Winter Beauty Tips

Winter is the roughest, toughest time for your skin, especially if you suffer from year-round dry skin or eczema. That's why it's so important to modify your skin care routine once the mercury starts to drop. Swapping out lightweight lotions for emollient-rich creams and heavy-duty serums is a must. If you arm yourself with the right products, you can be sure to stay soft, smooth and flake-free no matter how frosty it gets. Scroll down to see a selection of top-notch products that work wonders for wicking away winter skin, and important tips to remember.

Better Bathing

• Take short showers or baths (10 to 15 minutes max) in warm, not hot water.
• Forgo fragrances that might irritate the skin and for very sensitive skin, simply opt for the gentler alternative: organic body care. 
• Exfoliate often with a body scrub,  like Cake Beauty It's a Slice Creamy Body Buffer. 
• Quench hair with a deep conditioner  once or twice a week in shower and always apply a leave-in conditioner  after washing. Seal hair with a silicone product before using any heat appliances. 
• Consider a humidifier since there is nothing worse than a hot, dry home. Try the Honeywell HWM-530  or see the Humidifiers Buying Guide for more information.

Suave Skin Therapy Moisturizing Body Wash	Aveeno Positively Radiant Exfoliating Body Wash	Olay Body Butter Ribbons	Dove Cream Oil Body Wash
This wash won't strip skin the skin since it's chock full of emollients.	Reasonably priced and enriched with soy for glowing skin, this is a good multitasker.	Ribbons of jojoba butter quench skin in a sheer layer of moisture.	Three levels of moisture suit everyone's needs. Keep your eye out for these in February.

Moisture Matters

• Seal skin with a protective layer of baby oil  or body oil  while still in the shower or try one of the new skin conditioners, like Olay Moisturerinse In-Shower Body Lotion. 
• Moisturize immediately after showering and reapply throughout the day with an emollient-based cream  like Vaseline Intensive Rescue Moisture Locking Lotion. 
• Banish dry spots on knees, elbows or feet with Vaseline, the inexpensive option, or Von Natur Chocolate Mint Whipped Therapy. 

Vaseline Cocoa Butter	Jergens Shea Butter Cream	Burt's Bees Cocoa Butter & Macadamia Body Butter	St. Ives Mineral Therapy	Aromafloria Organic Ginger Mango Body Butter
This ultra-rich, thick and creamy lotion is a winner for über-dry skin.	Rich, but not heavy, this cream is just right for keeping dry skin soft.	Thoroughly silkening, there are no ifs, ands or buts about this nourishing butter.	Nutrients in this lotion help nourish and soften without weighing skin down.	Smelling spicy and sweet at the same time, this is a decadent treat.

About Face

• Cleanse gently. Opt for creamy cleansers infused with emollients. If you have oily skin, be careful of alcohol-based products that can strip skin and cause it to produce excess oil.
• Exfoliate once a week with a face scrub  to slough off dead skin and generate cell renewal.
• Moisturize to the max. Night cream  replenishes lost moisture while you sleep and an eye cream  helps keep your peepers from looking tired and baggy.
• Don't forget the SPF; a moisturizer with a minimum of SPF 15  is key even if you work in an office.
• Care for your lips by exfoliating regularly, nix lip-licking, use balm throughout the day and apply petroleum jelly  or a rich balm to hydrate while you sleep.
• Embrace an artifical tan. A gradual self tanner,  light reflecting bronzer  or illuminizer (such as Aveda's Inner Light Shimmer Accents ) are best since they subtly enhance skin without appearing fake.

Bioré Pore Minimizing Refining Exfoliator	DermaDoctor Physical Chemistry	Collective Wellbeing	Smashbox Emulsion Lip Exfoliant	Nutri-Pure Detoxifying Cream Cleanser
Gentle, yet effective, this keeps cell renewal at its peak and works wonders as a daily face scrub.	Dermabrasion + chemical peel = beautifully soft skin. Use it weekly for a more radiant glow.	This company makes organic cleansers that are ideal for sensitive skin.	Designed with sensitive, roasacea and eczema-prone skin in mind, this night cream soothes and hydrates to the fullest.	Garnier's  new skin care line, Nutritioniste, offers nutrient-infused cleansers and moisturizers perfect for keeping skin soft during winter.

Olay Definity	Sundari Neem Night Cream	Nuxe Rêve de Miel Ultra Comfortable Face Cream	Renee Rouleau Phytolipid Comfort Cream	La Roche Posay Anthelios SX Mexoryl
This line offers high-quality, low-priced moisturizing for maturing skin that defines and makes skin glow.	Hydrate and balance the skin with this rich, yet non-greasy night cream that  leaves it radiant and soft.	This luxurious cream is just the thing for dry skin year round, as a night cream or for winter use.	Designed with sensitive, roasacea and eczema-prone skin in mind, this night cream hydrates to the fullest.	This is an excellent choice for a daily moisturizer since it contains a broad spectrum sunscreen and sunblock.

Hands Down Favorites

• Wash hands often with a moisturizing anti-bacterial hand soap  like Hand Soap with Shea Butter by Softsoap  to keep germs at bay.
• Carry a hand sanitizer  in your bag or purse for when you're on the go.
• Always moisturize after washing or sanitizing since that cleansing can strip moisture from the skin.

Eucerin Plus Intensive Repair Hand Creme	Jojoba Oil Moisturizing Hand & Cuticle Cream	Davie's Gate Sugar Plum Nourishing Hand Cream
It's another rich moisturizer by a company that knows moisture.	Ultra-rich emollients in this cream by Crabtree & Evelyn  make for unparalleled softness.	May sugar plums dance in your head and nourish your hands with this softening cream.

Related Buying Guides

• Skin Care
• Facial Moisturizers
• Bath and Body
• Facial Moisturizers

External Links

• iVillage.com: Winter beauty tips for skin and hair.
• MedicalNewsToday.com: Relief for itchy winter skin.
• The Beauty Brains Blog: Does over-moisturizing dry out your skin?
• Jack and Hill Blog: Dry skin and products to beat it.
• eBeauty Daily: Beautiful winter skin tips.