Seven Winter Skin Care Solutions

Living in Chicago, I know all about winter--below-zero temperatures, biting winds, big dumps of snow. I also know about the havoc winter conditions can cause to one's skin, the dryness, chapping, and even wind burn. Winter can be just as bad indoors, where the blasting furnaces dry out the air and sap the moisture from your skin. As the season changes into harsher winter, here are seven tips for proper skin care.

No harsh cleansers. The winter weather and dry indoor heat are hard enough on your skin, so you want cleansers that are gentle as possible while still being effective. Liquid cleansers are generally less drying than bar soaps. Two good options for winter skin care are Neutrogena's Extra Gentle Cleanser, which moisturizes as it cleans, and Clinique's dermatologist-tested Liquid Facial Cleanser, which cleans without stripping away the skin's natural defenses.

Neutrogena also carries an excellent alcohol-free toner to add to a winter skin care regime. It cleans skin well and goes deep into pores, but without that tightening feeling or over-drying of the skin.

Moisturize! Between the weather, wind, and increased hand washing to prevent the spread of cold germs, hands take a particular beating. Elbows and knees get dry. Everyday skin care lotions don't always do the trick. For hands and particularly for dry legs, I prefer Curel's Ultra-Healing lotion in the blue bottle. Apply it right after a shower or bath, and it goes on smooth and holds in the moisture for the whole day.

If your hands are particularly dry or damaged, and lotion just isn't enough, Eucerin has the intense Aquafor Healing Ointment. Thicker and more binding than lotion, this helps repair severely cracked or chapped hands and lips.

It may sound strange, but one of the best and least expensive skin care solutions I've found for severely dry hands is plain Vaseline. It's not fancy and it can be greasy, but it protects and allows natural healing. Apply it to the backs of both hands at night before bed. Wear thin cotton gloves to protect bed linens. In the morning, you'll find your hands are now ten times smoother!