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Brrrr! Gloves on, heating turned up, cough medicine at the ready – winter has well and truly arrived.  Snow has started falling and getting us all excited for Christmas, but before you head outside to build snowmen, make sure you’ve looked at our top beauty tips below for protecting yourself against the harsh winter weather.

• Moisturise, Moisturise, Moisturise!

It goes without saying that winter is a nightmare when it comes to dry hair.  After being whipped around in the freezing cold wind outside then dried out by all the artificial heating inside, hair ends up damaged and prone to split ends.  We all know that we should switch to an extra nourishing body lotion for our skin during the colder months, but many of us don’t adapt our hair care routines at all.  During the winter, you should treat your hair to a deep conditioning treatment at least once a week to restore the moisture, help repair split ends and keep your hair looking healthy.  Girls Aloud beauty Kimberley Walsh says: “I apply Schwarzkopf Supersoft Yoghurt & Coconut Smoothie Conditioner to the ends of my hair, wrap it in a plastic bag and leave for ten minutes.  Like magic, my hair feels brand new!”

• Keep Cosy

Make sure you keep wrapped up this winter and invest in some cosy knitwear as gloves, scarves and hats are essential for protecting your skin and hair from the cold.  If you are worried about getting the dreaded ‘Hat Hair’ look, simply boost your roots with a spritz of got2b 2Sexy hairspray to restore any lost volume.

• Sleeping Beauty

It is recommended that we should have eight hours sleep a night, and when the weather is this cold it is very appealing to stay snuggled up in bed under the duvet.  A couple of extra hours of sleep may be beneficial for reducing bags under our eyes, but friction from your pillow can leave hair knotted and tangled.  Invest in satin pillowcases that allow hair to slide easily rather than catching on the fabric.  Fewer knots will drastically reduce the damage that can be caused by excessive brushing, leaving your hair in tip top condition.

• Sun Safety

Usually, we only think about protecting ourselves from the sun during the summer, but UV rays can be just as harmful in the winter.  Make sure you protect your skin with a SPF 15 moisturiser to help prevent sun damage and premature ageing.  The Supersoft Yoghurt & Red Berries Smoothie shampoo and conditioner range contains a UV filter to protect your hair from the sun and stop your hair colour fading, so your hair will remain vibrant all winter long.

• Warning: Don’t Get Too Steamy!

If Jack Frost has made your fingers and toes numb with the cold, then it is all too tempting to jump into a steaming hot bath or shower.  While this will warm you up quickly, water that is too hot will irritate your skin and encourage scratching and further damage.  Be kind to your skin by bathing or showering in milder warm water instead.

• Keep Hydrated

The festive season is all about mulled wine and perhaps even a celebratory glass of champagne, but don’t forget to drink plenty of water throughout the day to keep you hydrated.  Although they are warm and comforting on a cold winter’s day, teas and coffees can be dehydrating so why not try and increase your H2O intake with herbal teas instead?

• Pucker Up!

Chapped, cracked lips are another winter woe that we’d like to avoid this year.  Switch lipstick for a tinted lip balm to add a hint of colour while preventing your lips from drying out.  If your lips do get a little flaky, gently brush away the dead skin with a toothbrush, then slather on lots of lip balm to keep your lips super soft.  All you need to do now is find Prince Charming under the mistletoe!

What are your top winter beauty tips?