From icy winter winds to harsh indoor heating, our piel often takes a beating during the colder months. However, there’s no need to suffer through the winter with dry, chapped skin. We’ve rounded up some tips from dermatologists and nutritionists to protect your body’s largest organ and keep it moisturized even in the harshest weather.

HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE
Keep your winter skin dewy and fresh by staying hydrated outside and inside.

• Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
• Run a humidifier at night to replenish moisture while you sleep.
• If your skin is especially dry, you may need to switch to a slightly heavier moisturizer. Renee Rouleau recommends taking “the skin cream test”: apply lotion to your entire face and wait five minutes; if you can still feel the cream, go for something lighter.
• Moisturize before bed with a cream containing hyaluronic acid to help maintain elasticity.
• Avoid taking long, hot showers or baths -- they may feel fabulous but they can actually dry out your skin.

SPF
While the sun’s rays may not be as bright this time of year, it’s essential to use sunscreen every day, year-round to keep your skin youthful and cancer-free.

EXFOLIATE
Dry flaky skin leaves your complexion dull and makes it harder for your skin to absorb moisture. Skincare expert and best-selling author Paula Begoun recommends exfoliating daily with a product containing AHA, like Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 8% AHA Gel, if your skin is extra dry. For oily or rosacea-prone complexions try a product with BHA, like Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 1% BHA Gel.

FEED YOUR SKIN
Eating healthy is good for your whole body and foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids like fish, flax or soy are especially good for maintaining that youthful glow.

Those awkward young adult years may be behind you, but that doesn’t mean you’re in the clear when it comes to your skin. “Our chosen lifestyle and diet can have many direct impacts on the skin, well into your 30s,” says Lauren Talbot, certified clinical nutritionist and founder of Glow Detox Diet.

The most common skin concerns for women in their 20s and 30s include adult onset acne, skin cancers, melisma (patchy, brown discoloration of the skin), inflammation, and premature aging and wrinkles, according to Talbot and Dr. Tanya Kormeili, board certified dermatologist and clinical instructor at UCLA. What’s more, “ethnic skin, including Hispanic skin, is harder because of a higher rate of discoloration and the difficulty in treating it,” says Dr. Kormeili.

Luckily, it doesn’t take much to mend your skin woes; following a healthy dieta and proper skin care regimen are two easy ways to achieve the glowing skin of your dreams. Here are tips for clear skin, even tone and a natural glow.

Secret Comidas

It’s not just what you put on your skin that affects its health, but what you put in your body. “The skin is the body’s largest organ, and serves as the backup organ for the liver and kidneys sending impurities through the pores when they are inundated with waste they cannot quickly and efficiently neutralize,” says Talbot. Real -- not processed -- foods like frutas and vegetables are naturally rich in vitamins and minerals that nourish the body and skin. Plus, many contain antioxidants that fight free radical formation and help to keep skin youthful. Incorporating these foods into your daily diet will put you on the path to clearer skin:

·         Berries: Filled with antioxidants, berries such as blueberries protect your skin from premature aging, says Dr. Kormeili.

• Greens: Broccoli, spinach and kale are full of minerals and B vitamins, which may help even skin tone, fight acne and rid your body of impurities.
• Fresh lemon juice: Lemons and lemon juice help promote a healthy blood pH, which is important for healthy skin, says Talbot.
• Seafood: Fish is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D, and helps your skin retain moisture -- crucial for skin health. Omega-3s additionally protect the skin from UV rays and reduce inflammation, while vitamin D both protects and rejuvenates skin.

Clear Skin Protocol

In addition to a healthy diet and consumption of skin-friendly foods, a proper skin care regimen will help your piel glow.

• Sun protection: Essential in preventing premature aging and hyperpigmentation, which especially affects ethnic skin. Choose a good SPF and wear all year, even when it’s overcast.
• Gentle care: Harsh products may have reverse effects, particularly on Latin skin. Instead of overnight miracle solutions and instant results, look for more natural products that focus on gentle care and cleansing, and long-term results.
• Moisture: Lack of moisture in the body can result in dryer skin, and production of oils to overcompensate. Consume plenty of liquids and foods high in water content (fruits and veggies), and always apply a moisturizer to skin.

And to keep your skin glowing and gorgeous, here’s a foundation routine that will play up your natural radiance!

This month, we put you on the path to feeling and looking más joven with top tips to refresh your skin, face, hair, hands, feet and nails.

Put Your Fresh Face Forward

An orange yogurt mask is the perfect remedy for tired skin. The yogurt nourishes dry skin while the Alpha Hydroxy Acids in the orange repair and rejuvenate it. This treatment is also cool and relaxing. Stir one tablespoon of plain yogurt and one-quarter cup of juice from a fresh orange in a bowl. Smooth onto face, and leave for five minutes. Rinse and see the improvement.

Restore Shine to El Cabello

Once a week after shampooing, rinse your hair with a cup of apple cider vinegar. The acids strip the build-up in your hair, leaving your mane soft and shiny.

Massage Your Scalp

The only part of our hair that is alive is the root, which is embedded in our scalp. Massaging your scalp stimulates the flow of oxygen and blood to the root of your hair, invigorating it to grow and thrive. For relaxing, give yourself a mini-scalp massage before you go to bed. You can also do it in the morning, at work or even when you’re stuck in traffic. It will make your tresses look better and keep you stress-free.  

Remember Your Ojos

Alleviate tired, puffy eyes with chilled cucumber slices to take off the edge. You can even try potato slices or chilled chamomile bags, which act as an anti-inflammatory.

Treat your Hands and Toes

For a foot-abuloso indulgence, soak your tootsies in a bowl of warm whole milk. The lactic acids soften skin. After 10 minutes, take a pumice stone to your feet to slough off dead skin. Rinse off the warm water, file and buff you nails, and push back your cuticles. Finally, paint your nails a gorgeous color.

It’s that festive (and frantic!) time of year, with a steady stream of invitations to

after-work cocktails and weekend holiday parties! But no need to stress; mamita and celeb makeup artist Tia Dantzler shares how to transition your makeup from day to night -- so you'll have plenty of besos under the mistletoe!

"The quickest way to transform your look from day to night is to apply bold, matte lip color,” says Dantzler. Deep Bordeaux lips are in this season. And you can't go wrong with cherry red. To get this glam look, apply your lip color with a small retractable brush to capture a precise finish. Plus, with a brush you can control the color by layering: The more you apply, the deeper shade you'll get.

An eye-catching manicure always makes fiestas Navideñas brighter, and Dantzler loves the new line of nail polishes that have glitter infused in them. She suggests painting just one nail glitter glam for pop effect.

Para los ojos, Dantzler loves the “wet look.” And there are many new lines of eye shadows that offer it. “Always start with a primer for a lasting effect,” says Dantzler. “Olive skin looks great in coral hues, so looks for shades in golden pinks and creamy peaches.”

"To bring extra sparkle to your face, try a highlighter on your cheeks, a little shimmer on the bridge of your nose, and a dash on the inner corner of your eye,” offers Dantzler. Also, infuse your skin with color by blending in a powder bronzer.

And for the final festive look, Dantzler says, “we should all wear fake eyelashes!" Some are adorned with highlight effects, such as silver pearl drops or Swarovski crystals. Dantzler also recommends individual lashes. “Just pop two or three on the ends of your eyelashes for an easy, sexy pick-me up!”

Photo: Corbis Images

From what we eat to how we bathe to walking outdoors on a sunny day, our cabello is affected by even the most basic lifestyle choices. Keep your hair looking and feeling its healthiest with these expert tips, including foods to eat, habits to start and new styling practices to try.

Comida
A balanced diet is the basis for keeping your hair strong and healthy, from the follicle to the scalp and strand. Your hair is composed mostly of proteins, which means it’s vital to include protein-rich foods in your diet to encourage hair growth, say the experts at the Philip Kingsley trichology clinics[i1] . Fish and nuts are both great sources of hair-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, so think of salmon and walnuts. Also aim to eat plenty of spinach, eggs and lentils, all of which are loaded with iron to boost your hair health[i2] . The Philip Kingsley team also recommends keeping your scalp hydrated by drinking plenty of water.

Estilo de vida
Malas costumbres (such as smoking, excessive dieting, and lack of sleep) and hormonal changes from pregnancy, illness or menstrual cycles can impact el esplendor del cabello. Hair is very sensitive to changes in your body and emotions. For instance, stress can cause your hair to thin and shed .

Though damage like this is often reversible by reducing el estrés, the National Institutes of Health points out that modifying negative habits is sometimes difficult. Their suggestions? Become aware of bad habits, and then replace them with positive ones . Consider, for example, practicing yoga, daily meditation or exercise to relax your mind and body.

Styling
Regular cabello care includes frequent washing, regular brushing and avoiding direct heat from the sun or a blow dryer. If heat is your go-to styling method, then deep-conditioning once per week is a must.

Also consider ways to implement ‘natural’ hair-care practices. Allow, for instance, your hair to air-dry. Or add a teaspoon of baking soda to your shampoo routine to remove buildup from styling products that clog up your scalp. Lastly, the trichologists at Philip Kingsley recommend getting a trim every 10 weeks and waiting that same amount of time between visits to touch up your hair color or highlights.