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 sloughing away winter skin, and read on for some important tips.

Better Bathing

• Take short showers or baths (10 to 15 minutes max) in warm, not hot water.
• Forgo fragrances that might irritate, 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 the shower and always apply a leave-in conditioner  after you wash. Seal hair with a protectant  before using any heated hair tools .
• Consider a humidifier since there is nothing worse than a hot, dry home. Try the Honeywell's Quietcare  or see the Humidifiers Buying Guide for more information.

Suave Skin Therapy Moisturizing Body Wash  This wash won't strip skin the skin since it's chock full of emollients.	Aveeno Positively Radiant Exfoliating Body Wash  Reasonably priced and enriched with soy to give you a healthy glow, this is a good multitasker.	Olay Body Butter Ribbons  Ribbons of jojoba butter offer quenching relief and a sheer layer of moisture.	Dove Cream Oil Body Wash  Three levels of moisture suit everyone's needs.

Moisture Matters

• Seal skin with a protective layer of baby  or body oil  while still in the shower, or try a skin conditioner, like Olay Moisturerinse In-Shower Body Lotion .
• Moisturize immediately after showering and reapply throughout the day with an emollient-based cream . These creams combat dryness as they soften and soothe your skin. 
• Banish dry spots on knees, elbows, or feet with Vaseline, the inexpensive option, or splurge with The Body Shop's Pink Grapefruit Body Butter .

Vaseline Cocoa Butter  This ultra-rich, thick and creamy lotion is a winner for über-dry skin.	Jergens Shea Butter Cream  Rich, but not heavy, this cream is just right for keeping dry skin soft.	Burt's Bees Cocoa Butter & Macadamia Body Butter  Thoroughly silkening, there are no ifs, ands, or buts about this nourishing butter.	St. Ives Mineral Therapy  Nutrients in this lotion help nourish and soften without weighing skin down.	Aromafloria Organic Ginger Mango Body Butter  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 tendencies, 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 sunblock. A moisturizer with a minimum of SPF 30  is key, even if you work in an office.
• Care for your lips by exfoliating regularly, nixing lip-licking, using balm throughout the day, and applying petroleum jelly  or a rich balm to hydrate while you sleep.
• Embrace an artificial tan. A gradual self tanner , light-reflecting bronzer , or an illuminizer is best since it will subtly enhance skin without appearing fake.

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

Olay Definity  This line offers high-quality, low-priced moisturizing for maturing skin that makes you glow.	Sundari Neem Night Cream  Hydrate and balance with this rich, yet non-greasy night cream that leaves your face radiant and soft.	Nuxe Rêve de Miel Ultra Comfortable Face Cream  This luxurious cream is just the thing for dry skin year round; great as a night cream or for winter use.	La Roche Posay Anthelios SX Mexoryl  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 antibacterial 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 these products can be stripping.

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

Winterproof Your Hair

Our skin isn't the only thing the blustery winter weather ruins. Believe it or not, but hair is also vulnerable when temperatures drop. Keep your locks moisturized, healthy, and full with three tips every person should know.

• Lay off the shampoo: Although shampoo keeps your hair clean, it also strips your scalp of necessary oils. This is isn't good during the winter when the air is dry. To avoid dry hair and flyaways, shampoo your hair every other day and invest in a moisturizing cleanser .
• Condition: Combat dried-out, straw-like tresses with extra conditioner and leave-in conditioning treatments . Instead of using shampoo each day, only use conditioner . Not only will it cleanse, it will also lock in moisture. If this doesn't sound appealing, opt for a heavy-duty leave-in formula. You can use these treatments once a week or more, depending on your hair.
• Hats Away: Moms always told us to cover our heads when it's cold out, but they obviously didn't think about what hats do to our hair! Hats actually increase production of oil or waxy matter, thus making hair greasy and limp. We're not telling you to go without a hat this winter, but you'll want to wear one that is clean and fits your head. 

Related Buying Guides

• Skin Care
• Facial Moisturizers
• Bath and Body
• Facial Moisturizers
• No Poo