Reclaim Your Skin From Winter

For a Latin girl who grew up in Miami, I am unusually fond of the winter, much to my family's surprise. I keep telling them the secret is the right equipment. For example: hand and toe warmers in gloves and boots when the temperature is in the teens and you're headed out to cross-country ski. Or the right combination of layers, from base to wind block to keep the warmth in when snowboarding in the evening.

The one thing I truly dislike about winter is the way it makes my skin look and feel—mainly, like a desiccated piece of fruit. My legs and elbows start to look more reptilian than human, and my fingers and heels crack and become rather painful (even bleeding). Once the cycle of dryness begins on my hands and feet, it becomes almost impossible to heal. I spend most of the winter looking like Michael Jackson with bandaged finger tips.

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