Below are a few tips and information to keep your skin healthy and  in top condition this winter.
 
 The weather has changed, the time has changed in much of the US and it's also time to tweak your skin care routine to protect your skin from winter's cold. For some of us cold weather can leave our skin dry, scaly, ashy, itchy and pale but there are things we can do to eliminate or at least lessen winters bite on our skin. The heat in our homes and offices during winter months can cause our skin to be a little drier and dull. A home or room humidifier can help put moisture in the air and make our homes a little more skin friendly, this is also great for those with allergies and asthma. Put a humidifier on your gift list, give one to your girlfriend, or give yourself one.
 
 You should not change from your regular routine of daily facial cleansing, toning and moisturizing but if your skin has dry scaly patches or a dull appearance a gentle exfoliant will help. Dry skin types should use a gentle scrub up to two times a week, oily skin types can exfoliate more frequently if needed. Start using a moisturizer for your skin type that contains gentle fruit based alpha and or beta hydroxy acids to not only provide moisture but gentle exfoliation of dead skin cells, this will keep those dry patches away. Fruit based acids are gentle yet effective and definitely less irritating than the chemical variety. All skin types should use at least one natural fruit based hydroxy acid facial skin care product.
 
 Provide additional daily moisture to your skin by using a hydrating mist for your skin type, the environment in your home or office is zapping the moisture out of your skin everyday, you will be surprised how much this benefits all skin types. Increase internal hydration by drinking bottled water and natural fruit juices throughout the day.
 
 Tweak your night time moisturizing routine a little if your skin is very dry by using a richer moisturizer or combining moisturizers. Be careful with this you don't want to over do it, less is better to start with until you get an idea of how much or what combination is good for your skin. It is important that your skin is allowed to breathe during sleep so don't smother it. Massage your treatments/moisturizers one at a time into your skin until they are completely absorbed. In most cases you should wait at least 5-10 minutes before applying the second moisturizing product. Keeping your skin clean is important if you decide to try this, adding additional moisturizers may clog your pores leading to other problems if your cleansing routine is not carefully followed or you use the wrong combination of products.
 
 Avoid using harsh soaps and strong cleansers that leave your skin depleted of moisture and strip its natural oils. Use gentle non-soap based cleansers that have moisture restoring nutrients and ingredients. The same goes for your toners and mist, avoid alcohol and other harsh ingredients, look for moisture restoring ingredients.
 
 A moisture mask is yet another option for combating dry itchy skin. Start with clean skin, I suggest using an herbal steam to open your pores, stimulate your skin and also prepare your skin for absorbing the mask. Follow the masks directions and you may want to follow with a toner to remove any excess.
 
 With all that said the last tip is don't forget your sun protection, wearing a daytime moisturizer that has sun block or sunscreen is a great way to get protection and moisturizing in one product. If not using such a cream you should add a sun protection product even on rainy cloudy days. Your skin will reward you later with fewer, if any, wrinkles and sunspots.
 
 I hope these tips and information helps you to have a winter with beautiful radiant healthy looking skin. The good thing is we only have a few months to go until spring when we can open the windows and tweak our skin care routine once again.
 
 Winter Foot Care Tips
 The time of wearing sandals has once again come and gone and it's time to get accustomed to wearing our shoes, boots, hose and socks all day (yuck). Winter foot care is just as important as summer care even though our feet are hidden from view. Dry cracking heels, foot odor and fungus are probably the main concerns.
  
 We should continue our weekly foot care ritual including a therapeutic soak during which we can exfoliate and remove hard dead skin and smooth any rough areas. It's a good time to inspect your feet for corns, calluses or signs of other problems and trim and file your toe nails. Give your feet a massage from heel to toe using a cream and/or oil made just for feet. When they are dry put on a pair of clean socks to help them absorb the oil/cream and to keep them soft and looking good. A few nights a week you can exfoliate the rough areas on your feet while in the shower afterwards oil and cream them and put on a clean pair of socks to retire in for the evening. They will be much happier the next day when you put on your shoes. There is nothing worse to deal with all day than hurting angry feet; the longer the day the more they hurt.
  
 It's hard to keep your feet dry in the winter; everything from sweating inside our shoes to walking in snow or rain keep them moist and a breeding ground for odor and bacteria if we are not careful. On those days when you will be walking in snow or rain take an extra pair of dry socks with you so you can change them when you're inside. If possible take your shoes off and let them dry before putting them back on. When drying your feet don’t miss the areas in between the toes because that’s where moisture can lead to problems. A little baking soda in your shoes and socks will help keep your feet dryer and help with odor too. I am always dumping some in the shoes of my companion now he asks for it if I forget.
 
  Stress and Your Skin
 As the holidays are approaching some of us are already getting pretty stressed with all the demands of the season. If you have skin problems such as acne, psoriasis, eczema or rosacea you may be experiencing increased irritation and flare-ups during this time that could be caused by stress. Per some skin care experts there is a definite mind-body connection that can cause our emotions to wreak havoc on our skin.
 
 If this is an issue for you, I know that trying to relax is easier said than done so perhaps some other techniques will help. Try to get in some exercise, it does not have to be strenuous or outside your home, just enough to help you relax and work off some tension. One expert suggest using your mind by thinking pleasant thoughts, well don't frown it just may work. Try thinking of a wonderful vacation you have had or want to have in the future, think about something or someone that makes you feel warm and fuzzy, now isn't that better.
 
 The point is we can minimize some of the skin issues we have by better managing the stresses in our lives, try it and let us know how it works for you.
 
 Vitamins & Minerals
 Have you taken your multi-vitamin today? Just one quality multi-vitamin supplement a day can have a positive affect on your health and skin when used in combination with other healthy living practices. Visit our Healthy Living Corner for more on this topic. Whichever multi-vitamin you choose, make sure it’s water soluble and have all the base nutrients and minerals, also look for the addition of antioxidants, amino acids and other important nutrients which are important to the health of skin and body.

Add fish oil and evening primrose supplements to ensure you are getting adequate amounts of essential fatty acids Omega 6 and Omega 3 which are not produced by the body and can only be obtained from diet or supplements. These will also assist with hormonal imbalance that affects many women. Deficiency of essential fatty acids and their metabolites have been linked to skin conditions like acne, eczema, rosacea, psoriasis and other inflammatory skin disorders.

There is quite a bit of research that clearly shows a link between skin condition and nutrition just how these all fit together is not totally known.

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These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.