Cold weather is coming to Pullman, which means bronzed skin and dewy complexions will be compromised by harsh wind and cold rain. So make sure you know how to keep skin soft and healthy all winter.

The first step is to ditch the harsh chemical products. Any type of toner, astringent or peel that stings your face has to go; it will only leave your skin dry and irritated.

The second step: cleansing. When it comes to face washing, make sure the formula you are using doesn’t contain high levels of salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. These ingredients are effective in maintaining oily skin in summer but can cause dryness to winter skin. One such face wash is Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser, which can be found at most drugstores.

Whether you have naturally oily or dry skin, moisturizing is arguably the most important thing to do for you skin. Without moisturizing, your skin must produce more oil to combat dryness, which causes acne, even for those with dry skin. The best thing to do is find an oil-free moisturizer that will provide your skin with the necessary moisture without the added oily residue. A popular oil-free moisturizer is Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer, which has the added benefit of containing sunscreen (SPF 15).

The rest of your skin, not only your face, is just as susceptible to cold weather damage and could use some TLC. A quality product to combat dry lips is Smith’s Rosebud Salve. Not only does this product smell amazing and give your lips a natural-looking pink color, but it is highly regarded for its moisturizing power.

To keep your hands soft, make sure to apply hand cream directly after washing. To avoid sticky hands all day, use a lotion that advertises quick absorption. Burt’s Bees Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Cream does an excellent job keeping skin moisturized and quickly absorbs into skin.

Hair is like skin in that it too is affected by weather changes. During the fall and winter, hair needs extra moisture, especially you use heat to style it often. “It’s a 10” Miracle Leave-In provides nutrients to hair in 10 ways, and the brand sells a variety of products for blonde, heat-styled and color-treated hair.

We have a few more days of sunny weather (fingers crossed) but don’t wait until it’s too late to start your winter weather beauty regimen. Start treatment now before the cold weather sets in. Your skin will thank you.

Alisa Smith is a sophomore communication and political science major from Arlington. She can be contacted at 335-1140 or by [email protected]. The opinions expressed in this column are not necessarily those of the staff of The Daily Evergreen or those of The Office of Student Media.