by Jacqueline Beach

Created on: September 04, 2009

As the last of the reds and yellows of autumn have faded, and the humidity in the air is subsiding along with most of the sun's dangerous UV rays winter is approaching. The air is crisp and fresh, and within weeks, your skin is glowing like Mrs Christmas'. That is, until winds of near Antarctic force turn that cute little glow in your cheeks into a full frontal wind burn. Yes, winter is possibly the worst season for your skin.

Regardless of what category your skin falls into, in winter we all take a beating when it comes to our skin both weather wise and due to a little over indulgence in the silly season activities. Due to the lack of moisture in the air, it's common to experience a lizard like peeling of facial skin, whilst also being plagued by a flaky, scale like cover on the rest of your body as the skin is given less of a chance to breathe. It should also come as no surprise that the majority of us tend to socialise a lot more from the period of November to late January, which is great for our social lives, but not so much so your poor weather beaten, anti-oxidant deprived skin. As alcohol encourages the promotion of free radicals in our bodies which result in cell damage (read physical aging), during the festive season it is incredibly important to up your anti-oxidant intake, which help reduce cell damage. Here are a few tips to beat the dry winter blues.

1. Invest in a concentrated day moisturiser:

Preferably with multi-vitamins or vitamin C and of course with a minimum of SPF 15. A powerful anti-oxidant, vitamin C will help smooth over the effects of elemental damage as well as rejuvenate skin which has been sapped of nutrients.

2. Get serious with your night cream:

As night is when our skin replenishes itself, it's vital that you use a concentrated formula to soothe and replenish your skin after a day or night out.

3. Exfoliate:

More so than at any other time of the year; to remove all those dead skin cells. What's the point in using all that moisturiser if it never has a chance to seep into your skin properly? Exfoliating with a gentle formula will also re-invigorate your skin and give it a natural, healthy glow.

4. Stock up on anti-oxidants

Several foods such as tomatoes, strawberries, cranberries and dark chocolate are rich in anti-oxidants which help in the fight against cell damage and premature ageing. However for an extra boost, try Himalayan goji berries which are ten times as powerful as cranberries. Another option is to buy some anti-oxidant multi-vitamins such as grape seed.

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