Every year around the same time my skin starts to change. I don't seem to notice it until I'm trying to apply makeup and it doesn't quite "sit right" on my face. It's not that this sneaks up on me. It's more that I'm thinking it's always other environmental changes and work becomes so busy in the fall months that it appears that I've not been taking care of my skin.

In order to combat these changes I've found it helpful to stick with a skin care regiment that is consistent, right for my skin, and full of moisturizer. It's the moisturizer that is one of the tricks for me. Here are my hard and fast rules for keeping up with the changing weather and maintaining a healthy glow.

1. Use a regular wash and exfoliating product.

If I fail to wash my face then I have no one to blame for all the junk that is getting stuck in my pores and let's face it: I'm not a teenager anymore. However, it is the exfoliating products that help to remove all the rough patches on our skin and allow for a deep cleanse. When the weather changes and I'm feeling extra dry I just use the product for a longer time during my routine. Where normally I would take about 30 seconds to rub it into my face I take about 2 minutes to work it in using a circular pattern. Spending more time in my t-zone area, I've noticed that it works.

2. Use toner. Even if you think it's not doing anything.

When I've removed toner from my routine I find that the smooth spots aren't as smooth. But I've also noticed that it draws moisture TO my skin. It's important to note here that there's a big difference between 'toner' and 'astringent'. My skin ph doesn't take well to astringents because they're too rough for me. They dry me out to the point where I actually can't get enough moisture put back in, but toner smooths the surface so that I can begin the process of moisturizing.

3. Moisturize. And then? Moisturize again.

A couple of products stay in my bathroom cabinet that help to add moisture to my face. Some are under eye creams (Dermalogica's Multivitamin Power Firm is my absolute FAVORITE) Part of what happens with moisturizers is that you're repairing your skin's natural elasticity that tends to need some help as you get older. I moisturize in three different targeted places on my face: my eye area, around my lips, and my forehead. During a recent facial I learned that since my nose holds more oils I have to take my all over moisturizer, rub gently on the palms of my hands, and then go around my face without getting it on my nose. That helps slow down the amount of oils that are already there.

What about you? Do you have a skin routine that helps combat the harsh winter months? If you have tips, please share. Even though I use the above routine, I'm not above learning more. Besides, it's going to be a long winter.