Take a good glance in the mirror and look closely at your skin.

Is it looking, what Bermudians call "ashy'', bumpy or worn with a touch of tiredness or do you have that near-death look due to a loss of pigment from winter temperatures? If your answer is `yes' to all of the above then now is the time to get rid of the dry-chapped look and moisten up, especially now that spring is only a few days a way and summer is soon to follow.

There are various tips on how to care for your skin from season to season with beauty care secrets for both men and women.

Beauty therapists from the Island's skin care salons stress the importance of taking care of your skin, especially after the dryness of the winter, and protecting yourself from the sun.

Strands Skin Clinic beauty therapist Jai Swammy offered various skin care suggestions.

"Men can use a foaming cleanser right through the winter and the summer and because they tend to have combination skin they can basically use a combination skin toner after the cleanser and a light moisturiser with a sun factor protector (SPF).

"With women they can use a foaming cleanser in the morning and a cleansing milk in the evening depending on their skin type.'' Miss Swammy added that a lighter moisturiser is best in the summertime with sun protection.

"Most people use sun block because the sun is so extreme here but it is best to use an all-in-one moisturiser with the SPF.

"Depending on the age group one could use an eye gel, and a neck cream if their skin is excessively dry. You can also do a scrub which will remove the dead skin cells and then a mask to tighten the pores back.'' Wave Length's Karen Strange said cleansing tone and a moisturiser are very important and should be done in the morning and at night during this time of the year and at the end of the summer.

"Women and men should have an alpha hydroxy facial or a fruit acid facial.

This increases the metabolic rate of the skin so it sheds the dead skin cells on the top of the skin more quickly so you get rid of the dull winter look.

People tend to get dry skin in the winter,'' Ms Strange said.

She added: "Alternatively make sure you use an exfoliating cream or a peel, they work on the top of the skin to rid it of dead skin cells. This is similar to the fruit acid but not as intense.'' Ms Strange said with the summer months fast approaching it is important to use sun screen on the skin every day even during the winter "because the sun's rays are also harmful to the skin even if it is not shiny outside.

"In the summer months people should use something stronger like a sun block to protect the skin.'' She also stressed the importance of cutting down on smoking and drinking as they both dehydrate the skin.

Beauty department head of the Secret Garden Georgiana Barry said she always recommends a good facial to her clients to get exfoliated the skin.

"You should always continue to use moisturisers whether it is winter or spring -- sometimes you may have to adjust the moisturisers for different seasons and you should always use a sun screen because the sun in Bermuda is so intense.'' Miss Barry added: "People should get facials on a regular basis to deep cleanse the skin and do any extractions that are necessary.

"One should also get a massage which conditions the skin and brings circulation up.

"Depending on how much melanin is in the skin, whether you have a dark or light complexion there are different sun screens you can use with different levels of SPF.

"That is very important because we can get a lot of sun damage to the skin which may not show up right away, and later on down the road you can get more wrinkles.'' Miss Barry also said it is important to properly take care of your skin especially before and after sun bathing by rehydrating and moisturising.

"People think a tan looks healthy but according to different skin types you have to be careful.'' At Renaissance beauty therapist manger Denise Woodhouse said during the winter our skin can appear dull and lifeless and very often dry and or dehydrated.

"We have a wide variety of facials and we particularly recommend the more advanced Intensive Range or Alpha Hydroxide treatment facials for those clients with dry, dehydrated or delicate complexions,'' Ms Woodhouse said.

She added: "In these treatments the therapists concentrates on restoring moisture to those vulnerable areas by using a variety of our unique products.

"These treatments give the skin an instant pick me up, improve skin hydration, and protect against dryness and pollution. Treatment can be continued at home.'' Managing beauty therapist of Ladyfayre Angela Wright said the biggest therapy to revitalise the skin is to use a peel twice a week.

"The cream peels are better for the skin and then it is important to use a face mask directly afterwards. The peel takes away the dead skin cells and the mask replenishes the new cells and that will give a softer feel to the skin.'' Ms Wright added: "The other thing people can do, provided that they are not sun bathing on a regular basis, is to use a fruit acid cream which exfoliates the dead skin cells all through the day, but you cannot sun bathe or use sun beds while using the cream because you are exfoliating and fresh skin cells will burn very easily.'' She said another good tip is to have a monthly facial. "You can also do a lot of work at home with your products but to get a deep cleanse you really need to see a professional and at that particular time the therapist can recommend creams you should be using.

"Your skin is changing all the time and you do not need to use the same cream all the time, you would use the same day cream in the winter as you would in the summer.

"With humidity your skin will hold in moisture in the summer because you are drinking more because of the heat and your skin does not dry out as much as it does in the winter.'' Ms Wright also said that men are constantly exfoliating when they shave everyday but they need to use a regular day cream and a face mask every so often, if you can get them to do it.

She added: "More men are having facials these days.''