When the seasons shift, so can the condition of your skin. Yep, dry winter skin. Ugh!! It can feel drier, tighter, and more reactive, especially when transitioning between heated indoor spaces and cooler outdoor air. What your skin needs is support, not environmental stress. And that’s exactly where Ella Baché comes in.
A Legacy Brand, Loved by Skincare Professionals.
A long-standing favourite among professional skin therapists, Ella Baché has a unique and quietly remarkable history. In 1939, George Hallas — Madame Baché’s cousin — escaped what seemed inevitable in Europe, emigrating from Hungary to Australia on the last ship out before WWII. Eager to make a new life in Australia, his wife, Edith Hallas, a beauty therapist, was offered an opportunity to start selling Ella Baché skincare in David Jones, introducing Australians to a brand built on practical, skin-first solutions at a time when performance skincare was not the innovative technologically advanced behemoth that it is now.
From the beginning, Madame Baché, a renowned cosmetic chemist, took a protective and preventative approach, focusing on helping the skin retain what it naturally needs to stay healthy. These aren’t trend-driven formulations. They’re hardworking creams rooted in the belief that skin thrives when we support its barrier, not overwhelm it.
What’s with all the Lanolin?
Yes, Lanolin features prominently, which is a point of contention for some. But lanolin, a natural wax derived from sheep’s wool, closely resembles the lipids in human skin. It mimics and supports the skin’s natural barrier, making it an ideal ingredient for locking in moisture and preventing dehydration, especially as temperatures drop and environmental stress increases.
Here’s why it works so well for dry winter skin:
- Biocompatible – Its structure closely mimics the lipids in our skin, making it ideal for supporting and reinforcing the skin barrier.
- Seals in moisture – It acts as an occlusive, locking in hydration and preventing transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
- Softens and smooths – As an emollient, it helps improve skin texture as it comforts the skin.
- Breathable protection – Unlike some heavier occlusives, lanolin forms a breathable barrier that still lets skin function naturally.
In short, it helps your skin hold onto everything it needs to function optimally, making it an excellent ally during seasonal shifts.
Ella Baché Cult Classics suporting dry winter skin
Here’s how four of the brand’s cult classics deliver the protection the skin needs as the skin transitions as the seasons change to support your skin barrier, retain moisture and keep the skin comfortable all through winter.
Tomato Radiance Cream – Cremé Tomate – The Vitamin C Glow
Crème Tomate, or as it’s now known, Tomato Radiance Cream, is a bit of a legend. Lightweight yet nourishing, this cream uses tomato extract to brighten dull complexions and helps to even skin tone. It’s not heavy or greasy and works perfectly as a daytime moisturiser layered over a hydrating serum.
Warm it up in your fingertips and then massage it into the skin for a deep conditioning, keeping the skin soft and calm with a glowy finish.
It’s the ideal solution for normal to oily skin that needs to be kept calm and balanced.
Skin type: Normal to oily and oily
Skin condition: Sensitive and reactive, dehydrated, and needing pH balancing and protection.
Purifying Tomate Emulsion
– Light, Fresh and Comfortable
Think of this as Crème Tomate’s lighter, easygoing cousin. The same antioxidant and brightening benefits, just in a weightless emulsion that’s ideal between seasons.
It’s also a great choice for layering with serums. You’ll reach for this on warmer autumn days or when you want a lighter moisturiser that still delivers softness and, of course, a hint of a dewy glow.
Skin type: Normal to oily and oily
Skin condition: Sensitive and reactive, stripped, unbalanced skin
Ultra Nourishing Cream
– Cremè Royale – The Winter Dry Skin Saviour
If your skin is feeling dry, tight, or sensitised, this is the product to reach for. Rich in lanolin and designed to gently cocoon the skin, Ultra Nourishing Crème effortlessly supports barrier repair.
Despite its richness, it’s absorbed beautifully into the skin. During this product review, I reached for it every night, especially when I’d overdone it with other active ingredients or chemical peels.
Ultra Nourishing Crème is ideal as a night cream, applied after your evening serums for better absorption, allowing the skin to rest, recover, and rejuvenate. I found it to be deeply calming.
Skin type: Dry and dry to normal
Skin condition: Dehydrated, dull, loss of radiance
Special Eye Crème
– Simple, Gentle, Reliable
Sometimes, all you need from an eye cream is that it plays nicely with everything else—and this one does exactly that. No fragrance, no irritation, no fuss. It sits comfortably under makeup, softens fine lines, and hydrates without causing congestion or puffiness.
While it won’t transform your under-eyes overnight, it’s the type of eye cream that continuously protects the eye area to minimise dryness and dehydration.
Skin type: Everyone! All skin types
Skin condition: All skin conditions, particularly dry and dehydrated skin
Does Ella Baché deserve a spot in your bathroom cabinet this winter?
In an age of high-performance formulations, it’s easy to overlook the humble moisturiser. However, these creams remind us that barrier protection is a vital component of any effective skincare routine. So, yes, these creams are worthy of a spot in the bathroom cabinet, especially when the skin is stressed and struggles to protect itself naturally.
They’re not trying to be everything—they’re designed to protect and support the skin. And when used alongside potent serums like Ella Baché’s Retinol Night Treatment Oil, they’re the perfect companion. The nourishing, occlusive textures help buffer the intensity of retinol, allowing the skin to gradually acclimatise without the typical irritation, flaking, or redness.
The beauty of these formulations is that they don’t try to reinvent the wheel. They provide the right environment for your skin to function at its best, especially when it’s under seasonal stress. Lanolin may feel old-fashioned, but paired with modern serums, it’s quietly brilliant.
As the cooler months set in, reach for products that protect first, whether that’s lanolin-rich Ella Baché creams or other winter essentials that support your skin barrier. Explore more winter skincare tips here.
See you next time,
