Did you know?

• Nails grow faster during daytime and in the summer months and slower at night and in winter.
• Manicures date back 4000 years, while nail polish dates back to around 3000BC in China. During the Ming Dynasty, the favourite colours of the elite were red and black.
• 90 per cent of the hairs on your head are growing right now. 10 per cent are taking a break.
• Over a 24-hour period, you lose almost a million skin cells!

Harsh winter weather can take its toll on your skin. Here’s our top ten things you need to know to keep your top-to-toe glow this season:

1. Get into a good routine: Your skin has a lot to deal with every day, including wind, pollution, makeup and indoor heating. At the end of each day, it’s vital to give your face a clean and moisturised slate so it can relax and repair. Choose products designed for your skin type and follow immediately with a light moisturiser to give your skin a hydrating boost.
2. Schedule your scrubbing: Naturally clear skin starts with a gentle facial scrub, two to three times a week. “Exfoliation is important because it removes dead skin cells from the surface, leaving it feeling smoother and looking fresher,” says Teresa Hryniewiecka, Dr. LeWinn’s product development manager. “Not exfoliating enough could lead to cogging and dullness of the skin.” As for the rest of your body, scrubs can keep skin looking toned by removing dry skin, combating red bumps (keratosis) and preventing in-grown hairs caused by shaving.
3. Lighten up: “Pigmentation problems can appear in any skin type,” says Dr Claude Saliou, global research director at Johnson & Johnson, Aveeno. “Lighter skin is susceptible to more brown spots and uneven skin tone. Ageing is also a factor, showing as age-spots.” Sun spots are a visible sign of a build-up of melanin and can be addressed with a cleanser, moisturiser or spot treatment specifically made to “block the mechanism that transports melanin to the surface,” says Dr Saliou.  Winter is the best time to brighten skin as it will be more sensitive to UV rays after treatment.
4. Amp up your cleanser: A good moisturiser will only do so much if your cleanser is stripping away the good oils on your skin.  Winter is the ideal time to swap your oilfighting summer cleanser for a hydrating version, because skin shouldn’t feel dry or tight when it’s clean, just supple and soft.  Oily skin suits gel cleansers, milky
   varieties are good for combination and normal skin and thick, creamy cleansers are especially nourishing for dry skin.
5. Change acne tactics: Some products that combat pimples contain powerful ingredients to clear skin ASAP, but during the colder months they can make skin dry out unnecessarily. Now may be a good time to tone down your regimen in favour of
   gentle, acne-specific products. Start with a pH-balanced cleanser, then apply spot treatments and never skip your morning and evening moisturiser. It’s imperative to keep your skin’s hydration levels balanced – strip it of all moisture and the oil glands can kick into overdrive, producing extra oil to make up for it. This can become a vicious cycle that can lead to more acne.
6. Don’t skip SPF: While you’re rugging up against the cold, it’s easy to forget that sun
   protection is still important. But the Aussie sun is powerful, even in winter when
   it’s not directly overhead. Keep your face protected with sunscreen all day every day
   to protect against cancer and visible signs of ageing, such as lines and sun spots. Yes, that means it’s best to continue the daily SPF habit that you developed over summer – make it even easier by looking for a moisturiser with built-in sunscreen.
7. Try something natural: Natural products continue to grow in popularity, as more women realise that you can get great results while being kind to your body and the earth. Ingredients to look for: olive and avocado oils are brilliant on dry skin; aloe
   vera is incredibly moisturising and heals cracked or ultra-dry skin; and vitamin C-rich
   orange-coloured fruits and vegetables can help repair sun damage.
8. Travel right: Planning a holiday? Overheated cars, dry aeroplane cabins and outdoor
   activities can all take their toll on your skin. Pack winter essentials such as hand
   cream and moisturiser with SPF, and skin will remain supple wherever you land.
   Stock up on smaller versions of your favourite skincare essentials. One mustpack:
   cleansing facial wipes, the ultimate go-anywhere travel pal.
9. Stay smooth: It’s tempting to let body hair grow out once leggings-season hits. But unless you want to undertake a massive deforestation program when the warmer
   weather arrives, it pays to stick to your hair-removal regimen! During or after a
   warm shower or bath is best for removal, as hair is soft and the follicle is open. Depilatory creams are a cinch, pain-free and can often be applied while in the
   shower. Shaving is an easy, last-minute option: look for built-in moisturisers
   surrounding the blade. And waxing is good for longer-term results – just be sure to follow with a soothing moisturiser.
10. Keep cool and carry on: If you suffer from eczema, you know the signs when it strikes: dry, itchy and flaky skin. If left for too long, this can turn to inflamed red
    patches. Skin must be kept hydrated and cool, which is why winter is the perfect time to get eczema under control. Choose light cleansers and fragrancefree,
    rich moisturisers, and make sure you have a cream available on the go. Avoid
    any fragranced hand or body creams while you have eczema, as any scents can irritate it even more.

For more information and skin care tips, check out the skin care section of our site here.

Here are our top tips for looking your best this summer:

• Be prepared to update some of the items in your beauty bag
• Regularly exfoliate your face and body, especially if you have oily skin
• Don’t be afraid to try a self-tan
• Experiment with colour for your nails, eyes and blush but only use colour on one part of the face, eyes, lips or cheeks.
• Love the hair you have, and wear it as naturally as you can
• Use head bands or elastics for quick and easy up-styles
• Always rinse your hair in tap water after swimming
• Don’t put lemon in your hair to lighten it ( even if mum said so) – it completely dries it out.
• Invest in products to protect your hair colour and condition
• Wear sunscreen every day on all exposed areas of your body
• Keep eye and lip colours natural
• Moisturise everywhere, every day.
• Wearing cotton socks and gloves on hands and feet after moisturising once a week) can keep skin super supple.
• Enjoy the sunshine, don’t hide away completely

It’s never too early to start using sunscreen on your children.  In summer, even when they are just playing outside, Aussie  toddlers need sunscreen on exposed skin, especially the face, as the sun is so harsh.

The right sunscreen for your child must:
• Be Hypoallergenic and fragrance free
• Have Broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection
• Be water resistant, even if your child is not in the water, it will prevent sweating
• Have an SPF of 15-30 (dermotologists say you don’t need to go higher than that)
• Be easy to apply (most parents prefer sprays)
• Ideally fit into your handbag so you have it with you all the time