Winter weather conditions can leave your skin feeling dry, painful and itchy. In order to maintain healthy skin that glows, you must practice a new skin care regime, one that is tailor made to specifically combat the harshness that the Winter months can bring. Dermatologists say that practicing a suitable skincare regime during Winter will leave your skin feeling healthy and hydrated until Spring comes back around.

Here are some useful tips to keep in mind when trying to protect your skin against the harsh elements of winter:

• Hydrate

It is essential that you keep your skin hydrated at all times during the winter, and the best way of ensuring this is to drink plenty of water. Keep hydrated by bringing a refillable water bottle with you whenever you are going for long walks or on extended journeys. Drinking cold water isn’t always welcomed when the weather is cold and frosty outside, this is where herbal teas come in. They are great for hydrating your skin and keeping you warm when the temperatures drop.

•   Keep face and body moisturised.

It is best to alter the use of some of your beauty products during the winter season. Depending on your skin type, you may need to shift from your normal water based moisturiser to an oil based moisturiser which may help combat the effects on your skin due to a loss of dampness in the air. The use of grape seed oil is highly recommended as it has been proven to be a successful antioxidant that benefits aging skin.

Regarding moisturising the body, body butter is by far the best option for those with exceptionally dry skin. Body butters help hydrate skin to its full potential, and they usually contain beneficial seed and nut oils such as She Butter and Cocoa Butter. Regular application of body butter forms a protecting skin layer that will prevent any wetness loss during the Winter months.

• Protect your skin from the sun.

Some people are of the opinion that sunblock is only needed during the Summer when the sun is beaming from the sky. This couldn’t be further from the truth, and sunscreen should always be used if you are revealing your skin to the sun for longer than 15 minutes, regardless of what season it is.

The key element in maintaining healthy skin during the winter is to treat your skin with the profusion of hydration, winter doesn’t have to be a disastrous time for your skin. Take the above advice into consideration and enjoy the sparkle and glow off your skin during the cold wintery weather conditions.