Winter Skin Care 101 (Plus Twitter Giveaways!)

When the mercury drops, the cold can wreak havoc on your skin, hair, hands & nails - leaving your complexion (and you) feeling dull and lifeless. "The change to colder winter temperatures and dry air invariably leads to the return of drier and itchier skin," confirms Jean Louise Lilly, Director of Product Development and Marketing at Votre Vu, a new line of skin and body care.

"This is that dreaded time of year when last summer's ‘faux glow’ has worn off, clothing layers are piled on quickly out of the shower, and limbs are generally covered up 24/7, leading to neglect." By piling on the layers to stay warm, you actually end up sweating more; your clothing then wicks away the water, causing more of your body's precious moisture to be depleted. "Just because your skin is not being showcased doesn't mean that you shouldn't treat it properly," Lilly continues. "Your skin care regimen for the winter should definitely involve switching to oil-based products. Many facial and body lotions are water based and those just don't hydrate the skin as well as an oil based product will, keeping it resilient and healthy. Look for moisturizers for the face, hair and body that contain naturally healing essential oils from botanicals, fruits and nuts. By nature, these oils sink deeper into your pores and soothe your skin. Many also contain natural elements that are great for anti-aging and healthy cell turnover, keeping you looking and feeling your best, even if you are always fully dressed."

To restore your pre-winter glow, increase the TLC part of your skincare regime with products that contain a high percentage of natural ingredients and multitask on face, skin and body. Here are a few of our faves:

CLEANSE GENTLY We recommend shu uemura Cleansing Beauty Oil, a two-in-one cleanser and makeup remover that thoroughly cleanses the skin while protecting it against the all the internal and external aggressions associated with harsh weather. Healing tea tree oil jojoba oil, and macadamia oil help hydrate and prevent stripping of the skin's natural oils.

GET THE GLOW Oscar winner Marisa Tomei and actor James Brodie both love Votre Vu's Tragic Magic Rescue Cream which is designed to correct excessive sensitivity, helping highly-reactive skin by restoring equilibrium to the self-defending barrier. Jojoba, rose hips, calophyllum, soja and avocado insaponifiables protect and balance skin's defenses and, while vitamin E defends against cell-damaging free radicals and helps re-hydrate the skin back to a level of moisture that is more balanced.

MOISTURIZE, MOISTURIZE...(& DID WE MENTION MOISTURIZE?) Ojon Tawaka Ancient Tribal Rejuvenating Cream can be used on both body and hair to restore firmness, elasticity, and vital hydration. Created with wild-crafted ingredients from the Amazon, it's sulfate- & paraben-free, protecting against free-radicals and replenishing lost skin oils but with no oily residue. The perfect canvas for makeup, it helps reduce the look of fine lines and extends the life of makeup. And best of all, it doesn't clog pores.

HEALTHY, HAPPY HAIR (FOR LESS): Tresses troubled? Reach for the olive oil! Loaded with fast-absorbing unsaturated fat and vitamins A&E, this longtime folk remedy affordably (and effectively!) beautifies skin, hands, nails, diet, and hair. Mario Russo of Boston's Salon Mario Russo offers up this DIY recipe: after shampooing, rinse your hair with a mix of olive oil and an egg (1/2 cup to 3/4 cup oil; 1 egg - beaten). Leave on for 30 minutes & be sure to slip on a plastic cap. Depending on the degree of damage, repeat monthly or even weekly. “If you don't like the smell," adds Mario, "you can always mix it with a little of your favorite hand, body, or hair lotions." He also recommends keeping olive oil-infused products on hand - like his own Mario Russo Intensive Hair Care Creme. (image: source)

DON'T FORGET FEET & HANDS Winter is harsh on your extremities, so keep them moisturized with Loccitane’s cult-fave L'Occitane Shea Hand Cream & Foot Cream duo. Enriched with 20% shea butter, this super-creamy balm penetrates quickly to protect, nourish, and moisturize. Honey, almond, and coconut oil are blended with shea butter to create this unique and extremely effective moisturizer. This set includes 1 oz. each of Shea Butter Hand Cream & Shea Butter Foot Cream.

NICE NAILS Perk up winter-weary nails with some pampering from the grocery aisle. Narine Nikogosian, author of Return to Beauty: Old-World Recipes for Great Radiant Skin melts 2 Tablespoons of unsalted butter in the microwave for 1-2 seconds, mixes in 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, and has her clients (which include Jessica Alba, Charlize Theron, and Alfre Woodard) soak their fingers for 10 minutes. "Apple cider may taste bitter," she acknowledges, "but it's a proven nail builder. And butter is the best hydrator."

WHEN CHAPSTICK ISN'T ENOUGH Cold, low-humidity environments can leave lips dry, wrinkled, sensitive...and anything but luscious. We love Cover FX Mint Glaze FX lip balm - which received a Best of 2009 Fashiontribes Editor's Fave award - that hydrates and and provides sun protection.

Editor’s Tip: Oil-based products aren’t suited for everyone. If your skin is temperamental, prone to break outs or highly sensitive we recommend Philosophy Makeup Optional. An all-in-one kit, it contains everything you need to hydrate skin and minimize fine lines. Contains an 8 oz size Purity Made Simple (a one-step facial wash); peptide-rich and oil-free firming & lifting When Hope is Not Enough (1 oz); gently- hydrating Hope In A Jar Therapeutic Moisturizer For Dry Sensitive Skin (2 oz); Hope In A Tube High-Density Eye And Lip Firming Cream (.5 oz); plus a three-week supply of Microdelivery Peel.

WIN STUFF! What is your biggest skincare concern during winter? Have your own tip? The two best individual tweets (from two different tweeters) mentioning this post & @fifthsensenyc - and following @fashiontribes - will each win Cover FX’s Mint Glaze or Votre Vu’s Tragic Magic.

- Michelyn Camen, Editor at Large