Winter Skin Guide

Below-zero temperatures and harsh, freezing winds signal that winter - and dry, flaky, chapped-skin season - is here. Don't let the cold winds of winter chap and chafe you. Stay smooth, soft, and supple with our essential winter skin survival secrets and a few hair care tips too.

Prepare, prevent & protect

Surface matter

Exfoliation will buff away the dead cells that might otherwise dull our complexion, removing this redundant top layer appears to stimulate cell production lower down in the epidermis.

However, although any skin will benefit from gentle exfoliation, take care as over-enthusiastic scrubbing can undermine the skin's barrier function causing your skin to dry out more.

Try a soft facecloth or flannel as a alternation to a facial scrub, although avoid using with a harsh, scratchy surface. After cleansing your skin massage gently to loosen any dead skin cells on the skin's surface. If your skin is especially dry, massage a little cream cleanser onto damp skin, then massage with your facecloth.

Home Tip: Facial exfoliator recipe

Yogurt sugar scrub, 3 Tbs baby oil, 1 Tbs yogurt 1 Tbs white sugar, Mix the ingredients together and use gently as scrub/exfoliator.

Become richer

A few adjustments to your skincare regime will pay dividends when its cold. Remember skin care products need changing when it comes to winter as your skin conditions will also change from how it is in the summer.

'Most peoples' skin demands a richer moisturiser during the winter months but you need to choose the right one for you - just because a product is creamier or more expensive, doesn't necessarily mean that it's more effective.

A hydrating serum used underneath your moisturiser will penetrate deep into the skin, nourishing the bottom layer of cells so when they come to surface they will be hydrated, plumper and brighter.

Sun protection is not just for the beach - the UV rays that can cause lines and wrinkles are in the atmosphere 365 days a year. So if you are concerned about premature ageing, its a good thing to invest in a moisturiser that contains sunscreens or UV filters.

Don't forget to moisturise inside and out. Drink lots of water and look for slightly heavier lotions or dry skin formulas - they're made for all the heavy duty help you need.

Home Tip: Try, Egg, Avocado & Mud facial mask recipe

Clay is available in powder form at any health food store. Mix 1 tablespoon dry clay with 1 egg yolk, 1/4 of a mashed avocado and enough witch hazel to create a smooth mixture. Mud dries excess sebum while the egg yolk and avocado replenish lost moisture. Witch hazel tones.

Or if you like you could use Avocado on its own as its s naturally rich moisturiser.

Beat the heating

Save the planet as well as your skin by turning the central heating down a degree or two. Central heating creates a low humidity environment that literally strips skin of its natural moisture, while low outdoor temperatures provide a harsh contrast, meaning skin can become more sensitive.

Should the relative humidity of our environment drop below 60 per cent, our skin will start to become dehydrated. To put this into perspective, the average office building has a relative humidity of 40 per cent and an aircraft cabin has 10-20 per cent relative humidity. Central heating is renowned for drying the atmosphere and altering humidity.

Love your lips

Lips can be sadly neglected, until cold sores and chapped lips become a problem.

It's not just skin that suffers when it's chilly, lips also need looking after to ensure they stay super-smooth. To de-flake dry lips, massage with a generous amount of petroleum jelly. Allow to sink in for a couple of minutes, then gently rub lips with a warm, damp facecloth. You could also try using a old toothbrush to gently exfoliate the dry skin off your lips.

As the jelly is removed, flakes of skin will come with it. Slick on a good lip balm morning and night, and switch to nourishing lip colour to prevent that unattractive parched look during the day.

Look for a lip balm containing pomegranate or shea butter, as both of these ingredients will give maximum moisturisation. Korres lip butter is great for lip moisture.

Remember lips need protection against the sun, as they have no melanin of their own. Whilst most lipsticks contain, sunscreen, naked lips will not be protected.

And according to the experts...

Look for natural, organic face and body products containing oils rich in essential fatty acids to help replace lost moisture. Regular facial massage brings much-needed nutrients to the skin: try gently massaging seven drops of rosehip seed oil, and one drop of Frankincense essential oil into the skin morning and evening to restore smoothness and radiance.

The cause of Acne Rosacea is not known. However it has been recognised that it is mostly found on fair skin types which have a natural sensitivity to changes in temperature, causing redness and flushing, which in turn weakens the capillary walls. Keeping the skin at a regular temperature will help and can be achieved by reducing hot drinks, hot spicy food, excessive sun exposure, alcohol, strenuous exercise and stressful situations. The use of tepid water when cleansing will also help maintain a regular temperature. Organic rose oil has an anti- inflammatory effect.

Rescue remedies for winter hands and feet

Try these simple remedies for cracked, chapped and sore winter hands and feet.

To soothe dry hands, make a honey paste to use overnight. Stir together one tablespoon each of ground almonds, ground oatmeal (use a spice mill or coffee grinder), zinc oxide paste and honey, plus

one egg yolk. Rub the mixture over your hands, and recruit someone to help you into a pair of cotton gloves. Leave the gloves on overnight. In the morning, rinse your hands with cool water - and feel the softness.

You could also try a avocado mask, just mash up some avocado into a creamy texture and massage it into your hands and feet leave for 15 minutes and gently rinse off. This will leave your skin soft with moisture.

Home-made hand cream
It is always important to keep your hands moisturised. For a natural hand moisturiser, combine wheatgerm oil with a favourite essential oil. Keep an energising blend handy during the day and a calming blend nearby at bedtime.

Chapped hands
Moisten dry, chapped hands with a sandalwood, chamomile or rose essential oil that has been mixed with a hydrating base oil such as hazelnut, avocado or evening primrose.

Best foot forward
Cracked heels are uncomfortable, not very pretty and during the summer months they seriously cramp your sandal-wearing style. During the winter you can hide them, but cold weather and indoor heat sap away essential moisture. Your best bet is to exfoliate daily while you're in the shower - pumice stones or foot files (they're like nail files, only bigger) are great for softening calluses. Then carefully pat them dry and immediately apply a rich moisturising cream. Before bed, slather on a lot and slip on a pair of socks for intense healing while you sleep.

Turn tough skin soft
Use a rich emollient cream (aloe vera is especially softening) on your feet every night, massaging the cream in well. Try a foot massage cream with a touch of mint or a hint of menthol for a soothing, fresh feeling. You would also do well to start the day with a dab of the same cream.

Winter Hair Care Tips

The air in the winter is drier than in summer and, coupled with central heating , it can make hair drier too which means its time shampoo less. If you switch to a moisturising shampoo that won't strip your hair and the right styling products, you'll probably be able to squeeze in an extra day between washes.

Extra conditioning is essential, stop hair drying out like straw with a richer conditioner. if the ends are really dry, rinse out your normal conditioner in the usual way and follow with a leave-in conditioner

Spray where you need it to help soften and seal the ends. Treat your hair to an intensive conditioning treatment once a week to increase elasticity, strength and shine. (The Aussie 3 minute miracle condition is great for dry dull hair).