How to Spoil Your Skin

Perfect the art of washing your face

Yoshimi Akazawa, senior manager of the Armani/Spa in Tokyo, Japan, advises taking the time to massage in your best wintertime cleanser-try a milk or balm formula if you have dry or combination skin and a foam formula if you have oily skin-to thoroughly wash away excess oil and dirt. Next up, an alcohol-free toner. "This will help to hydrate and provide comfort to the skin," in addition to prepping your complexion to "receive and absorb moisturizer." Also, use a scrub (preferably one with smooth micro-beads) once a week.

'Tis the season to change your skin cream

Laura Hittleman, corporate director of beauty services for U.S.-based Canyon Ranch spas, recommends booking a facial so a pro can personalize your cold-weather protection. As a guideline, dry and combination skins should both commit to day and night formulas made for dry skin. If you have oily skin, switch to a nourishing night cream and a lightweight day lotion with SPF for combination skin (you'll need the extra hydrators a lotion for oily skin usually doesn't offer).

Treat your peepers and your pucker, too

At the Guerlain Spa at The Waldorf Astoria in New York City, it's standard practice to firm and hydrate eyes with soothing hydrogel eye patches, plus an eye cream, during the spa's customized facials. It's an easy extra step you can introduce at home once a week. About your pout, Ryan Bedford, the spa's operations manager, says, "Lips are especially hard to keep moisturized because they do not have oil glands. The best thing to do during cold, harsh weather is to keep them covered with a scarf. Additionally, a lip moisturizer is imperative."

A silky-soft bod starts in the shower

Olivia Head, GM of The Sanctuary Spa in London, England, advises maximizing your shower with a body scrub 2-3 times a week (like your complexion, the body's dead-skin cells need to be sloughed away so your skin can make the most of your moisturizer). Next up, smooth on body butter. If you don't like its thick, rich feel, try a skin-quenching body spray or dry oil.

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