Winter can be tough on hair and skin.  The cold, the dry air and the lack of sunshine leave us with flaky skin, lifeless hair and a dull complexion.  Winter doesn’t have to leave us as ragged looking as we feel though!  With these five winter beauty tips you can get your glow back and feel beautiful.  What we can’t promise, however, is a change in the forecast…

Beat the winter beauty blues:

1)    Moisturize-  Using lotion on your hands and body should be a given year-round, but it’s especially important to moisturize even more this time of year.  Use rich, moisturizing shampoo and conditioner on your hair, use creamy face cleansers rather than gels, and use a leave-in conditioning hair treatment once a week.  Putting lotion on your feet and slipping on a pair of socks before bed is a great way to keep your toes sandal-ready even in the winter.

2)    Put on a mask- Using a moisturizing mask once a week can help retain moisture and keep away those pesky flakes and scales that show up on your skin this time of year. Always remember to put on a moisturizer after your mask treatment.

3)    Watch your time in the shower—A long, steaming hot shower probably is one of the things you most look forward to on a cold winter morning or evening. However, it be damaging to your skin and hair.  Try to either turn down the heat a bit on your next shower or shorten it.  Always slather on lotion in the first few minutes of getting out of the shower to lock in skin’s moisture.

4)    Scrub away dead skin—Winter is the time to exfoliate!  With increased dead skin this time of year, you need to exfoliate more.  By sloughing away dead skin cells, you allow more moisture to penetrate into your skin, too.

5)    The right environment—Blasting the heat in your home may feel great but it can wreak havoc on your skin and hair.  If you’re not willing to budge on the thermostat, try getting a humidifier.  Adding some moisture to the air can do wonders for your skin!  Add some house plants for more moisture, too.

Here’s to looking fabulous this winter! What winter beauty tips would you like to share with us?