Cold Remedies

By Judy Sutton

You love your winter workouts, but they don't love you back. Subfreezing temperatures, howling winds and all sorts of frozen precip -- not to mention overheated gyms and pools -- can leave your skin chapped, dried out, flaky and generally worse for the weather. Try our skin- and hair-saving tips, guaranteed to make you look as good as you feel

Hair Repair
Keeping your hair healthy in the dry winter air can be a workout in itself. What it requires is some before-, during- and after-workout treatments. Mark Turner, creative director at the Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salon & Spa in Chicago, recommends applying protective products like Bumble and Bumble Prep ($12) , chock-full of nourishing herbs and vitamins, and Sun Spray ($15) , a sunscreen for the hair that contains aloe vera to soothe the scalp. To head off bad hair days before they can start, try these deep-conditioning preventives: Molton Brown Remedy Gentle Wash ($21) and Repairing Treatment ($24) , and Tommy's Hair Rehab and Well Adjusted Hair Conditioner (each $12) .

Skin Soothers
"Moisturize like crazy," says Kathy Fields, M.D., a clinical instructor of dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco. Look for body products with simple ingredients like mineral oil and glycerin, she suggests. For the face, Prescriptives Super Line Preventor ($45) and Insulation Moisturizer ($40) work without clogging your pores. Other good choices: Clarins Hydration-Plus Moisture Lotion ($34) and Hempkat Intensity Skin Smoother ($15) .

For heavy-duty protection, U.S. bobsledder Krista Ford coats cheeks and lips with good old Vaseline ($1.35) before heading out. Triathlete Lauren Jensen, who lives in winter-whipped Wisconsin, goes even further, slicking her whole face with it. Another option: Hempkat Face Wax Skin Shield ($15) .

Sun Defense
Don't let the Arctic chill in the air lull you into a false sense of security. "The sun can be just as strong in the winter as it is in the summer," says Katie Rodan, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Stanford, "and the reflection off the snow can make things worse." To shield herself from the damaging rays, Becky Sundstrom, a 1998 U.S. Olympic speed skater, never trains without sunglasses ("They protect me from flying ice chips, too," she says) and a sweatproof sunscreen, like Banana Boat Action Sport Spray Gel Sunblock SPF 25 ($7) . Another good choice: Biosun Faces Oil Free Lotion SPF 25 ($7) .

With winter skin so susceptible to dryness and damage, try using a moisturizer with alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA) to help prevent the buildup of dead-skin layers. Neutrogena Healthy Skin Face Lotion ($12) covers all the bases: Exfoliating AHAs get rid of the old cells, while SPF 15 sunscreen and vitamins C and E protect the new skin underneath. Another good choice: H20 Plus Smoothing Hydrocomplex ($20) .

Chapped lips are an especially wicked winter curse. "Lips don't have oil glands to keep them lubricated," says Rodan. Constantly licking your lips activates digestive enzymes in your saliva that only make them drier, so naturally you apply more lip balm. Instead, slick on a soothing salve like Lush Lip Service ($5) before lips feel chapped. Other options: Origins Lip Remedy ($11) and Banana Boat Sport Sunblock Lip Balm SPF 30 ($2) .

Gentle Wash
Frequent bathing -- especially with hot water -- depletes the skin's natural oils, according to Michael L. Ramsey, M.D., assistant professor of dermatology at Penn State's Geisinger Medical Center. Ramsey recommends keeping baths and showers brief. To minimize dryness, try using a very mild soap or body shampoo, such as Babyspa Babywash ($10) , which is specifically designed for those sensitive types as well as for those who work out (and bathe) frequently. Another gentle cleanser to try: Ulta Green Tea Shower Gel ($8) .

After showering, gently pat your skin dry -- don't rub -- with a soft towel, says Ramsey. This will avoid further damage to your already roughed-up hide. Then, while skin is still slightly damp, slather on a rich, emollient moisturizer like Lush Sympathy For The Skin ($10.50) . Other good ones to try: Clarins Moisture-Rich Body Lotion ($29) and Biolage Body Dew It! 12-Hour Moisture Lotion ($10) .

Where to Find It: BabySpa: 877-4-BABYSPA; Banana Boat: 800-SAFE-SUN; Biolage: 800-6-MATRIX; BioSun: 800-SAFE-SUN; Bumble and Bumble: 888-77BUMBL; Clarins: at department stores; HempKat: 877-HEMPKAT; H2O Plus: 800-242-2284; Lush: 888-733-LUSH; Molton Brown: 914-232-4119; Neutrogena: at drugstores; Origins: 800-ORIGINS; Prescriptives: at department stores; Tommy's: 877-TOMMY-4YOU; Ulta: 800-9068-5823; Vaseline: at drugstores.

Photographs by Helen Trotman

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