Winter is a season like no other, but it also brings cold air that can be harsh to the skin. This season, take a little more time to keep your skin healthy and supple.

There are quite a few things about winter that aren't exactly friendly to the skin. Apart from the bitter cold air, the low humidity levels, harsh winds and dry indoor heat can also rid the skin of all-important moisture, leading to dry and itchy skin.

But the winter need not be a particularly difficult season for the skin, as there are many simple things people can do to protect it. After all, protecting the skin isn't just a matter of appearance, but also of caring for the organ that also protects us from things like viruses and harmful ultraviolet rays.

Let's look at some tips on how you can take better care of your skin during winter. (Courtesy: HealthDay, Healthline, NewYork-Presbyterian and the American Academy of Dermatology Association.)

Cleanse Wisely

When cleansing your skin during wintertime, make sure to choose products that will not dry it even further. Products that contain alcohol can contribute to skin dryness, so it would be best to opt for ones that contain words like "moisturizing" and "gentle" instead.

That said, it's also important not to "overdo" cleansing during the season, as this can also strip the skin of moisture. Reducing the use of soap, choosing lukewarm instead of hot water and shortening shower time are also friendlier to the skin.

Moisturize

As mentioned, winter tends to sap the moisture out of people's skins, so one of the simplest things you can do to protect it would be to moisturize.

For this time of the year, thicker ointments and creams may be the better options instead of lotions, as the latter might be lighter or not have enough of the components that can help prevent dry skin. It's also best if such products are applied when the body is still damp right after bathing or showering to really trap the moisture in the skin.

People may look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, jojoba oil or cocoa butter in these products. For those with sensitive skin, however, they might want to opt for products that don't contain fragrance.

Protect your skin from the elements

Whether it's from the bitter cold or from the winter sun, it's important to protect the skin. One can do this by wearing clothes that can protect the skin such as gloves and by using skin protectants such as lip balm.

And while it's not quite as obvious during the winter, it's still important to protect the skin from the sun during the season. One can do this by wearing broad-spectrum sunscreen when going outdoors.

This, of course, is a useful tip to protect the skin, winter or not. But during the cold of winter, using sunscreen creams instead of lotions or sprays may be better. People may also opt for ones that are also moisturizing or use sunscreen on top of their moisturizer.

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