It’s already mid-month, and I’m well and truly in the throes of the January blues.

I feel tired and flaky, and that’s not just down to my usual dire post-Christmas financial depression. It’s my face that’s bothering me at the moment. Quite literally.

The frequent switch between cold and mild weather, and the endless glasses of fizz teamed with a never ending supply of sausage rolls has left me looking far from my best. So it’s time to action some of those vague resolutions.

I’m combining opening my financial post with applying face masks at the moment, and here are two of my favourites to lift your spirits and your skin tone.

The Aesop product range is balanced between nature and technology. Which means it’s not completely organic, although still full of helpful natural ingredients. This is why it describes itself as ‘botanical’. (A beauty buzz word featured when companies want to sound as chemical-free as possible.)

I like Aesop. The effective products always smell amazing, and I would recommend you try the parsley seed cleansing mask if in need of a rapid catch-up skin cheat. The purified clay draws out impurities; the aloe ensures this doesn’t leave your skin tight, while the rosehip and parsley seed extracts deliver a big dose of anti-oxidants to perk up your skin.

This is one to use before you venture out as it balances oily/combo skins and perks up a grey or dull complexion. It’s also a mask which actually feels like it’s working, rather than just remaining in a somewhat gloopy mess on top of your face. My face felt much smoother afterwards.

It retails at around £30, but that will see you through the bleakest and coldest of the winter months.

Aveda are very similar to Aesop in that they are a brand which has long held a reputation for basically being pure, natural, safe and environmentally friendly. However again they are definitely not paraben and petrochemical free.

But they have earned their reputation as stewards of the environment, as they’re one of the biggest brands to do so much work raising awareness about recycling and the responsible sourcing of raw materials. If you want to draw out impurities in your skin, the rich and intense Aveda Deep Cleansing Herbal Clay Masque (approx. £25) provides a deep cleansing action to draw out dirt.

You’re applying an aromatic blend of clay, English kaolin and bentonite. Coconut and herbal emollients moisturise, while echinacea, red clover and hyssop purify and tone.

Afterwards, my skin felt clean and bright, and as if all the festive corruption had been brought to the surface.