There isn't any season that is as unkind to the skin as winter. It's a trying time at best. If you've suffered with oily skin all summer, you might discover your skin turning dry and flaky in the winter. All sorts of problems plague even the healthiest complexion. In the winter, indoor heat goes up and the moisture quotient in the skin goes down. Cold winds irritate and chap while freezing temperatures contract the surface vessels of the skin. The natural production of oils slows down. It's not a very encouraging picture. There are very specific ways to care for your skin in the winter. “The skin is an organ, just like the heart and the lungs. To keep it running at maximum efficiency depends on understanding what type of skin you have. Once you've established whether it's dry, oily or a combination of both, you'll know how to best care for it regardless of seasonal changes. The following suggestions, based upon normal or combination skin, will help you out when the thermometer drops”. Give up all drying agents, such as astringents and soaps. Stock up on plenty of cleansing and emollient creams and lotions.

In the winter your skin loses water and essential oils. You can replenish them and keep them in the skin by using creams containing collagen. Adjust your bathing schedule. Don't bathe before going out or immediately upon returning. Any sudden temperature change can upset the moisture balance in your skin and increase chapping. When rinsing your face always make sure to use tepid water, never very hot or very cold. After cleansing always apply a moisturizer or emollient cream, depending on your skin type. Use emollient creams on feet and legs which are tucked into boots all winter. It's difficult for skin to breathe and it may become very dry and flaky. Be sure to use a sun-block cream and a special heavy-duty moisturizer when participating in outdoor winter sports. Sunburn and windburn are very common winter-skin menaces. Use lipstick with built-in moisturizers and remember to use lip gloss for extra protection. Don't wet your lips and always check to make sure your lipstick is fresh. Old products can sometimes contribute to the pain of chapped lips. Don't neglect your hair. Winter heat and cold make your hair brittle and fly-away. Use a gentle shampoo, a conditioning hair pack and a cream rinse. If your hair is plagued by static electricity, stroke the palms of your hands over your hair and your body moisture will help control it. The health of your skin and hair depends greatly on what you eat. You may eat more in the winter, but stick to a sound diet. Winter clothes may hide a heavy figure, but they won't hide shallow skin and listless hair. It may sound like a lot to remember, but any healthy beauty discipline requires the establishment of sound ground rules.

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