Winter style & beauty care tips With winter also comes along the romantic weather...just perfect to cuddle up with your sweetheart by the fireside rug. This season ushers crisp mornings and frosty nights ...streets, covered with dry leaves, and cool breeze tingling your face. But with all these pleasures also show up dry skin, chapped lips and flaky scalp. The worry is to maintain healthy and vital-looking skin. Low temperature and humidity, indoor heating, dry recycled air and outdoor exposure can make skin lose its moist, healthy glow. Cold, dry winter air is very damaging to skin because it literally removes all moisture. That explains why skin tends to feel itchy and dry and even cracks painfully in the colder months. All these ailments can be pretty embarrassing and of course, bring much discomfort as well. The dry and itchy feeling can pretty much get on your nerves. But with a few handy tips and regular care you can confront the most bitter of winters with a soft, supple and glowing face day after day. Here are some FAQs for winter skin care and tips for a 'winter-proof' skin. Should sunscreen be applied during winters? Yes, make sure you apply sunscreen every morning. The sunscreen that you use must have a SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of 30 and above, with UVA and UVB protection. Sunscreens contain moisturisers, which prevent skin from going dry. It, thus, serves the dual-purpose of moisturising the skin as well as protecting it from harmful ultraviolet rays. Why does skin turn dry in winter? The humidity level in the atmosphere falls drastically in winter, resulting in loss of skin moisture as well. This inevitably causes dry skin, chapped lips and flaky scalp. People with oily skin are affected to a certain extent whereas, but those with dry skin face severe irritation.   Here are some tips to help keep dry winter skin at bay and looking its vest: Use a mild facial cleanser. Dove and Basis are both good, non-drying choices. Switch to a richer facial moisturiser. Drier times call for more intense moisturisers. Avoid exfoliating. The dry air in many homes actually exfoliates skin. So you need to moisturise. Apply moisturiser to damp skin after showering. After patting -- not wiping off-- your body with a towel, slather on a rich cream. Pare down your shower schedule. Long, hot showers can rob your skin of much-needed moisture. To avoid this, shower as infrequently as possible -- every other day if you feel comfortable. Also, keep showers short and opt for warm water over hot. Run a humidifier in the bedroom. Letting a humidifier run while you sleep will help by putting moisture back into the air. Don't skip the sunscreen. You can't protect yourself enough from the sun so don't be lulled into thinking that the rays aren't reaching you in winter. Continue to apply sunscreen, or a moisturiser with sunscreen, daily. Dry and cracking hands and feet are common in colder months. To treat hands, reduce the frequency of hand washing (which saps moisture from skin) and apply a Hand Cream. For feet, apply an antibiotic ointment, while feet are still damp after shower. Skin really takes a beating from wind and cold and needs extra protection -- for example, an Active Daily Moisturiser Lotion with SPF 15. If you have dry skin, consider changing your moisturiser to one that heightens moisturisation - especially women who participate in winter sports or spend time with children outdoors. For those with oily skin, not much change in regimen is necessary, unless you're being exposed to harsh outdoor elements. Stay with a light moisturiser, preferably one with a beta hydroxy acid (BHA) whose gentle exfoliating properties lift away dull skin for a more radiant complexion. However, do not exfoliate with scrubs or masks as frequently as in warmer months. As the area around the eyes can become dryer too, make sure they are receiving optimal moisturisation. Factor in individual skin type and geographic location when adapting your skincare regimen for winter. If your skin is dry, you'll be more prone to suffering the effects of harsh weather. How should I alter my beauty regimen as winter approaches? Wash your face with a mild cleanser and rinse with lukewarm water. Skip antibacterial soaps and very hot water - both strip essential moisture from your skin. If you have really dry skin, avoid toners as they dry it out even more. If you have oily or normal skin, try a clarifying astringent. Apply a water-based moisturiser while your skin is still damp to seal in moisture before it's lost. For dryer skin, use a heavier cream whereas for oilier skin, use a light lotion.   Exfoliate once a week to remove flaky skin. Specially designed paraffin facials or clean-ups are available in the market, which deeply moisturises the skin, keeping it soft and supple for days on end. These facials are available at 'Iz' skin and hair clinic in Mumbai. A simple and effective way to safeguard your skin is to wear clothes with long sleeves, protecting it from dry wind. So chill out and don't let sore skin dampen your festive spirits. The above tips assure you of that fresh and ever-glowing look all through the chill!