Glowing winter skin: 5 non-toxic beauty buys that actually work

We have all become much more aware of what we are eating these days – realising, I think, that there is a huge and undeniable link between what we put into our bodies and how healthy it is.

But what we put onto our bodies also matters. Did you know that your skin is by far your largest living, breathing organ and that everything you put on it also makes its way underneath it, into your cells and blood stream? Many conventional beauty products contain ingredients that are at best questionable, and many experts are also worried about the cocktail effect of everything we are applying – which we might still be years away from knowing the real harm it is doing to our health and bodies. But there is a movement happening, and I for one, having written about beauty and wellness for years, am so delighted to see the vast – and ever-growing – selection of beauty products now available. These days I am constantly stumbling across new and truly amazing products that are not only effective, but also kind, both to your skin and also, on a larger scale, the environment. Want to clean up your beauty regime? Here are five really great buys I am using myself and am forever recommending to friends: 1. Barehic Skin Eye Serum I only recently discovered the gorgeous oils from Irish BareChic Skin. These little beauties are hand-blended and waterless, meaning they need no preservatives. This eye serum is now my early morning life-saver. I store it in the fridge, meaning when I apply it, it feels deliciously cool and makes my puffy eyes and dark circles vanish completely. It is choc-a-block with vitamin-rich plant oils, and have made a huge difference, making my skin look both brighter and more luminous. 2. Antipodes Vanilla Pod Hydrating Day Cream I am obsessed with this day cream and find it perfect for winter, as it is so deeply nourishing, and filled with Vitamin A and C and essential fatty acids. If your skin is prone to breakouts, this cream is also great because the New Zealand manuka honey has potent anti-blemish properties to help keep skin clear and fresh. €37, The Clean Beauty Edit 3. ANU Night Another find I cannot stop telling my friends about. This gorgeous balm makes me feel like I am at a spa every night, and the gentle lavender scent makes it the perfect product for when you want to wind down and get ready for bed. I used to wake up with skin that felt slightly dry and as if it desperately needed moisturiser in the mornings, but not anymore – the Anu Night feels like it sinks into my skin while I sleep, making me wake up with skin that both looks and feels super-soft and plump with moisture. ANU Night, €25, available from Anuyou.ie 4. Pestle & Mortar Pure Hyaluronic Serum 5. Aesop Parsley Seed Facial Cleansing Masque I have loved skincare brand Aesop for a long time because of their insanely chic packaging (and if you ever get a chance to visit an actual Aesop shop do – it is an experience and will appeal to anyone as obsessed with aesthetics and design as I am!) But these products are more than just being well-designed, they are also really good – and good for you. A friend bought me the Parsley Seed Facial Cleansing Masque a while back, and it is now one of my all-time favourite products, and one I know I'll keep buying over and over again forevermore. The scent is divine, and it cleans my skin properly, making it feel oh-so-soft and glowing. Aesop Parsley Seed Facial Cleansing Masque, £30.00, from Cultbeauty.co.uk