January is here and many of us are looking at maxed out credit cards and cold miserable weather ahead! Most of us have made some resolutions, so why not add the following tips to your resolution list? They are simple DIY beauty secrets that won’t drain your wallet but will make you feel great.

Hands
Give your hands a welcome break during the harsher winter weather with some TLC. The skin on your hands is thin and endlessly ravaged by the elements; keep them as dry as possible. Try to avoid leaving water on your hands, as it will evaporate and dry them out even further, which can cause redness. If you find you have very dry hands, look for a cream containing lanoline.

Spoil your hands by covering them in petroleum jelly or a thick hand cream, and slip on some soft cotton gloves overnight. In the morning all the cream will have absorbed leaving you with soft, smooth hands. Don’t neglect your cuticles; rub a little vegetable oil onto your cuticles – this helps keeps them soft. You can do the same routine with your overlooked dry feet – just use socks instead of gloves! When you see the immediate difference you will want to do this on a regular basis.

Hair
Our shining glory is also probably dry thanks to indoor heating, hats and cold windy weather. Are you guilty of having used too many heating and styling products during the festive season? To help reverse any damage, you can easily perform a hot oil treatment in the comfort of your own home and save on expensive trips to the salon. I like to heat up olive oil and massage it into my scalp and hair, then cover with a shower cap and leave for twenty minutes or even over night (protect your pillow with a towel). At the end of the treatment, apply shampoo directly on your hair before you wet it – this makes it easier to wash out.

Dandruff
Winter time sees many of us suffer with those dreaded white flakes, which is bacteria clogging your hair follicles. There are several inex-pensive ways to experiment in getting rid of dandruff – have a go and see what works for you. Lemon juice can be very effective. Squeeze the juice from a lemon, add half a cup of warm water, pour over your scalp and let sit for five minutes, then shampoo as usual. Salt is also a quick fix. Rub two tablespoons of salt into your scalp before you shampoo your hair and flakes will become a thing of the past.

Bath time
Why not make this a great way to relax? Epsom salts are inexpensive and are made from mineral magnesium sulphate, which draws toxins form the body and helps sedate the nervous system, as well as relaxing those tired muscles. A few drops of your favourite fragrance and you can pretend you are in a wonderful spa! Lots of body lotion applied to damp skin will help keep dry and itchy skin at bay.

It pays to look after our skin all year round – not just when it is on show during the warmer months – and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune.