By Helen Alexander
Cold, windy days and rainy nights — yep, winter is officially upon us. It might be tempting to hide away under the doona and wait for it all to be over, but by sticking to a healthy diet, fitness and skincare regime, you'll be reaping the rewards come summer. Your Beauty Spot shows you how.
Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise
Wind, rain, cold and indoor heating mean one thing: skin dehydration. "Skin is more easily wrinkled when dry, but more supple and youthful when moist," the Dermatology Institute of Victoria says.
The answer? Winter-proof your skin by applying an easily absorbed moisturiser all over your body twice a day, and pick a product with a broad-spectrum SPF to protect your face — just because you can't see the sun, damaging UVB rays are still present.
Exfoliating or dry-brushing are great ways of encouraging cell renewal, sending moisture-rich cells to the skin's surface.
As tempting as it might be to hop in a steaming shower or bath, exposure to hot water strips your skin of the natural oils that help maintain its moisture balance. Follow consultant dermatologist Dr Elizabeth Dawes-Higgs' advice: "Use a thicker moisturiser, turn the heating down and take short showers."
You can also combat the drying impact of indoor heating by plugging in a humidifier to add moisture to the air in your home — your skin and hair will thank you for it.
Attention to detail
Just because you've swapped your singlet for a scarf, don't forget about the bits of you that are still on show. Hands are often neglected, so pop a tube of moisturiser (containing cocoa or shea butter) in your bag and reapply throughout the day.
Check the ingredients in your skincare products: avoid items that contain drying fragrance oils, alcohol and any other harsh unnatural ingredients, and ditch water-based cleansers in favour of gentle creams and lotions.
Keep smiling — it's time to treat cracked, chapped lips, and moisturising balms containing honey and nourishing plant and fruit extracts (such as macadamia oil and aloe) are the way forward.
And if you find your luscious locks turn into a brittle bird's nest the minute the mercury drops, don't despair — help is on hand! Fight the frizz with the help of a leave-in conditioner (especially if you are a straightening-iron fan), weekly hydrating treatments and a hat to keep your bounce protected against the elements.
Fighting fit
Those bikini-clad summer days might be a hazy memory, but that's not an excuse to let your fitness regime slide. Keep out the cold and hit the gym, sign up for an exercise class and dig out those old aerobics DVDs.
Kick the comfort food habit into shape — a daily dose of fruit, vegetables, nuts and omega-3-filled fatty fish will build up your immunity, keeping nasty colds and sniffles at bay. Hot drinks might be a great way to stay warm, but go easy on the caffeine and replace that post-lunch flat white with a herbal tea.
And come rain or shine, it's always important to drink plenty of water — eight glasses a day during winter will help keep skin hydrated.
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