Body

1. Add a weekly exfoliator to your skin care routine. If you apply moisturizer on a daily basis but still feel dry and itchy, it’s probably because you aren’t exfoliating your skin. Exfoliating removes the layer of dead skin cells that sits on the skin’s surface. This is the best way to ensure your skin actually absorbs moisturizer and gets the hydration it needs.

• Product pick: Molton Brown Warming Eucalyptus And Ginger Body Scrub contains a mixture of eucalyptus oil, root ginger and exfoliating sea salts to slough away dead skin cells and moisturize your skin.

2. Skip the bubbles in your bath. Love taking bubble baths? Those bubbles might be contributing to your overall itch. Bubble baths typically contain drying soap and alcohol, which strip your skin of moisture. Instead, it’s best to use a product that includes skin-soothing ingredients like honey, oatmeal or milk.

• Product pick: Infused with honey and sunflower seed oil, L’Occitane Honey and Lemon Delicious Bath hydrates and nourishes the skin.

3. Moisturize regularly. Using a rich body cream is vital to healthy, supple skin. Apply cream immediately after your shower or bath to preserve the moisture gained during your soak. Just make sure to use lukewarm water.

• Product pick: Sundari Omega 3 and Soybean Softening Body Baume provides intense hydration to dry, flaky skin, helping to heal your skin’s moisture barrier.

Face

4. Skip the peels and masks. While these treatments are effective in delivering a youthful-looking complexion, they can also hurt already dry, irritated skin. That’s because peels and masks can strip your skin of the moisture it needs to stay soft and supple.

5. Reassess your skin type. Don’t assume your skin type will always be the same. You may find it changes with the season, depending on the current climate. If dry skin is new to you, pack away the products you’re currently using and select skin care that targets dry complexions.

• Product pick: ATOPALM MLE Skin Repair Kit is the perfect collection for skin that’s battling winter-induced dryness. It includes soothing, replenishing products for the face and body.

6. Always apply a night-time moisturizer. If you have dry skin, you’ll notice a world of difference when you start adding a moisturizer to your nightly routine. Not only will your skin feel hydrated, but you’ll have less visible lines and wrinkles.

• Product pick: Murad Perfecting Night Cream is a rich moisturizer that restores lost moisture and rejuvenates the skin while you sleep.

Scalp and hair

7. Use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. Look for hair care products that are specifically made for dry hair. When applying the conditioner, massage the product onto your scalp with your fingertips. Doing this will help to hydrate your scalp, stimulate oil glands and remove flakes.

• Product pick: Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner hydrate dry hair, reviving dull tresses and adding shine.

8. Exfoliate your scalp. If you’re struggling with flakes and an itchy scalp, an exfoliating product might help, suggests Dave Alexander, guide to About Men’s Hair. You can use a mild facial exfoliator or a product specifically designed for your scalp.

• Product pick: Use Korres Green Silt & Carollina Oligoelements several times a month to help exfoliate dead skin, reduce flakes and encourage shine.

9. Don’t scratch the itch. Scratching your scalp can cause scratches or abrasions, leading to infection. If you have patches of extra-itchy skin, apply a small amount of hydrocortisone to the affected areas to provide itch relief and allow your scalp to heal.

Hands and feet

10. Always wear gloves outside. The cold weather can instantly dry out your skin, leaving your hands prone to cracking. Wearing gloves is an easy way to protect your hands from the elements.

11. Treat them before bed. Apply a thick layer of lotion to your hands and feet right before you go to bed. Cover your feet with a pair of cotton socks and your hands with a pair of cotton gloves. Your once dry, cracked hands and feet will be supple and soft by morning.

• Product pick: BABOR Hand and Foot Soother is a powerful remedy that heals dramatically dry, cracked skin and reduces the calluses on your feet.

12. Find a favorite hand lotion and use it. Hand soaps not only eliminate germs, but they can also zap the skin of its moisture. Be sure to apply a rich cream after washing your hands to replenish lost moisture. Keep your cream handy by the sink and in your purse.

• Product pick: Perricone MD Hand Lipid Replenishment is a fast-absorbing moisturizer for use on excessively dry areas, including the hands, feet, knees and elbows.

See also:

Beating the 9 Most Common Winter Skin Blahs

5 Tips for Winter Skin Survival

Beauty Tips and Tricks for Radiant Winter Skin