Most people may not realize that SPF is just as important in the winter months as it is in the summer months. Anytime your skin is exposed to the sun (hot or cold) you are at risk for sun damage.

But who wants to slather on tropical scented sunscreen before they put on their snow boots? Not me! So, I put together the following winter SPF fixes for the three areas that are most exposed during the winter months – face, hands and lips.

Here are some winterizing ways to get your SPF during the cold winter months, in the three areas that are most exposed – FACE, HAND & LIP:

The RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Daily Moisturizer with SPF 30 is clinically shown to visibly reduce the appearance of expression lines and deep wrinkles after 8 weeks of use. The lightweight, oil-free formula contains the latest sunscreen technology from Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products Company that is specifically engineered to deliver very broad and photostable UVA and UVB protection with an SPF 30. Daily use of the protective moisturizer will help prevent premature aging. $19.99 for a 1.0 fl oz tube at drugstores nationwide.

Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Age Shield Hand Cream SPF 30 - 2 Oz - shields skin six layers deep from the sun’s skin aging UVA rays and provides effective, long-lasting protection from UVA/UVB rays that can cause up to 90% of the signs of premature aging. Your hands can give away your age, so get superior anti-aging protection for your skin with the first and only SPF 30 hand cream to contain Helioplex™ advanced sunscreen technology.

Clinically shown to improve overall age impression of hands in just 4 weeks. Neutrogena Norwegian Formula® Age Shield Hand Cream improves what ages the look of hands most - roughness, age spots and fine lines.

The AVEENO Essential MoistureTM Lip Conditioner with SPF 15 is a unique lip conditioner that provides long-lasting moisturization to condition and protect dry, chapped lips. This new lip conditioner is enriched with natural oatmeal, long known to soothe skin, and a skin protectant to help protect and prevent dry, chapped lips. And, its exclusive blend of natural skin conditioners, including jojoba oil and shea butter, leaves lips feeling moisturized long after applying. This convenient stick form is hypoallergenic, ideal for everyday use and glides on easily with no waxy feel. And, it will shield lips from harmful UVA and UVB rays.

In a high-def world, old-school skincare treatments like facials and laser rejuvenation just don’t cut it. Actresses resort to “blu ray” makeup to make their skin appear crystal clear when under scrutiny and now Manhattan-based plastic surgeon Dr. Kamran Jafri is introducing the newest way to make your pores look perfect: Botox!

Botox, which is most commonly associated with reducing wrinkles in the face, is now being used to treat other skin conditions such as large pores, oily skin, and inflammation from acne. The new technique is called intradermal Botox, and it is transforming the way people with less-than-perfect skin look at their old-school treatments and remedies.

The difference between intradermal and regular Botox is where it is injected: where regular Botox is injected deep into the muscles of the skin, causes wrinkles to smooth out, intradermal Botox is injected into the skin itself.

The injection of Botox into the skin actually causes the pores to constrict in size, which is a huge plus for anyone who has tried to reduce them in the past – there have always been different methods and applications to reduce pore size, but there is nothing topical that can be applied to the skin to reduce their appearance.

Because of its interaction with the pores, Botox also does wonders for oily and acne prone skin. The pores of the skin contain sebaceous glands, which secret oil, which can cause oily skin and acne if the glands are over productive. By restricting the muscles of the pores, Botox also stops oil production from the sebaceous glands, allowing acne prone skin to become clear.

“Botox has been used in the ‘off label’ form for many years, with the most notable targets being wrinkles. Throughout the course of the application of Botox for wrinkles, doctors were noticing a reduction in pore size and an overall ‘matte’ finish on the skin,” says Dr. Jafri. “What we have discovered now is that Botox can be used for more than just wrinkles, and it can change the lives of those with acne prone skin. It provides an effective treatment where acne problems were previously left untreated.”

Sun Sauce recently sent out a press mailing of 24 tips of counteracting the effects of aging - naturally! It was so helpful that I knew I had to share it with my friends here.

1. Frownies. These little tape devices work miracles without needles and have been around for a hundred years. Wear them at night or for at least four hours and you will see results. Warning: Your husband may think you look like a mummy.

2. Make a mate latté. Yerba mate tea tastes great and comes in many flavors. Heat water almost to boiling, steep for 10 minutes, strain, and then top it off with steamed, frothy milk (or use almond milk and a dash of cinnamon). Do not drink mate if you are taking an MAO inhibitor, as the combination may raise blood pressure.

3. Positive attitude. Various researches have shown that optimism increases good health. Start with positive self-talk: “I can handle this.” Try to avoid criticizing yourself!

4. Care for hands and feet. Exfoliate (use the scrub recipe from chapter 7) and then, before bed, mix avocado oil and primrose oil in equal parts, apply a few drops to hands and feet, cover with gloves and socks, and go to sleep.

5. Detox for a day

6. Dr. Gilbère’s Seaweed Detox Bath. This mineral bath increases blood and lymph flow to circulation-starved areas, breaks down cellulite and moves waste out of your body. You can also use it as a body wrap.

7. Whiten your teeth. Try whitening strips while reading a book before you doze off.

8. Sleep. Get at least eight hours of sleep. Try to go to bed before 10 p.m. Tip: Listen to calming music for 45 minutes before bedtime. (I’ve heard of a study showing that music helped elderly folks sleep longer and feel less tired the next day. This may be because music decreases a key stress hormone in the body.)

9. Sleep with a contour pillow, the affordable alternative to pricey beauty pillows. The Anti-Wrinkle Pillow made by Eyetopia™ stretches the neck and reduces the pressure of face to pillow (which, in turn, reduces wrinkles!). Visit www.cynthiaboxrudmd.com for more info.

10. Look Younger with a sunless tan, use a bronzer or sunless tanning lotion- it will soften the appearance of imperfections while giving you skin an youthful healthy glow

11. Use eye-hydrating goggles. Saturate cotton pads with an herbal calming tonic such as argan or neem oil and place in these specially designed, hydrating goggles. Sleep in them or remove after 30 minutes. Visit www.dreamessentials.com to find out more.

12. De-puff. Cut back on white flour and sugar for 24 hours. Refined carbs cause your body to retain water, making your face “puffy.”

13. Pimple zapper. Blend one packet of brewers yeast and a few drops of lemon juice and apply as a mask before bed. As the mixture hardens, it pushes away debris clogging your pores.

14. Throw on another pillow. Fifteen minutes before rising from bed in the morning, place an extra pillow under your head. This will help de-puff your eyes.

15. Cut down on salt. Salt makes you retain water. Avoid fast foods and switch to Spice Hunters, my favorite spices. My mom is now also a believer in these tasty salt-free spices.3 (Those with high blood pressure should only have 250mg a day; the average person, 3,000mg or less. If you are active and sweat a lot, you may need more.)

16. Pray. Thank God for everything before bed and before you get up. Be grateful!

17. Be joyful. A happy person looks younger because a smile sheds years.

18. Plump away your wrinkles. Drink eight to ten glasses of water with lemon a day. Your skin will be more hydrated and the appearance of wrinkles less pronounced, while lemon helps with digestion.

19. Avoid sugar. It dries out your skin and promotes wrinkles

20. Choose an herbal coffee instead of a regular cup of joe. In a coffee/tea press, make Teeccino Vanilla Nut caffeine-free herbal coffee, then mix with unsweetened vanilla almond milk, half a drop of Pure Inventions vanilla cocoa, and 1/2 tsp Xylitol—or add a little organic half-and-half (it’s a vanilla-cocoa delight!).

21. Get a pedicure and manicure, or DIY. Soft hands and feet and clean nails are beautiful, with polish or without.

22. Use a silk pillowcase. Silk does not crease the way cotton does, and will not leave a mark on your face.

23. Drink rooibos (red tea). This South African tea has collagen-building copper, as well as vitamin C and other antioxidants.

24. Enjoy a Sea Cal Bath by Spa Technologies. Soak for 20 minutes is a blend of micronized coralaceous algae and marine plankton, rich in calcium and magnesium. These powerful minerals restore cellular balance by stimulating metabolism and eliminating excess water. Great for treatment of cellulite, water retention, PMS and bloating.

Do you have any personal anti-aging tips? We’d love to hear them!

I have had some big fun playing with some Nicole Paxson cosmetics of late. Nicole has designed a range of foundations that are meant to have great coverage in order to cover up skin disorders due to - well, any reason you might have. Nicole has Lupus, which has caused her a wide variety of unpleasant skin reactions - rashes and photo-sensitivity among them. Her range includes powder (one color works for all), cream foundations, liquid foundation, bronzer and concealer. Each product has a nice SPF - from 15 (powder) to 30 (most foundations) with both UVA and UVB coverage. All of these products, while having great coverage, are not heavy or mask-y like some others you may have used.

While thankfully I don’t have some of the skin problems that her line is designed to cover (and does cover, very well), I have found great use/need for the Pudding - for my old lady spidery veins on my leg. I know, not so beautiful. The color I have, Light, matches my winter skin very well, but I am going to purchase a darker color (it comes in three shades, Light, Medium and Dark) and then have both to mix for any time of the year (this is what I do with most foundations, btw). Unlike Dermablend, which is what I used to use for this, is a very creamy light formula (really, think pudding) with incredible coverage and it lasts forever. It dries down to a powder/matte finish and is going on my next big pimple that comes along, for sure. Pudding is $38.50 for a 1 ounce jar - and really, this should last a good long time, as it only takes the tiniest bit to do the job.

Have you tried any of Nicole Paxson’s foundations? Let me know what you think…