Okay, winter has hit with a vengeance. Having just returned from sunny, warm, California, I can see why Californians have sympathy for us, but don't want to be us ( New Yorkers).

While we were there, my family spent a relaxing morning at the La Quinta Resort and Spa. It's quite lovely there, and they offer  select spa treatments for young girls.  Since this was the holidays, my daughter got a short treatment as a special treat. But no matter the location, we all have our rituals for fighting winter blues–and winter skin.   For ourselves, we apply lots of moisturizers to our faces and bodies; we try to use oil-based shower gels; and when possible, we soak in baths to replenish moisture loss from cold, heat, and/or dryness.  Anything so we do not have to look at those fish scales on our arms and legs!

Our tween girls suffer from the current extreme temperatures and harsh environmental factors, too.  The effects of winter are most visible on their chapped faces-particularly around their mouths-and on their exposed hands ("It's not cold; I don't need gloves").  To protect her skin, I have started my tween on certain winter skin rituals.

When she bathes, I pour some Vaseline Vitalizing Gel Body Oil, Cocoa Butter, in the tub.  (My daughter does not have nut sensitivities.)  She loves it because it's so relaxing, and she loves the way the water beads and glistens on her skin.  I tell her not to wash her face with this bath water; it's too oily for her skin.  When she's out of the tub, she cleanses her face, but does not use a night-time moisturizer.  At this age, a facial moisturizer can clog tweens' pores, but a gentle cleanser is an important step in her night time hygiene ritual.  Of course, in our house, Ottilie & Lulu Clean Skin Face Wipes is the gentle cleanser of choice.

On a day when she hasn't had a sports activity, she might skip her bath.  She doesn't shampoo her hair every night. When she goes to bed she pulls all her hair away from her face to keep her hair oil from getting on her face.  She gathers her hair in a bun or pony to minimize static.

Harsh winter can take an early toll on tween skin just as it can on our skin.  Get her started on a balanced winter skin care ritual that will nourish her natural beauty.  She'll have a head start on spring.