Heading for a winter holiday? Freezing cold temps and wind can leave your skin dry, chapped and itchy. Soothe, heal and prevent this damage with these easy tips.

1

Be gentle with the scrub

Exfoliating helps polish skin by sloughing away the dry, dead skin cells, but over-scrubbing can weaken your skin's protective barrier that helps retain moisture. When using an exfoliator, go for a mild scrub and scrub lightly.

2

Bathe in warm (not hot) water

As delicious as the idea of taking a steamy bath or shower sounds, too-hot water can actually strip your skin of its natural oils and make it even more prone to dryness and itch. Take a warm bath instead and follow with a moisturizing routine once you step out.

3

Moisturize

Towel off after bathing, and slather a hydrating cream onto damp skin -- this helps seal moisture before it has a chance to evaporate. Pay more attention to the areas that are prone to dryness -- your elbows, knees, hands and feet -- and apply more cream to soothe the skin.