Winter is a wonderful time of the year - holidays, warm fires, crisp air, and for many, fresh fallen snow. But the colder temperature and lower humidity affect the condition of your skin and hair. Lower humidity just goes along with colder temperatures even if you live in a more temperate area without snow.

Here are some suggestions for winter skin care to protect your skin and hair:

1. Sun protection is very important in the winter months, just as it is year-round. Many people forget to use sunscreen, but sun reflects off snow and ice, and you can actually get double the sun exposure.

2. Sun Glasses are even more important in the winter around snow. Believe me, you don't want to know the agony of being snow blind. Without sun glasses, you squint and that lead to wrinkles around your eyes.

3. Elbows, knees, and feet are completely covered in the winter months, and usually forgotten until spring. Clothing and boots can cause friction that creates a buildup of thick skin. A good scrubbing with a natural lofah sponge, followed by a rich cream will remove any problems here.

4. The skin on your hands is thinner than on other areas of your body. Hands needs extra protection and winter skin care. Make sure that after washing your hands you dry them and use a good hand cream. Wearing gloves outdoors will also protect them and keep your skin soft.

5. Public restrooms with their hot air dryers and paper towels may be more sanitary but they are definitely hard on your hands. Carry a small tube of your favorite hand lotion in your purse.

6. Protecting your lips with a good lip balm is good winter skin care. Avoid licking your lips as much as possible, since that will cause your lips to crack and chap. Drink more water to give your lips moisture. If you get a bad case of chapped or cracked lips, use a good herbal lip balm before bed, and you should be good to go in the morning.

7. Winter winds and low humidity are also hard on your hair, and using a rich, deep hair conditioner is important to restore moisture to your hair. If you wash your hair every day, during the winter try washing it every other day. Brushing your hair every night will move the oil from your scalp onto the hair making it look healthier.

For more tips and some unusual natural products to soften skin see the rest of this article.