HOW TO PROTECT YOUR SKIN IN WINTER - LEARN FROM A PRO

Suddenly it happens - your face assumes a pale gray tone, your hands feel like sandpaper and your lips require endless amounts of balm. Winter is here and your skin is on strike in search of moisture. What is really going on with our body's largest organ during seasonal changes?

For each shift in climate, whether we move from fall to winter, or from summer to autumn, the skin’s production of fat changes, says Jonas Wramell.

It always starts with the skin becoming dehydrated, he says, giving the first day on the ski slopes as an example where the effect becomes particularly clear. Sure, we have all experienced how the face contracts in cold wind, and the tip of the nose is constantly red and dry. But you can overcome winter skin. The solution is to gradually get prepared by following a few simple steps.

Whatever your skin type, Wramell recommends a rich and nourishing night cream. It works much like a face mask and boosts the skin with plenty of moisture and nutrients. Moreover, the effect is long lasting - a rich night cream builds moisture barriers that continue to hydrate into the next day.

So how do you create a fresh and rosy look this winter? A good exfoliating product is a must have, says Wramell. Fluctuations in climate cause increasing production of dead skin cells and it is these that cause the matte color on the face.

He recommends using a light grainy formula for a maximum one to two times per week. More frequent use may cause unwanted results: excessive scrubbing can cause small cuts in the skin that allow bacteria to enter and cause acne.

But the absolute easiest way to maintain moisture in the winter is something we all too often forget, namely to consume enough water. How much do you need to drink in the winter when natural thirst is often easily overlooked? Opt for at least six to eight glasses of water per day as a general rule.

More tips:

• Keep the peeling creme in the shower instead of on the bathroom shelf. That way, you easily get into a routine when you shower.
• Work out! Regular exercise triggers blood circulation, even in the face - an area that is otherwise difficult to stimulate. This will help the face avoid becoming swollen.
• Opt for a day cream with SPF all year round. It not only helps shield you from the sun's rays but also protects against free radicals (harmful molecules formed during the metabolism of oxygen).