Winter is hell on the skin. Dry, windy weather and relentless central heating systems suck moisture right out of the epidermis, leaving it tight, itchy and all-around uncomfortable. Under these conditions, fine lines look deeper, complexions appear rough and flaky, and no one looks or feels their best. By making a couple of simple changes to your skin care regimen, you can maintain beautiful skin in even the harshest winters.

Winter often spells disaster for your skin. It looks rough and chapped, feels tight and drawn. What should be one of your greatest assets becomes one of your biggest beauty problems. You have to take extra care for your skin during this season and with our tips you will find that having a beautiful skin is not that difficult after all.

The most important part of winter skin-care is keeping the whole body hydrated. Drink approximately 64 ounces or more of water daily. Not only does this help hydrate your skin to prevent dryness and itching, but there are other health benefits too numerous too mention here. (You've probably heard them dozens of times anyway?)Limit the amount of caffeine and alcohol you intake; these act as diuretics releasing fluid from the body. Using a moisturizer on the face is important, but so is having the proper sun protection. Many moisturizers have ratings between 8 and 15 SPF. If the sun is shining on the snow, you may need even more protection. It's also a good idea to exfoliate once a week to get rid of flaky skin. Use a type of scrub that's made for your skin type ? and always remember to be gentle. With the heat on and the windows closed, the air inside can become very dry in the winter, making the dryness and itching of eczema even worse. Use a humidifier to place moisture in the air. If you don't want to invest in an expensive humidifying system, smaller, relatively inexpensive humidifiers can be obtained at a local drug store. Placing two or three of these around your home will help to humidify the dry air. This can keep skin from drying and becoming cracked and itchy.

Exfoliate Twice a Week

Because the cold climates are so hard on the skin, you will find instances of flaking skin during this time. This is your body's natural reaction to skin cells that have died off, and it can be controlled with exfoliation. Not only does this technique wash away dead skin cells, but it also promotes the growth of new skin. While this is an excellent strategy to combat occurrences of dry skin, it must be used in moderation. Exfoliating more than twice a week can lead to skin irritation, so you need to be cautious if you notice any adverse effects.

Get Some Extra Rest

It is not always easy to make time in our hectic lives for sleep, but a little extra rest can go a long way to curing those dark eye circles and fine lines on your face. Even if you can't afford to sleep in an extra hour everyday, you can still provide your body with additional rest by simply taking a short break in your day. Relax your tensions and close your eyes for ten or fifteen minutes during your lunch hour. It may not seem like a lot, but by giving your face muscles a break from their tension will help ward off the sings of aging.

Before Going Outside in Winter - Apply a heavy layer of moisturizing broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher to the face, hands, and any other skin that may be exposed. This will act as a barrier to help protect against the harsh elements and is especially important if you will be outside for any length of time. Sunscreen is important in winter as the sun's reflective powers are great year round - 17% on the sand and 80% on the snow. Today, several products are available that combine oily, moisturizing cream with sunscreen. If you are unsure of which product to use, ask a dermatologist.