DON'T FLAKE OUT
There may be an inclination in the winter to stop exfoliating, both in professional treatments and as part of a home care regimen. This is a mistake, says Garner. "For two reasons. First, the skin is first and foremost an organ of elimination. If dead cell debris collects on the surface of the skin, toxins and perspiration cannot be eliminated properly. And, if you're dealing with lots of build-up, treatments and moisturizers can't penetrate effectively."

Of course, don't scrub with anything abrasive, especially when skin is dry and sensitized (many scrubs contain ground-up apricot pits and shells, which actually scratch the skin, causing irritating micro-tears.)

BEAUTY BOOST
"Professional boosters and serums are always important, but in winter, I'd say they are essential," says Garner, explaining that boosters or serums are defined as concentrates which penetrate deeply into the skin to deliver superior benefits, even when used in very small amounts.

JUST LIKE A JAR OF HOMEMADE JELLY
Seal in the goodness with paraffin this winter. Whether treating the face or the hands, Garner recommends a paraffin masque. "Because of its large molecular size, none of the paraffin enters the skin," she says. "It simply seals in the product beneath it, such as a booster or serum, preventing oxygen from interacting with the product and causing it to evaporate. And, the heat of the warm wax improves circulation and feels comforting to the client, especially in winter."

SILENCE THE LAMBS
Remember as a kid rejecting Nana's hand-knit birthday sweater because it felt scratchy? Nearly all wool products retain some of their natural lanolin content, and this sheepy weather-proofer, while perfect for sheep, is highly allergenic for many people. If a client complains about mysterious irritation or itching around the wrists, neck and under the arms, where a woolen sweater would have prolonged contact with the skin, suggest that they switch to cashmere (or acrylic fibers), or try a layer of cotton underneath their woolies. The symptoms may disappear. In terms of reading the ingredient rundown on product labels, beeswax and castor oil are as deeply lubricating as lanolin, and without the potential irritation.

NOT FOR SKIIERS ONLY
The winter sun may look and feel feeble, but don't kid yourself-remember what it did to Frosty the Snowman. Use SPF protection, year-round. The combination of UV exposure with extremes of temperature, wind and dryness can leave skin looking and feeling like beef jerky. The eye area is especially vulnerable, as always, so seek out multi-tasking products which moisturize, contain UV protection, and also give pasty winter skin a perky glow with optical diffusers or a hint of tint.

SEEING RED
Icicles on your breath, followed by hot toddies before a roaring fire? According to www.rosacea.org, 14 million Americans have rosacea and don't know it. Extremes of temperature may also trigger the symptoms. If a client's "rosy cheeks" or flush become persistent or pronounced, you may want to discuss this disorder which actually begins as circulatory imbalance of the capillaries, and can have serious health implications.

HYDRATE…
Avoid water-based moisturizers which literally can freeze on the skin!

HUMIDITY IS OUR FRIEND
While it isn't necessary to recreate the atmosphere of a Costa Rican rain forest, invest in a home vaporizer for the bedroom at the very least ( a small one for the office would also be a great idea). In the winter, our mucus membranes and nasal passages get crispy from breathing superdry air, so humidifiers can help the inside as well as the outside. Garner comments "Even a small indoor fountain, which may be a more pleasant-looking alternative, will introduce some needed moisture into the air."

HOW DRY I AM
Alcohol is bad news, both inside and out. Alcohol applied topically to the skin is drying (although it may trigger sebum overproduction, which causes problems of its own). Remember that cocktails deplete the skin's natural moisture. Drink water - though the experts now disagree about how much: some say that eight glasses a day flush away too many nutrients - and orange juice with pulp.