6 Ways to Wake Up A Winter Face

There are two faces of winter: One is the rosy-cheeked flush you get after an invigorating afternoon in the chilly outdoors; the other is pale and lifeless, the unfortunate result of spending lots of time in overheated, desert-dry rooms. The cold, hard truth is that most of us fall into the latter category. "The low outdoor humidity and dry indoor heat draw moisture from our skin," says Jeannette Graf, M.D., a dermatologist in Great Neck, New York. "When skin isn't hydrated, the process of cell turnover is disrupted, allowing flakes to pile up—and skin to be robbed of its dewy sheen." Forget about trying to cover up winter-induced damage with a little extra foundation and blush. "Makeup just exacerbates the look of flaky skin because it sits on top of it, making your face appear even chalkier," says New York makeup artist Alison Raffaele. But don't give up on getting a fresh-faced glow. All you need to lift skin out of the deep freeze are a few simple tweaks to your daily facial routine, followed by some easy makeup tricks. The result? Revived radiance.

Take Exfoliation Up A Notch
To uncover healthy skin, you must buff the dry, wintry stuff away. "Removing dull cells reveals the new skin underneath, helps keep pores clear of trapped debris, and makes moisturizers and anti-aging products penetrate your skin better," explains Graf. To tackle this rougher, tougher skin, you need something strong, like a weekly at-home microdermabrasion treatment. For normal and combination skin, crushed crystal particles are a good choice because they effectively whisk away dead cells without stripping skin of protective oils. Find them in Philosophy's Microdelivery peel kit ($65; philosophy.com). If your skin is oily or acne-prone, look for products with salicylic acid to cleanse pores, too. Try DermaNew Acne & Oil clarifying system ($70; sephora.com) with a battery-operated, rotating skin-buffing head. For sensitive, easily irritated skin, choose something gentler, like the ultrafine crystals in Physicians Formula Mineral MicroDermabrasion system ($29.95; at drugstores). A caveat for all skin types: If skin is red, stinging, or burning, avoid exfoliation until the condition is resolved--it will only further irritate skin.