Chilly Iowa air can wreak havoc on your skin during the winter months. Skin quickly becomes dry and can look less than healthy. But rather than sticking to the same old beauty regimen through the winter months, you’ll need different products and treatments than are used in other seasons.

Skin SOS

Your dry, cracked hands and parched face are crying for help, and there are easy ways to cure your winter skin blues. Adapting your skin care routine to deal with problems caused by winter weather is simple. To help with dry skin, Barbara Abens, aesthetician at It’s All About Me, 209 Main St., suggests people “switch over to a heavier moisturizer and exfoliate more.”

It’s All About Me has a variety of skin care products to meet an individual’s needs. As a licensed aesthetician, Abens also performs facials at the store. During a customer’s first facial, she will perform a skin analysis to determine their skin care needs.

“I check for hydration and overall appearance,” Abens said. Facials at It’s All About Me cost $55 plus tax and can take about an hour.

Pick your product

The lack of moisture in the air and the windy weather are often the culprits behind dry skin in the winter.

“Constantly, it’s an issue – counteracting with the environment and the elements,” said Liza Cartwright, senior beauty advisor and the head of the cosmetics department at Walgreens, 2501 Grand Ave.

Walgreens carries national brands of beauty products as well as brands that aren’t found anywhere else. These skin care lines include Weleda and three lines exclusive to Walgreens: Skin Essentials, Yes to Carrots and the European Beauty Collection.

Cartwright said you should consider four areas when caring your skin during the winter: overall body, hands, feet and face. Body lotion is a must to combat dry skin over the whole body.

“Experts say if you apply lotion within three minutes of getting out of the shower, you seal in that moisture,” Cartwright said.

Hands also need special care in the winter. More frequent hand washing can leave hands dry and cracked. Cartwright said a basic body lotion can be used on hands, but a lotion made specifically for hand care will yield better results. Feet can also become exceptionally dry and cracked during the winter months. Cartwright also recommends using a product made specifically for feet, as well as a pumice stone.

Face off

Your face often bears the brunt of winter weather. The skin on your face is delicate and requires more care. Cartwright recommended using cleanser, toner and moisturizer if your skin is oily and simply adding a moisturizer to your daily routine if your skin is dry.

It’s All About Me sells kits geared towards different skin types. For, $35 to $52 the MD Formulations kits contain all the products needed to maintain healthy facial skin. Abens said the kits have clear instructions and are easy to use.

The featured make-up line at It’s All About Me is Bare Minerals, which Abens recommends.

“It works really well year round. It doesn’t dry out your skin and it doesn’t make your skin oily.