By Louise Emma Clarke
Founding Editor of The-Beauty-Pages.com

It’s tempting to hide away in thick layers, sheepskin boots, and woolly hats during the winter months, but what about the skin and hair that lies underneath? It may be out of sight for now, but spring will have sprung in just a few short months – and who wants lank locks, flaky skin, or callused feet when the sun starts to shine?

Guilty as charged? I suggest spending a little time over the coming weeks getting your body and hair back into tip-top condition. My action plan is below…

STEP 1 – BODY

The key to smooth, glowing skin is exfoliation. Neglect it and the dead skin cells will start to build up, resulting in a dull appearance and dry, flaky texture. Keep up your exfoliation at least twice a week and you will be rewarded with glowing, balanced, and smooth skin for the months ahead. I love Crabree & Evelyn Pomegranate Skin Smoothing Body Scrub, £14.40. Follow with a rich body cream, such as the luxuriousNuxe Body Fondant Firming Body Cream, £33.

STEP 2 – NECK AND DECOLLETAGE

The neck and décolletage are areas that we often neglect in our skincare regime – especially in winter when we are wrapped up from the moment we crawl from our beds. It’s important to pay them attention, however, as the skin is especially dry and fine, with little sebum to hydrate the skin and very few fat cells. Forget to moisturise it and the result will be sagging skin and fine lines. Rectify the problem with twice-daily applications of a product that is specifically targeted to the area, such as Clarins Super Restorative Decollete and Neck Concentrate, £43.20.

STEP 3 – HAIR

After a busy festive season, followed by a month of extreme weather and central heating, your hair is probably feeling dry and brittle, and looking less than perfect. Revive locks with an intensive hair mask, used once a week to add nutrients, volume, and much-needed shine. L’Occitane Repairing Mask for Dry and Damaged Hair, £19.50, leaves hair strong, shiny, soft, and smooth. It also helps to protect hair against further environmental stresses (as lets face it, the weather probably has a lot still to throw at us before warmer climes arrive…)

4 – HANDS AND FEET

Finally, lets not forget our hands and feet… They spend most of the season hidden away in boots, slippers, or gloves – and without some regular TLC, are prone to emerging the other side of winter looking dry and prematurely aged. For feet, I recommend applying a rich, silky foot cream at least twice a week. For an intensive treatment, apply a generous layer before bed and pop a pair of socks on – during the night, the cream will absorb and you’ll wake up with silky soft soles. Caudalie Foot Beauty Cream, £13, is ideal. For hands, pick an ultra-rich hand cream and apply regularly throughout the day – I place a tube near my computer, another next to the sink at home, and a further tube in my handbag. I’m a big fan of Trilogy Rose Hand Cream, from £7.81, which contains rose essential oil, marshmallow, shea butter, and cocoa butter to keep mitts soft and hydrated.