In order to survive through the cold winter months, my dry, sensitive, prone to redness skin needs a heavy duty skincare combo.

Below are my favorite serums and creams for eyes and face that deliver all the moisture and hydration my skin needs:

• In the morning, I apply either Darphin Intral Redness Recovery Balm:
  “Intensely-emollient balm with an exclusive Calm Complex of 3 flowers – Hawthorn, Peony and Chamomile – to help reduce redness, soothe and strengthen skin’s natural barrier to better protect against irritants and environmental stressors, which can age skin.” (description from the brand)
  
  or Darphin Intral Redness Recovery Cream:
  “Ultra-light, soothing cream helps reduce the appearance of redness and instantly camouflage blotchiness with its green-hued formula. Helps repair and strengthen skin’s natural barrier so sensitive skin can better protect itself against irritants and environmental aggressors.” (description from the brand)
  
  
  Left: Darphin Intral Recovery Balm. Right: Darphin Intral Recovery Cream
  
  I use either of them, depending on how much my skin needs hydration in the morning and the level of my redness. The balm is obviously of a richer texture than the cream, but not greasy. Of course, it would be too much for an oily skin. But my skin can get very dry in winter and definitely needs such a rich formula. Most days, the cream is enough though, and I really like the light green tint and fine reflective pigments it contains. The cream gives a subtle and flattering sheen to the skin while helping tone down the redness on my face. Both the cream and the balm are very good bases for makeup.
  Sometimes, I would also use the balm in the evening if I want to indulge in its luxurious texture and scent for the night. I usually steer away from scented skincare as I am very picky about scents and as it can irritate the skin. However, although the scent of the Intral range is rather strong and lingers for a while, I am truly addicted to it: sweet gourmand frangipani.
  
  I have been using and repurchasing both Darphin Intral Redness Recovery Balm and Darphin Intral Redness Recovery Cream for fifteen years and they never failed me.
  In Europe, you can find the Darphin products in-store in pharmacies or parapharmacies. I usually get them online at Notino, which offers the best prices I have found so far for the Darphin Intral range. And I generally wait for a promotion before replenishing.
  
  
  
  
  
• I use Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex mostly as my evening serum, which I apply after a retinol cream and before my night moisturizer. It is a very complete serum, addressing general aging and hydration concerns. It is very pleasant and easy to apply. A little goes a very long way and 2-3 drops are enough.
  I sometimes also use the serum in the morning if I want an additional layer of hydration and of anti-oxidant protection, which I apply between a vitamin-C serum and my day moisturizer.
  
  “Advanced Night Repair harnesses the restorative power of night to deliver visible renewal. It works night and day to help skin maximize its overall natural rhythm of repair and protection.” (description by the brand)
  
  I purchased my most recent bottles of Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex from Feelunique and Lookfantastic, where I found the best price offers and gift with purchase. The gorgeous red bottle shown on the picture was a limited-edition for the Chinese New Year 2020. I am still working on it, which proves one bottle (50 ml) lasts a very long time.
  
  
• I use the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Concentrate Matrix as my daily eye serum, underneath my eye cream in the morning and in the evening. It provides a nice nourishing layer to my under-eye skin while also addressing aging concerns.
  
  “This ultra-nourishing, skin strengthening formula with our innovative 360° Matrix Technology provides a 360° cushion of plumping support to give eyes a fresh, “wide-open” look”. (description form the brand)
  
  Like the face serum, I buy Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Concentrate Matrix from either Feelunique or Lookfantastic.
  
  

• Bobbi Brown Extra Eye Repair Cream is a recent discovery and has quickly become my winter morning and evening eye moisturizer. It is the most emollient, nourishing and non-irritating cream for my dry and sensible under-eye:
  
  “This rich, concentrated cream visibly revives eyes—so you look extra well rested. A Bobbi Brown best-seller, this formula with peptides, natural plant oils, and humectants targets fine lines, wrinkles, dark circles, puffiness, and dryness.” (description form the brand)
  
  
  
  In the morning, I wait for a few minutes before I apply a corrector or a concealer to let the rich texture sink in.
  Bobbi Brown Extra Eye Repair Cream is a recent purchase from Lookfantastic.
  
  
• I discovered Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler Soin de Nuit Extra Riche a month ago, and it has become my winter night moisturizer. It is very rich and very nourishing, and addresses aging concerns. It is a thick yet easy to apply cream and has no scent at all.
  
  
  
  I use it in combination with Eucerin Elasticity+Filler Face Oil, which I have been using for years. This is hands down my favorite face oil ever. It feels like silk on the skin and has a very subtle clean scent. You can add a couple of drops of this oil to any face cream to boost its moisturizing properties. I even use one drop under my eyes when I need extra hydration, especially before applying makeup.
  
  I find the best prices for both the night cream and the oil on Notino.
  

• Another recent discovery is GlamGlow Brighteyes:
  “An illuminating eye cream that instantly brightens dark circles and reduces the visible signs of fatigue around the entire eye area for a super well-rested, glowing look.” (description from the brand)
  
  I use it in the morning after my moisturizer if I want to brighten my under-eye when I don’t necessarily want to use a corrector. It is a very thin texture with light reflective pigments. I found it on Sephora.