As A Beauty Editor, These Are The 10 Products That Get Me Through The Festive Season

If there’s one thing I need to get through the festive season – other than stamina and a steady stream of electrolytes – it’s my go-to, tried-and-true products that keep skin looking and feeling fresh when I’m anything but.

December has its own ecosystem: long days, late nights and constant temperature shifts that leave skin behaving unpredictably. I think of this time of year the way you might think of travel – setting off with a passport, a charger and a handful of essentials you know you can’t replace. The same applies to my skin. I rely on a small roster of products that work quietly and consistently in the background, restoring equilibrium when everything else is in freefall.

These are the products that stay in my bathroom cabinet year after year, because they pull me back from the brink and keep me looking composed when I am running on fumes. Thank me at the end of the season.

Sisley Black Rose Mask

Sisley Paris Black Rose Cream Mask

My definitive SOS treatment. I keep one permanently in my bathroom for the moments when my skin looks grey and depleted. It’s expensive, but the payoff is instant and visible. This creamy mask floods skin with restorative moisture and restores luminosity when you need it most.

The instructions say to leave it on for 20 minutes before removing, but I slather it on before bed and wake up to softer, calmer skin that looks noticeably more alive. It’s one of the few products I genuinely think of as a ‘break in case of emergency’.

Ziip Halo All-in-One Microcurrent Facial Device

Ziip Halo All In One Microcurrent Facial Device

Microcurrent is one of the quickest ways to bring definition back to the cheekbones and jawline, and the Ziip Halo is the one device I actually use regularly because the results show up fast.

Used the day before a big event, it encourages lift and clarity – especially when you’re feeling puffy or tired. It delivers that clean, snatched effect makeup alone can’t create. Regular use pays dividends, too, and this season it’s the easiest way to look instantly more pulled together.

Sarah Chapman Comfort Cream

Sarah Chapman Comfort Cream D-stress

A staple that never lets me down, this cream is a true replenisher for compromised winter skin. The texture is rich but never heavy, leaving a protective veil that feels almost like a hug. When I want extra nourishment, I mix in a pump of Sarah Chapman’s Overnight Facial for an aromatic boost. It steadies sensitivity, restores suppleness and keeps dryness at bay through long days and late nights. A ride-or-die face cream for good reason.

Augustinus Bader The Vitamin C

Augustinus Bader The Vitamin C Serum

This is a brilliant antioxidant step for a party-heavy season. Too little sleep and urban pollution tend to show up first in the skin as dullness and uneven tone. This formula brightens, supports collagen and keeps the skin looking more luminous over time. It sinks in cleanly and layers seamlessly under moisturiser or SPF. When everything else feels depleted, it’s a reliable way to restore clarity and maintain a more rested effect.

Skin Rocks The Amplifier

A milky essence that feels like a cashmere wrap on freshly cleansed skin. It immediately leaves skin softer, more supple and better prepared to receive serums and creams. When you’re exhausted, this step creates a small moment of calm – I love the ritual of pumping it into my palms and gently patting it into the skin – and it helps everything that follows work harder. Simple, effective, transformative.

Shiseido Vital Perfection Eye Cream

Shiseido Vital Perfection Uplifting and Firming Advanced Eye Cream

One of the very few eye creams I’ve found that actually delivers visible results. I’ve been using this religiously, morning and night, because it tightens instantly and helps my eyes look more alert. Over time, the delicate area appears more refined, and its fast-absorbing texture means no residue before makeup. A necessary tool in December, when dark circles tend to announce every late finish.

Bioderma H2O Micellar Water Cleanser

Bioderma Sensibio H20 Micellar Water

The most dependable cleanser for removing party makeup. If you’ve been properly ‘out out’, nothing lifts pigment, long-wear foundation or liner as effectively. I use it after a balm cleanser to take away every last trace. It should be as essential to any bathroom cabinet as toothpaste. No sting, no cloying – just incredibly efficient cleansing that keeps congestion at bay.

Naturium Phyto Glow Lip Mask

Naturium Phyto-Glow Lip Mask

The scent and texture of this lip mask are divine, and the level of nourishment is exceptional. I apply a generous layer before bed, especially after removing a strong pigment or matte lipstick. By morning, my lips feel renewed rather than tight or flaky. It takes seconds but makes a noticeable difference, and during the festive season, I rely on it to keep my lips smooth and plump.

Biodance Collagen Sheet Mask

Biodance Bio Collagen-Real Deep Mask (4 Pack)

A standout discovery from this year’s British Vogue’s Festive Calendar. I use this once a week to maintain bounce and glow when the month gets hectic. It delivers deep hydration and a visible plumping effect, making skin look fresher even when you’re running on minimal sleep. The clever collagen-infusion technology gives a lifted, rested appearance that signals vitality. Ideal for the moments when you’ve been burning the candle at both ends.

111Skin Black Diamond Eye Mask

111Skin Celestial Black Diamond Eye Mask

Ten hours’ sleep in a single sachet. On mornings after broken nights, whether thanks to children or parties, I reach for these. They instantly depuff, refresh and revive the under-eye area. Makeup sits better afterwards, and you look noticeably more awake. They’re a cult classic for a reason and belong in any festive survival kit.