Moisturize! Moisturize! Moisturize!
You've heard it before, and we're here to tell you again. Use a daily face cream or coverup that has SPF protection against UVA rays. Believe it or not, even though its not beach season, the rays still manage to reach our skin. At night, try using a heavier cream, as you won't be hydrating (internally or externally) for ideally 8 hours. Night time is also the perfect time to slather cream on those forgotten feet and hard working hands – not having them in use during this time increases it's chance to soak into your skin faster. For body care, moisturize immediately following your bath or shower, to best lock in moisture. Coconut oil (yes, the same kind you eat), shea butter, seabuckthorn oil, aloe, almond oil, calendula, and vitamin E are all great things to look for when buying a moisturizer.

Keep it clean AND hydrated.
Cut back on aggressive skin treatments during the winter months. This means exfoliating only once a week. This is a perfect time to use hydrating masques instead of clay-based ones, which can be more drying. Avoid alcohol based toners or astringents that can strip necessary oils and moisture from the skin.

Cleanse your face no more than twice a day, and try switching things up! While you may be treating your skin for oil control in the summer, in the winter months you may want to opt out for a hydrating cleaning milk instead. When buying skin care products, always look for fragrance free, or something that contains essential oils instead; the word “Fragrance” may smell lovely, but it’s extremely irritating to the skin. Same goes for body wash, look for something with goat milk, shea butter, or emu oil, these are all great moisturizers for winter skin. One more thing –make sure you don't shower in HOT water, as it only exacerbates dry skin. Yes it's hard to do when it’s freezing cold outside, but even if you switch to warm water it will help maintain moisture. And if you can bare it, end your shower with a shot of cold water (Brrr!!!) it does wonders.

Your skin is a reflection of what you EAT!
Drink water!
You want your skin to look hydrated? Then you better HYDRATE! The amount of water you need will vary based on age, weight, and physical activity – the general rule: drink enough to keep your urine a pale yellow (like straw) colour. If you take b vitamins you may notice your urine is bright yellow, no matter how much you drink (don't worry, this is normal!). If you prefer hot beverages, try herbal tea, instead. It counts as a glass of H20!

Healthy fats!
Moisturize from the inside out, by regularly eating healthy omega 3 fatty acids, such as fish, or fish oil and flax, or flax oil. Healthy fat-rich foods, such as nuts and avocados, can also go a long way in keeping skin looking nourished and glowing.

A,C,E, and Selenium
Foods high in vitamins A, C, E and selenium keep your skin healthy, radiant and well-protected from oxidative damage. Vitamin A increases the rate of skin turnover; sweet potatoes are also a great source of vitamin A. Vitamin C promotes collagen, and vitamin E is secreted on the skin's surface - for protection and moisture. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin, so eat your greens with a little oil. Selenium helps promote glutathione action, an antioxidant extraordinaire, fighting inflammation, aging, and skin cancers, all caused by free radical damage. Two Brazil nuts a day will give you a healthy dose of selenium – who knew!

Lifestyle matters
Don’t underestimate the importance of SLEEP, a healthy diet, and regular exercise, when it comes to your SKIN. All of these are essential. Growth hormone is released while we sleep, necessary for tissue repair. When we don't get enough, even our skin pays the price. Sleep deprivation has been shown to age the skin, leading to dullness, fine lines and dark circles under the eyes. Diet and exercise are often overlooked, ignored or put aside during the winter months. Focus on fruits and veggies. If you aren’t up for a salad when its cold out, make a hot salad by lightly steaming some kale, broccoli and bok choy, top with pine nuts, and dress it with a sesame oil, garlic, soy sauce and honey dressing. Yum! If you can't make it to the gym, throw on your snowsuit and get outside… winter sports are fun AND an effective exercise.

The skin is our largest ORGAN – give it some well-deserved pampering this winter!