In the winter, it’s important to keep your skin moisturized.

Winter is hard on your skin. Cold, dry wind and indoor heating strips the skin of all its natural oils, leaving it defenseless. The skin is a barrier between you and the outside world. Here are a few tips to help your keep skin strong and smooth through the winter months.

Update Your Regimen

Skin changes several times a year as our bodies react to our environment. A skin-care regimen should be seasonal; adjusting accordingly to weather conditions to protect you from the elements. Just as your skin needs more sunscreen in the summer, it needs more moisture in the winter. The moisturizer that sufficed in other seasons won't be enough to nourish your skin in the cold. Upgrade your summer moisturizer to something more intensive.

Scrub Dry Skin Away

As you age, cell generation slows down, causing dead skin cells to pile up on the surface of skin, leaving skin dull and limiting product absorption. For your skin to properly accept the moisture it needs to handle the extremes of winter, you need to sweep those cells away. Exfoliation, like hydration, should be part of your year-round regimen; however, you need to change scrub recipes need for winter use. Try a simple DIY scrub of honey, sugar and olive oil. It works great for chapped lips, too. Limit exfoliation to once a week during cold months so you don't irritate your sensitive skin.

If you're looking for products that will not only moisturize the skin, but strengthen and repair the moisture barrier, I recommend Clinique's Moisture Surge products. Simple products are a good substitute for skin-care mavens on a budget.