Herbs: rosemary, nettle, chamomile, calendula, horsetail, geranium, carrot.

Oils: jojoba, wheat germ, evening primrose, almond, avocado, flaxseed.

Now that winter is in full swing, it's time to evaluate your personal care regimen. Just as you change your wardrobe from season to season, so should you shift your approach to caring for your skin and hair. This must mean that you can forget about using the sunscreen you needed in July, right? Wrong.

Although we do tend to spend more time indoors during the winter months, it doesn't mean we no longer need to protect our skin from the sun. For those who are challenged by winter sports, the need for protection is even greater. The exposure to ultraviolet light (UVA and UVB) may seem more subtle in winter than in summer, but, even on the most overcast winter day, the sun shines through and is reflected from surfaces, especially if the ground is covered with snow. Whether it be from a tinted foundation, or from a moisturizing lotion, a daily application of a sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) between 15 to 30 is essential for everyone.

The skin is also assaulted by other elements characteristic of the winter season, such as chafing wind and constant exposure to heated, dry indoor air. Your skin needs special nurturing at this time of year and it's important to practice a few simple basics.

Proper Cleansing: Soap can be terribly drying to your skin at any time of year, but especially so in winter. And, if you're ever tempted to reach for the liquid hand soap kept on the side of the wash basin, don't. Many of these liquid soaps are actually detergents. Your goal is to gently remove dirt, not strip away most of the natural oils in your skin.

Your best bet is to start and end your day by gently washing with a good vegetable-based soap or cleanser. Moisturize with an alpha-hydroxy lotion, paying particular attention to areas around the eyes, mouth, and throat. If your skin is very sensitive, you might want to try a beta-hydroxy lotion. Like alpha-hydroxy acids, it bonds water to skin, but is gentler.

I often use a light mixture of sandalwood essential oil and mineral water and spritz my face to "revitalize" the moisturizer throughout the day.

Bathing Tips: Bathing or showering in very hot water may feel good, but it's also damaging and drying to your skin. A glycerine/herbal bath bar is best to use since many bath gels and soaps contain alcohol and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), both drying agents. (SLS is found in engine degreasers and is the standard agent used in testing labs to irritate skin.) After bathing, gently pat, don't rub, the skin dry and apply an alpha-hydroxy acid-containing moisturizer to slightly damp skin.

December 15-19: Anti-inflammatory and Anti-infective Natural Products Conference. London, UK. Presented by the London School of Pharmacy. Contact: Prof. Michael Heinrich, The School of Pharmacy, Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, 29/39 Brunswich Square, London WC1N 1AX. Ph: 44-20-77 53 58 44. Fax: 44-20-77 53 59 09. E-mail: Michael.Heinrich@cua.ulsop.ac.uk.

December 15-22: Winter Retreat in Sunny Costa Rica. Guaria de Osa, Costa Rica. Sentient Experientials Presents a VOYAGE BOTANICA with Neo-Amazonica Painting, Integrative Yoga, Herbal Medicine, The New Ethnobotany & Ecological Forest & Ocean Experiences Contact: Dahlia Kresch E. Miller. Ph: 510/235-4313. Fax: 510/215-9840. E-mail: reservations@OsaRetreat.org. Website: www.osaretreat.org.

December 20: An English Holiday Tea. Round Top, TX. Enjoy a leisurely, delicious afternoon (2-4) with traditional tea service spiced with a Texas accent. All guests will receive a living ‘Hill Hardy’ Rosemary for remembrance of the occasion. Cost: $15.00 per person, includes tax and gratuity.  Reservations Required. Contact: Gwen Barclay, The International Festival-Institute, P.O. Box 89, Round Top, Texas 78954-0089. Ph: 979/249-5283 (for reservations), 979/248-3129 (general office, for accommodations and tours). Fax: 979/249-3828. E-mail: gwenbarclay_herbs@hotmail.com. Website: www.festivalhill.org.

December 27-January 2: Winter Retreat in Sunny Costa Rica. Guaria de Osa, Costa Rica. Sentient Experientials presents a voyage botanica with neo-Amazonica painting, integrative yoga, herbal medicine, the new ethnobotany, & ecological forest & ocean experiences. Contact: Dahlia Kresch E. Miller. Ph: 510/235-4313. Fax: 510/215-9840. E-mail: reservations@OsaRetreat.org. Website: www.osaretreat.org.