The Ultimate Winter Survival Kit That Will Make You Look And Feel Better Every Day

Emerging into January after watching Harry Potter on a loop for a month and feasting can feel a little painful. For the past month, we've been bombarded with lots of noise encouraging us to step on up, onto the rollercoaster of extreme dieting, making New Year’s resolutions you will never keep and buying juicers which will never come out of the box.

Instead, I think the first few months of any new year should be about self-care and filling yourself up with positivity, nutritious food, non-toxic people and fun activities, which lift your soul. Instead of getting a new gym membership I know I won’t use, I’ve been getting in my 10,000 steps, and spending more time in nature. Instead of going on a restrictive diet, I’ve tried to cook more delicious food from scratch and eat more things which make me feel good, like sweet potatoes, clean lean protein and dark green vegetables. Now that January’s over, my new (new) year’s resolution is simply to carry on doing these things that make me feel better.

I’m a naturally extreme, all or nothing kind of gal and I’ve learned the hard way – through giving myself type 2 diabetes – that balance in all aspects of your life is key to being happy. So, beyond January, I am resolving to ditch yo-yo diets and beating myself up in favour of letting go and nourishing my body and soul.

My winter survival kit comes in three stages. The dark mornings on the school run and dull grey days can leave me feeling sluggish, which is why I look for products which leave me feeling healed, supported, nourished and also brighten up my day. Here’s my guide for beating those beyond-January blues.

The Best Products For Support

Wild Nutrition, Food Grown B Complex Plus, £24

I’m a huge fan of Wild Nutrition. I was never really into supplements but after my body burnt out and it politely told me to get a hold of myself, I started to listen to what my body really needs. Being a busy working mum of twins, I need energy and these bad boys are laced with ashwagandha, which is a great natural stress reliever. There’s also B12 to help you recover from fatigue and B5 for mental performance.

Evolution_18, Beauty Collagen Powder, £25

Bobbi Brown, the queen of natural makeup, has reinvented herself into a wellbeing guru. Brown has launched this new range of products to help you glow from the inside out. This supplement is great for adding to smoothies, water or even your morning coffee to help support muscles, brain function, as well as your hair and nails with bovine collagen peptides and added protein.

PUKKA, Night Time Latte, £5.39

I’m often tired and don’t sleep very well. This dairy and sugar-free hug in a mug is great for helping you get a good night’s sleep. Laced with sleep-inducing, gluten-free oats, blood sugar-regulating cinnamon and stress-relieving lavender and chamomile, this creamy and smooth bedtime tipple will leave you feeling cosy and calm.

The Best Products To Nourish

Evolve, Hyaluronic Serum 200, £30 for 30ml

This multi award-winning organic skin plumping serum leaves my skin feeling juicy and nourished. The range is lovingly hand-crafted and made in small batches for freshness. Powerful pomegranate extract and organic rosewater makes me feel like I’m literally feeding my thirsty skin some healthy hydration.

Dermalogica, Thermafoliant Body Scrub, £39

I love using this warming body scrub to help leave my skin feeling soft, supple and renewed. Extracts of licorice, chamomile and grapefruit not only purify the skin but leave you feeling spiritually uplifted as well. The scrub is also super-fine, with Indian Bamboo stem and natural sea salt, so it won’t irritate those with sensitive skin like me.

Aurelia, Firm & Revotalise Dry Body Oil, £48

Slather away the winter blues and dull skin all at the same time with this totally decadent, super-light body oil. Mood boosting Neroli, lavender, rose and mandarin leave your skin super soft and it will make you feel like your bathroom has been transformed into a five star spa.

The Best Products To Brighten

Milk Makeup, Lip + Cheek in Quickie, £20.50

When the weather is overcast and a bit blah, I always use colour therapy to put a spring in my step. I love blush and this one from Milk isn't just a great shade of berry, it's also a multi-tasking product that will work on lips, too. I'm also a huge NARS fan, so I’m counting down the days until the brand's new, delicious shade of blush launches in March. It’s a deep satin burgundy, which is great for deeper skin tones and will leave you looking – and feeling – better in an instant.

Trinny London, Lip Glow in Honor, £16

This non-sticky and moisturising lip product is a gloss-balm hybrid and feels silky and soothing thanks to vitamin E. I love this new berry shade, which will add brightness to your face without being too much.

Nailberry, L’Oxygene nail colour in Pop My Berry, £14.50

This orangey-red looks great on all skin tones and just screams optimism and fun. I love Nailberry as the colours are pigment-rich, great quality, last for ages and have been formulated to be breathable, oxygenated and free from harsh chemicals like formaldehyde.