Life

Attention winter outdoor enthusiasts: Time to begin your conditioning.

So, winter is upon us. Have you started your outdoor skin-saving routine? Have you given your hair a preventive dose of moisture and nourishment?

Remember, your hair and skin are the front line against the elements when you're out skiing, sledding or skating.

That's why sunscreen is still a must every day, said Dr. Kathy Fields, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at University of California-San Francisco.

"The sun is up and shining even on a snowy day. If you see light there are UVA rays, they can cause cancer and will cause wrinkles," she said. "Sunscreen should be a habit like brushing your teeth."

Ultraviolet B rays are not as strong in the winter, but they're still a factor, too, she said.

Fields, a co-founder of the cosmeceutical skin-care line Rodan & Fields, encourages use of sunscreen with a SPF of 30 or above, and one with a base of either zinc oxide, mexoryl or avobenzone, as opposed to titanium dioxide formulas, which she said are weaker but also are recommended for babies or those with very sensitive skin.

No sunscreen, however, works to its fullest capacity if it's not reapplied throughout the day.

Cold weather outside and dry heat inside is a recipe for dry, cracked skin as it looses moisture and, with it, its barrier layer, Fields said. It's why people become susceptible to eczema and rough, itchy skin in the winter.

Preventive measures include using only gentle cleaners, exfoliating less (but not stopping completely) and using nourishing moisturizers, with either hyaluronic acid, ceramides, oatmeal or chamomile as ingredients, according to Fields. Those tend to be rich moisturizers without being greasy. It also helps to have a humidifier running in the house.

LIPS

• Go for heavier petroleum-jelly-based moisturizers, which are most effective after the lips have been polished gently with a pumice.

• Aside from keeping your lips healthy, a layer of lip gloss does wonders for your otherwise limited makeup routine, said Troy Surratt, global consulting makeup artist for Maybelline New York. He said skiers should use a long-lasting lip stain to give a hint of color with the balm on top to keep the lips hydrated.

• Color cosmetics should be kept to a minimum — a little frosted eye shadow, perhaps in a pastel color, and waterproof mascara. There's no need for blush since you'll likely already have the rosy glow you use blush to mimic.

• On the skin, choose a moisturizing foundation, but don't put it all over your face. Instead, treat it like concealer, dabbing a big under the eyes, around the nostrils and tip of the nose and the tip of the chin.

HAIR

• Hair presents other challenges. It gets dry in cold and wind, and dry hair breaks. However, if you tuck your hair into a hat, you're stuck with hat hair. Either way, there's static at the end.

• Don't let your hair hang out when you're skiing, sledding or working outside, even if you love the look of it hanging out the bottom of the hat. Wind and cold are ripping through it and that's worse than sun and salt every day in the summer.

• The prescription for summer-damaged hair is leave-in conditioner. Not true for winter, because that will mean your hair never really dries, and damp hair will make you feel colder.

• Take preventive steps before going out — perhaps a professional strengthening treatment at a salon before the ski season starts — and then trimming off any damaged edges after it's over.

• For maintenance in between, try using ceramide-based styling products that will help revive the hair's weakened barrier layer. The most important thing to prevent fraying or splitting is to use a wide-tooth comb from the bottom up, instead of a brush and pulling from the top down, after taking your shower.

• For styling, it's actually easier to work with winter hair than summer hairs, because nobody gets the frizzies caused by humidity. While hat hair can't be "cured," it certainly can be minimized by wearing a low-slung ponytail, which is one of the hottest Hollywood looks right now.

• There's not much a woman with short hair can do when she's going in and out of the lodge and, more importantly, taking her hat on and off, but as soon as she gets home, if she works a little water-based wax through her hair, she'll have a modern, textured look instantly.

• Got static? It comes from a lack of moisture. Anything that adds moisture helps with static. Put it in before you blow dry. Pick creamy products, not sticky products. Think of things that nourish your hair.