It’s not the prettiest season. It’s cold, windy, rainy. So easy to let yourself go, hairy legs and pasty skin and all. Unless you read on to find how simple staying in beauty shape during winter can actually be.

Layer Up.

Inside, the central heating is blaring. Outside, it’s dry and windy. No wonder your skin is starting to wither. Regular moisturisers won’t cut it for most skins in the wintertime. However, the solution isn’t necessarily switching to a richer moisturiser, which could cause clogging. Instead, think of layering your skincare - just as you do when dressing.

A hydrating serum is a great investment - it slinks into skin and works to attract many times its weight in water in water, binding moisture into the skin’s deeper layers. It’s ideal for skins prone to dehydration. One to check out: Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Booster ($94, call 1800 659 118 for stockist info). If, however, you have textbook-dry or more mature skin, try a face oil - a gorgeous pampering, plumping treat when massaged in. Try Aesop Fabulous Face Oil ($54.50, from Adore Beauty).

Next, slather on your face cream, to seal in all that other goodness. Finally, you may want to dab on a clear balm (such as Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream, $34, from department stores), to create an extra-dewy look and nourish any particularly dry or rough spots.

On a budget? Layering can become expensive. If you can only afford one skin hydration treatment, make sure it’s a humectant-based moisturiser, which works to programme skin to moisturise itself from within. Try: Neutrogena Moisture SPF15 ($12.70 from pharmacies).

Other Skin Essentials.

For an even softer, smoother skin all season long, set aside one night each week to give yourself a mini facial. It’s essential to keep exfoliating in winter. This will help slough away dry skin, plus allow skin to more effectively absorb any treatment and hdyration products. Follow your scrub with a hydrating mask, many of which can be massaged in and left on overnight for the most nourishing results. Try: Nivea Visage Refreshing Moisture Mask ($3.50 for one sachet).

Don’t forget to continue applying your SPF30+, broad-spectrum sunscreen. UVA rays (which are the ones responsible for skin-ageing) are just as prevalent in winter as summer. Try: Ultraceuticals Protective Moisturiser SPF30+ ($60, from Adore Beauty).

Over-cleansing your complexion can strip it of its much-needed protective lipid layer. This can in turn lead to inflammation, which is also strongly linked to skin ageing. So if you’re finding your regular wash-off or gel-based cleanser is leaving your skin too dry and taut, switch to a creamy, wipe-off formulation. Try: Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser (from about $5, from pharmacies or call 1800 800 765). Consider booking in for a course of alpha hydroxy acid peels. Winter is the perfect time to hibernate a little and focus on rejuvenating summer-ravaged skin.

Lips can easily become parched and liplines puckered in winter. Wearing a wax-based balm during the day will form a protective barrier over the delicate skin here, not to mention act as a great base for lip colour. But if that’s not moisturising enough, first layer on Shizen Lip Hydrating Serum ($24,95 from from Adore Beauty). At night, focus on lip treatments that promise to plump or repair.

Makeup with Benefits.

The best foundations around now have ingredients that would make many a skin cream jealous. It makes sense to invest in a base with skincare benefit - after all, it’s on our skin for around two-thirds of every day. Check out:

• The new Biotherm foundation range. There’s an impressive line-up to suit all skins and desired finishes, and stars the Biotherm signature ingredient of thermal plankton. Priced from $47, from selected Myer stores or call 1300 668 450 for more info.

• Chanel Précision Hydramax+ Teinté Moisture Boost Tinted Lotion. Rich in hydration, subtle in pigment. $69, from Myer and David Jones.

• CoverGirl Advanced Radiance Compact Foundation. CoverGirl worked with skincare specialise Olay on this look-younger formulation. $19.95, from pharmacies.

• Rimmel Recover Illuminating Anti-Fatigue Foundation. Contains vitamin C and E, magnesium, calcium and zinc. And then there are some pretty light-diffusing powders. A perfect pick-me-up for winter skin. $17.95, from pharmacies and Priceline

• Bobbi Brown Luminous Moisturizing Foundation. Features many of the ingredients found in Bobbi Brown’s luscious skincare - and feels practically like a face cream too. $80, from selected David Jones and Myer stores

The Mane Menu.

Winter’s elements can ravage hair just as much as skin. An easy way to infuse moisture back into dry hair is to swap your conditioner for a moisturising hair mask every second wash. For chemically lightened hair, regular protein-based treatments are also advised. You should also protect your colour from dulling with regular glossing - the simplest way to boost colour and shine. All salons offer gloss treatments; for at-home use, try the John Frieda Hair Glaze ($19.99, call 1800 468 318 for stockist info).

Winter is also the perfect time to try a richer, deeper haircolour - and semi-permanent shades not only won’t damage or dry out hair, they’re usually mixed with nutrients especially designed to improve the condition and look of hair.

Some Winter Body Blitzers.

You hardly want to spend more time in your chilly bathroom than necessary, but it’s worth making a bit of bodycare effort during winter - it will make coming out of hibernation and into spring fashion so much less stressful. Try these quick tricks:

• Mix a body oil into your body cream for the most effective form of hydration. Even more effective: coat it on at night before you cocoon under your pyjamas and doona - the heat will infuse the mix deep into skin.

• Another sleeping-beauty trick: Before jumping into bed, lavish your feet with olive oil or a rich cream and slip on some bedsocks. Baby-soft feet by morning.

• Consider starting laser hair removal. By summer, you’ll see a noticeable reduction in hair growth and thank yourself for having put up with all the pain.

• We all get a little lethargic and lazy in winter when it comes to exercise. Keep your lymphatic and circulatory systems in order with daily body brushing, and by massaging in treatment oils - especially benefical to toxin-prone areas, like the butt and thighs.

PS - The Must-Try Makeup Look Right Now.

Lipstick. Lashings of it. Buy yourself the whole lip kit and caboodle - the matching lipliner, the lip brush, the lip balm and scrub - and start brushing up on your painting skills. After all, it’s been a long time since we wore lipstick in such a major way.

Hottest shade to try is red - and there’s little else as effective when it comes to firing up a pale face. Choose a red lipstick with undertones that match those in your skin. So, if you’re pale, go for a pink-based red. If you’re medium or olive-skinned, go for warmer shades of red.

As seen here at the recent Proenza Schouler show: cherry-glazed lips. Just be careful when applying gloss. Dab only a a little to the centre of mouth, otherwise you’ll risking diluting the colour or making it run. And the other cardinal beauty rule that applies here: keep eye makeup simple when lips are this bold.