But then along comes winter and everything quickly starts to change. The temperature plummets, the air becomes dry and the bone-chilling winds start to suck the moisture out from our skin. Very soon the skin on our face, lips, neck, hands and feet becomes flakey and uncomfortable and can start to feel more dry and cracked than an elephants heel.

To make matters worse, in our desire to 'warm up', often we start to drink more caffeinated hot drinks such as tea and coffee, but this just further dehydrates the skin and before long we find ourselves wondering just where did that summer glow go? Sound familiar?

Well believe it or not, it doesn't have to be this way. There is plenty you can do to keep the skin on your face and body looking and feeling radiant all the way to summer. Here's how:

Exfoliate

Most of us scale back when it comes to exfoliating during the winter months because we believe it will just make our skin more dry and flakey. Wrong!

Unless you are suffering from a skin condition, your skin needs you to regularly exfoliate during the colder months to slough away the dry, flakey and damaged skin cells, leaving the fresh new (younger more vibrant) skin in its place.

Your face and body, especially the hands and feet, will start to glow and feel softer again after a good exfoliation once a week.

Moisturise

If you generally use just any old face moisturiser, the colder months are when you really should rethink what you are putting on your face (and possibly just wasting your money on).

The winter season is not a time to mess around with moisturiser and you will get more bang for your buck if you invest in a decent daily face moisturiser that not only hydrates on impact, but continues to work on the layers of the skin long after you have moved on with your day.

When it comes to the face, use a daily moisturiser morning and night that utilises active ingredients and for the body, find yourself the most divine and luscious, deeply moisturizing, body butter, body custard or natural oil that you can (such as Coconut, Almond or Avocado). Slather it on morning and night, especially straight after a shower or bath.

Treat

Unfortunately we're not talking about lollies and chocolates (although a sneaky one wouldn't hurt). Instead, what we mean is to find some good treatment products for your face and body that will add as much moisture as possible to soothe and protect your skin.

Face treatment products such as those with added vitamins, antioxidants, essential oils, fruit and herbal extracts and heptapeptides, will plump up the skin with goodness and fortify it to contend with the dry cold weather.

For the body, indulge in a rich and nourishing body mask or get a hot oil massage and watch your skin flourish (and your stress levels plummet faster than the temperature).

Hydrate

We all drink fewer hydrating fluids in the colder months and tend to overdose on the hot caffeinated variety instead. You will feel much better throughout winter and your skin will look better as it flushes away toxins if you hydrate it from the inside out with plenty of water.

To warm yourself up at the same time, try a glass of warm water with freshly squeezed lemon juice or even better, sip away with natural herbal teas. Herbal teas will not only hydrate your body, but nourish and nurture it with their own natural healing properties.

Be Gentle

Everywhere in nature, the colder months are a time when everything slows down to restore, rest and prepare for the warmer spring and summer seasons ahead.

If you love to overindulge during the spring and summer party seasons, now is the time to take care of yourself and support your body's natural desire to store up its energy reserves and take things easy.

Likewise you should do the same with your skincare products. Look for more gentle skincare products during this season and substitute strongly fragrant cleansers, soaps and body washes, for more gentle and soothing varieties.

And finally, whenever possible, get as much sleep as you can and sneak in as many cat-naps as your busy life will allow. Nothing slows the ageing process down faster than plenty of good rest.

Kylie Drury

27 July 2010