Winter is coming. You don’t need to be dressed head-to-toe in black furs and clocking-in at The Wall to notice that fact. Just look at the signs. Grey clouds loom and grey faces abound. While we can’t do much about the weather, the latter problem falls right under our jurisdiction. So remembering to take your umbrella to work is up to you. But saving your face? We’ve got this.

When the weather outside is frightful, it’s a feat to look anything but scary, especially when it comes to your complexion. In fact, you can consider a low mercury reading your face’s kryptonite. It causes dryness. Unrelenting dryness. Even for those lucky sods who don’t usually suffer from dry skin in the first place.

Then there’s the cluster of peripheral issues orbiting winter: moving from cold outside to hot inside isn’t your skin’s favorite trip; woolly jumpers can worsen issues in your dermis; the short days; the long working hours. That face made beautiful by the summer sun is long behind you. But there are some clever tricks worth deploying that’ll keep you looking good by the time the work Christmas party comes around. Novelty jumper or no.

So wrap up warm (not too warm, mind; your skin doesn’t like it). Put the kettle on. Pull on your slipper socks. By the time you’re done with our dry skin survival guide, your face will be a picture of summer in the midst of winter. Here’s to looking hot.

1. It’s Shower Time

While we wouldn’t advocate wearing a stopwatch while you wash, it pays to keep an eye on the time in the shower. “Shower for too long and you’ll remove important oils from your skin,” says consultant dermatologist at Cadogan, Dr. Anjali Mahto.

“The same goes for heat: high temperatures aren’t good. Keep it short and warm.” Start the day by giving your skin a fighting chance.

2. Soap On The Water

Not that we’re trying to give you shower anxiety here, but, according to skin scientists, soap can actually be your enemy during the winter months too. “Products containing soap and fragrance can also strip oils from the skin,” says Mahto. “As a general rule, the nicer it smells, the more irritant it’s likely to contain.”