Winter is dreaded by many because usually it brings a challenge to every complexion, but you can look your best if you take a few precautions. During the winter months your complexion needs extra care and attention because the oil glands just below the surface of the skin become relatively inactive and produce less moisture than usual. This and the increased dryness of the skin due to the drying effects of the sun and the wind are responsible for causing the tiny wrinkles and giving rise to various skin ailments like scaling, itching, chapping and eczema.

The best way, however, to counteract these ailments is to dispense with the use of soap completely, because it has been known to have a marked degreasing action on the skin. Instead, clean your face with milk cream or top-of-milk blended with a few drops of lime juice and a pinch of turmeric powder. Excessive use of cosmetics, hair dyes and sprays, too many hot baths and perfumes also make the hair dry. Every night before going to bed, take one tablespoon of milk cream and mix in a few drops each of glycerine, olive oil and rose water. Mix well and apply over your entire face, neck and hands. Leave overnight; in the morning wipe off gently with a tissue paper, then bathe the skin in warm water until it begins to feel warm and also rinse for the same length of time in cold water. Pat dry with a soft towel.

Also, massage your body well with olive or coconut oil blended with a few drops of rose water 10 minutes before your bath to make your skin soft and glowing. If dryness has resulted in scaling, take foods rich in vitamin A, because this vitamin is stored in the fat just below the surface of the skin counteracting any tendency towards dryness and roughness. In case the scaling is quite severe, also take this vitamin in the form of tablets but as this vitamin sometimes produces toxic effects in the body if taken indiscriminately, it should only be taken under medical supervision.

Another common skin ailment in winter is eczema. Initially the surface of the skin becomes red but later it turns dry, rough and scaly. Here are two effective remedies for this ailment. Grind a walnut to a paste, squeeze out its oil and apply on the affected parts a few times daily. In case this does not give relief, try this remedy.

Take a dry coconut and hold it with a pair of tongs over a burning flame. When its skin turns completely black and while it is still burning, place it on a tin-plate and cover it immediately with a small vessel. Remove it after a few seconds and you will find a layer of oil on the vessel. Rub this on the affected parts twice daily and within a week you will find definite relief in your condition. Itching too is a common complaint during this weather. Take a tablespoon of sandalwood oil and mix in an equal quantity of coconut oil. Apply on the itching parts of the body a couple of times daily until you get relief. The juice of Basil leaves is also equally effective.

Another type of itching which is very severe is known as winter’s itch. This is usually due to the excessive dryness of the skin. It is also due to wearing too many woolen garments, too many hot baths, too little sun, lack of sweating, too much use of soaps and scent and dietary deficiencies. Arms and legs are commonly affected by it. To minimize winter’s itch, every day an hour before taking your bath take two tablespoons each of curd and olive oil and mix in a few drops of essence of rose. Mix well and apply on the body an hour before you take your bath. Abstain from wearing woolens next to the body. Reduce hot baths and. the use of the soap to the minimum. Take vitamin A in the form of tablets and expose yourself to the sun for at least an hour daily. It automatically disappears in the warm weather because perspiration caused by the heat helps to keep the skin soft and moist.

If the skin on the soles of your feet becomes hard and cracked, rub the soles at bath time with soapy water and pumice stone. After bathing be sure to dry the feet well especially between the toes to prevent cracking. Massage them well with olive or coconut oil to keep the skin soft and smooth and to help the circulation of blood. After exposure to cold, take a foot bath using warm water and soap. Wipe dry, massage them vigorously for five minutes and then wear woolen socks. This is very important to prevent chilblains.

If your lips happen to chap, peel or crack, here is an effective remedy.

Take a rose flower and grind the petals to a paste. Mix in a little cream of milk and apply it generously on the lips before going to bed in the night. This will help keep the lips soft and pretty. Dry, itchy skin around the mouth is a common complaint during winter. Vitamin B tablets will help in this case. To protect your hands from rash and chapping wear a pair of rubber gloves when doing household chores. Every night before going to bed take an equal quantity of lime juice, glycerine, rose water and Cologne and apply nicely on the hands and after you finish your household chores rub glycerine and sugar on them for a couple of minutes and then wash off. This will help keep them soft and smooth.

Winter plays havoc with the hair, making it dry, brittle and dull. To bring a healthy shine to your hair, take some warm coconut oil, make partings along the hair and dab it along each parting with your finger-tips. Continue in this way till the whole scalp has been oiled, then wrap hot towels over the head to keep the scalp as warm as possible. After half an hour when the scalp has absorbed oil, wash the hair with shikakai and water Hair can never be completely clean and shiny until it is rinsed thoroughly-it should squeak at your touch.

Use a moisturized foundation to protect your ,skin against the harsh effects of the cold weather. Touch up your lips with warm, creamy colors. Pale lipsticks will make you look pale and sickly in this weather. Add lip­gloss or a little vaseline to keep your lips soft and pretty.

Also follow a healthy diet scheme to enable your body to fight against the many ills of winter and to put an attractive bloom in your cheeks.

1. Begin with clean hands and a clean face.
2. Apply moisturizer appropriate to your skin type. Let it set a few minutes, particularly if your skin is oily.
3. Camouflage under-eye circles and blemishes with concealer.
4. Select a foundation that is appropriate to your skin type and the coverage you wish to achieve. The color should match your skin, disappearing when blended well.
5. Shake the bottle well to mix the formula. Or, simply open a stick or compact version.
6. Place a small amount of foundation on the back of one hand. Dip your makeup sponge or your middle finger into it.
7. Apply to the center of your face: cheeks, forehead, chin.
8. Blend out to your hair and jawline until the foundation vanishes. Pay special attention to blending around the nose, mouth and jawline.
9. Set the foundation with loose powder immediately following application.

By an eHow Contributor

15 Mascara Tricks and TipsOne question I get a lot from people is what mascara I use. I have small eyes and refuse to leave the house without mascara because the moment mascara is applied my eyes suddenly appear to be of normal size (I was blessed with long lashes, perhaps that helps). I even wore mascara in the 100 degree heat on a trip to Vietnam and my friend was blown away by the staying power of my Lancome Hypose mascara. (See the best mascaras on the market)

Here I share my 15 best mascara tricks and tips, plus how to properly apply mascara.

How to Properly Apply Mascara

Ace your mascara application with a three-step process:

1. Step 1: Wiggle the wand left to right at the base of lashes. It’s the mascara placed near the roots — not the tips — that gives the illusion of length.
2. Step 2: Pull the wand up and through lashes, wiggling as you go. The wiggling part is key because it separates lashes.
3. Step 3: In this final step (which I always skip), close the eye and place the mascara wand on top of lashes at the base and pull through to remove any clumps.

Pick the Best Mascara for You

When picking a mascara, you should consider the formula you want (lengthening, thickening, waterproof or non-clumping). Learn more about your options in How to Pick the Right Mascara Formula.

You should also consider price. You can get a good basic drugstore mascara or spend more money on a luxurious mascara. I find the fancier mascaras go on with less clumping and last longer, but it’s likely no one would be able to tell if you were wearing a drugstore brand or a department store brand. See Should you splurge on mascara, or save?.

I prefer Lancome mascaras and I always use waterproof mascara in summer time or when skiing. Check out my list of the best mascaras on the market for your perfect fit.

Most drugstores and department stores have excellent return policies so if you try a mascara and hate it you can return it. Never try mascara on at a department store, there’s too much risk for infection. Instead, check out the store’s return policy and take a few home to try. Also, don’t get suckered into a full-makeover at the cosmetics counter (see How They Trick You at the Cosmetics Counter).

How to Keep Lashes From Clumping

For some, lash combs are simply too fussy. But for some makeup artists, they’re a great invention and keep lashes glob-free and perfectly separated. To use a lash comb, first apply mascara at the lash base, then wiggle the lash comb through to the tips of your lashes.

Not into the lash comb? Get rid of clumbs without them by removing excess mascara from the wand. Wipe wand on tissue, this eliminates blobs BEFORE you start.

Another great way to get rid of clumps is to sweep a clean, fresh mascara wand through lashes when they’re wet. Either buy new ones or recycle old ones. Buy clean mascara wands online (they’re called “spoolies” or at Sephora.

Recycle an old mascara wand if you don’t want to bother with spoolies. When you finish a mascara, clean the wand in a cap-full of eye makeup remover, then wash with soap and dry. Keep it clean by washing it whenever you wash your makeup tools.

Don’t Be Afraid to Mix Mascaras

A trick makeup artists use to make lashes pop is apply one coat of lengthening mascara, followed by one coat of thickening mascara. Remove excess product with a clean spoolie wand (see above).

Try a Colored Mascara

Basic mascara rules are simple: Black works for everyone but can be harsh on light-skinned blondes. Blondes should opt for brown/black by day and reserve black for night. Burgundy or plum colors make blue eyes pop, as do blue mascaras. Purple mascara looks great on brown eyes.

Use an Eyelash Curler

Curling lashes gives eyes the appearance of being wider and brighter. Shoot warm air from your blowdryer on the mascara curler for 3-5 seconds to warm it up before curling lashes. Touch it first to make sure it’s not too hot. It’s a myth that you have to curl lashes before you apply mascara. You can curl lashes after mascara application, just make sure the mascara is dry first. Shu Uemura eyelash curlers are super popular.

Zig-zag the Mascara Wand

Zig-zagging the wand back and forth during application helps cut down clumps.

Apply to Top Lashes Only

Many makeup artists recommend applying mascara only to the top lashes (I abide by this rule). If you want to make eyes appear wider, apply mascara to the bottom lashes but make sure you give lashes a light touch. Not great at getting those bottom lashes? Try putting a tissue under them before application.

Use a Mascara Primer

Primers coat lashes and separate them before you apply mascara. Makeup artists swear by mascara primer. I tried it and like it, but because it’s an added step, I usually use primer only on special occasion when I spend more time on my makeup. My hands-down favorite is Lancome’s Cils Booster XL.

What it Means to “Apply a 2nd Coat” of Mascara

I was always confused by magazine’s directives to coat eyelashes with “no more than 3 coats of mascara.” It seems magazines have been giving these directions since I was a pre-teen and likely before. What they mean is to apply the coats of mascara all at once before the first coat dries. Once the first coat dries, you’ll get clumps if you attempt another swipe at the lashes.

Thou Shalt Not Pump Wand In & Out of Tube

This only introduces air into the tube, which will cause your mascara to dry out sooner than it should.

Bend the Wand

A top makeup artist once gave his secret to his steady hand: he always bends his wand at a right angle.

Wait to Blink & Doublecheck Once Dry

Since I have long lashes, I try to wait 5 seconds before blinking after I apply mascara or I end up with mascara dots all along my lid. I also doublecheck my lids before I step out because chances are good, I’ve got those dots going on and it’s embarrassing to find out hours later that you’ve done a poor makeup job on yourself when you’re a beauty editor by trade.

By Julyne Derrick, About.com Guide