With chilly winters comes dry, cracked skin that is not only uncomfortable but prone to wrinkling and flaking.
While there are many products on the market that promote younger skin, the real beauty is in having healthy skin that is soft to the touch.
Nourished skin always looks better than skin that is too dry.
Some believe that having good skin is genetic and though that may be partly true, most people can still improve the condition of their skin with proper attention.
The best treatments are usually found in natural ingredients that can be found in grocery and health food stores.
One popular skin treatment is a body scrub.
These can be made with Dead Sea salts or natural sugar granules mixed with light oil (such as almond or sunflower).
They exfoliate the skin by removing dead skin cells.
While bathing, the scrub can be rubbed lightly into skin after washing but must be rinsed off before drying.
The results can be seen almost immediately.
Corn meal also works well as an exfoliant.
Pure aloe vera gel, also as helpful in the winter as it is the summer when it comes to keeping skin moisturized without greasiness.
Not only is it inexpensive but convenient as it can be added to bath water, massaged into skin or in a lotion or cream form.
The gel can be bought at shops or found on the inside of the leaves of the aloe plant.
For extremely dry skin, a thin layer of petroleum jelly or unscented cocoa butter can be used.
For areas such as the lips where skin cracks easily, rub in a generous amount before going to bed since this is when the temperature is likely to drop.
Olive oil and natural oils such as coconut are also very nourishing.
It is recommended to maintain a daily skin care regimen that works for each person until cold weather is nearing the end.
If you have problems such as acne, talk to a dermatologist about products that are designed for those with skin issues to avoid eruptions.