Winterize that sandpaper skin!

The weather outside is frightful, and inside the heat is on 24 hours a day. What effect does the cold, dry air of winter combined with the moisture-sucking heat of your furnace have on your skin? Dryness. Soon your skin feels like a sandpaper, and you're using more and more moisturizer to soften it.

The key, it seems, is to prevent wintertime dryness in the first place. Moisturizer will help, but if you take a few simple steps to ward off dryness, your skin will thank you for it:

• Use a humidifier. Most models are automatic today. You can set the humidity at 60% and when it drops below, your machine will turn on. (Humidifying may reduce your odds of catching colds and flu, an added benefit.)
• Moisturize -- especially at night -- with creams that contain glycerin or mineral oil.
• Stay hydrated on the inside by drinking lots of water. It's instinctive to drink water on a hot summer day, but you may need to remind yourself in the winter time.
• Improve circulation to your skin by maintaining a regular exercise routine.
• Keep up the excellent sunblock habit your formed over summer. UV rays are just as damaging in the winter, so be sure to slather any exposed skin.

Cold and flu season mean frequent hand washings, and I know I have to keep a close eye on my hands or they quickly get red and itchy. I keep a bottle of good moisturizer near my sink for a quick slather when necessary. What other quick and easy ideas do you have for skin care in the wintertime?