Get Winter Wonderful Skin

Save Face Woman with Fur Trimmed Hood

For many of us, winter is not only the season for fun times in the snow and by the fireplace, but for dry, dull, itchy skin when every part of your body suffers -- from your cheeks and lips to your hands and feet.

What is it about wintertime that stresses skin so? The answer has everything to do with moisture levels: the skin's inability to keep and replenish it while exposed to the season's cold temperatures, lashing winds, and extremely low humidity levels (both indoors and out). Add to that our well-intentioned, but extremely drying, habits of bathing and showering in too-hot water and using products that are over fragranced, and skin becomes vulnerable indeed.

The good news is that with a little TLC, you can help every inch of your skin survive the winter and maybe even end up with better skin than you had at the start. Read on to learn how.

â¢ Which Wrinkle Cream Is Right for You?

YOUR FACE

Winter worry: Flaking and chapped cheeks with dry patches, more visible lines around the eyes.

Why it happens: Since your face is always exposed to the elements, it takes a cold-weather beating. Frosty winds chip away at the outermost layer of skin that serves as our protective barrier, leaving our faces vulnerable. This barrier's main function is to regulate the water balance in the skin, and when it's compromised by the environment or by aggressive cleansing, itchy skin results.