.uk), a tinted balm.

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 CLICK THIS TODAY 

Life is tough on hands at the moment, thanks to all the washing, sanitising and cold weather — so it’s little wonder we are getting through gallons of hand cream.

Skin Therapy Spa Hand Cream (wilko.com) is infused with nourishing pro-vitamin B5 and vitamin E and, at a purse-pleasing £1 for a 100ml tube, you can afford to keep one in every pocket.

The fast-absorbing, vegan formula also uses cocoa and shea butter extracts to soften cuticles and strengthen nails.

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KYLIE’S MOOD BOOST SCENT: 

Whether she is engaged or not is still a mystery, but one thing is for sure — Kylie Minogue is definitely a fan of Heaven Scent (£37, heavenskin care.com).

Created by royal facialist Deborah Mitchell, the uplifting blend of sandalwood, orange blossom, patchouli and cedarwood essential oils calms nerves and boosts energy. It can be used on your body, face and hair to give you a natural glow, too.

Whether she is engaged or not is still a mystery, but one thing is for sure ¿ Kylie Minogue is definitely a fan of Heaven Scent (£37, heavenskin care.com)

Whether she is engaged or not is still a mystery, but one thing is for sure — Kylie Minogue is definitely a fan of Heaven Scent (£37, heavenskin care.com)

THIS WORKS 

Tackling fine lines around the eyes can make you look instantly younger. 

The new Q+A Seaweed Peptide Eye Gel (£6.50, qandaskin.com) uses collagen-boosting peptides to firm up skin, while protecting it from ageing environmental stressors. It helps reduce puffiness and dark circles, too.

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CAN A CREAM WORK AS WELL AS A LASER? 

With laser appointments off-limits, many of us are looking for other ways to treat brown spots, or hyperpigmentation.

Aesthetic nurse Anna Baker explains: ‘Hyperpigmentation is a common skin issue that is best removed using laser therapy, but you can use a topical treatment instead.

‘Ingredients to look out for are vitamin C; glycolic acid or NeoGlucosamine to break down pigmentation; and niacinamide or kojic acid to decrease the production of melanin, which causes dark spots.’ 

Try NeoStrata Enlighten Illuminating Serum (£55, skincity.com), which improves the appearance of dark spots and helps prevent the development of further hyperpigmentation.

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3 OF THE BEST: NOURISHING HAIR MASKS

Pantene Repair & Protect Hair Mask For Damaged Hair (now £2.24, boots.com) locks in moisture and fights signs of damage in just two minutes, leaving hair smooth and soft.

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Aveda Botanical Repair Intensive Strengthening Masque: Rich (£45, aveda.co.uk) helps to detangle and prevent breakage. It has a divine ylang ylang, rose and marjoram scent, too.

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L’Oreal Professionnel Serie Expert Absolut Repair Gold Mask (now £13.40, lookfantastic.com) uses gold quinoa and protein to restore mature, brittle hair and boost shine.

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SHAMELESS INDULGENCE 

We can always trust Dolce & Gabbana to bring some much-needed glamour into our lives, and the new Red Lace Edition make-up collection doesn’t disappoint.

The highlight is Blush of Roses Luminous Cheek Colour (£48, harrods.com), a soft, lightweight blush in a compact adorned with red lace. And it’s not just a pretty case. The peach shade works well on every skin tone, adding a healthy flush of colour while smoothing and plumping skin. It’s designed to mimic the skin’s natural glow — something our fed-up, winter-worn complexions will welcome.

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