In the winter time, we are subjected to the cold, wind, dry air and indoor heating, which creates a less than desirable environment for our skin, hair and makeup.

Do you suffer from frizzy hair, dry, dull and flaky skin or chapped lips during the colder months? If so, you're not alone! There are many ways to lower the effects of the harsh winter elements, so read on!

1. Nourish

Feed your skin from the inside out with lots of water, vegetables and healthy fats like oily fish, avocado and nuts. If you need an extra boost, try krill oil to bring lacklustre skin back to life as it’s filled with omega 3s which make skin cell membranes strong and supple, as well as powerful antioxidants that protect the skin from free radicals as well as delivering nutrients through the body! Sounds good doesn't it? Try Blackmores Eco Krill Oil, $24.95.

2. Exfoliate

Skin gets dry during the cold season, making it look dull and lifeless, so revive it by removing flaky and dead skin! There are a lot of great scrubs on the market, I like St Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub, $9.99, this is a favourite of mine because the granules aren't fine and they don’t just lather up into nothing, they are really grainy without feeling harsh and give that excellent feeling after an exfoliation! I also encourage you to try making your own scrub - I love creating my own coffee scrub for my body with olive oil, sugar and coffee. The oil acts as an awesome skin treatment, the sugar treats and removes dry skin, and the coffee gets the blood pumping to bring some colour back through your bod!

3. Hydrate

Don’t forget to hydrate skin once you've removed any flaky outer layers. Winter time makes it a lot easier for you to use rich and luxurious moisturising creams like Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Eventone, $12.99, which serves as an intense moisturiser that also evens out skin tone!

But for girls with extra dry skin, that doesn't seem to respond to any cream or butter treatment, take a leaf out of Cleopatra’s book and try using milk. Milk contains loads of natural lipids which plump up and rehydrate skin cells. A glass or two in the bath does wonders for softening and hydrating skin, but you could also give the milk face mask a go!  Soak a facecloth in some cold milk and place it over your face for a couple of minutes - remove it to reveal soothed and replenished skin! 

4.Keep lips luscious 

Chapped lips are a huge problem for me in winter, and having a dry and cracked mouth not only looks less than desirable, but it means my makeup won't apply properly or stay on well! I love bold winter lipstick looks (and love that the colder weather means it doesn’t melt off like it does in the heat of summer), but my lips need to be a smooth surface otherwise I can't wear lipstick without looking like some form of the Joker! The best lip treatment I've ever found is Malin and Goetz lip moisturiser ($18.00). 

Cold sores: In winter you can start feeling run down as the flu season is in full swing, and this is the worst time for those of us that get the dreaded cold sores! I actually have a cold sore in this picture; I used a really bold lipstick that has a full coverage pigment to make sure no discolouration showed through. A favourite is YSL Rouge Volupte Lipstick in number 17, and if any cold sore has ventured onto the skin around your mouth, moisturise the area first to remove some of the flakiness and dab a green concealer over the top; then let it settle a few seconds and dab some of your regular concealer over the top to blend it into your natural skin colour. Be really careful not to use any product straight from the tube and wash your fingers and makeup brushes thoroughly afterwards to prevent contamination!

5. Humidify the air 

There is one more thing you can do to combat the effects of debilitating winter conditions, but it's something most people don't think to do. Pick up a humidifier, these increase humidity in the air in your home which is lost when you use heating a lot. Sometimes you can pick these up cheap second hand, so give Ebay or your local noticeboard a go.

Keep these tips in mind, and enjoy the winter months! It's easier to wear makeup during this time, so rock a bold red lip with your paler winter skin, and match it to your scarf ;)

Do you have any more tips for staying pretty during winter? If so, please share!

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