Berlin  - The arrival of fall means it's high time to sort through the products sitting on the bathroom shelf. That's because as the temperature sinks outdoors and the heat is turned up indoors, skin and hair need special treatment to protect them from harsh weather and dryness.

Cold weather and dry heat: These are the two main conditions in the autumn and winter months that call for comprehensive care. Skin becomes dry and can become charged with static electricity, said Hanne Vedder, a cosmetic expert at Germany's consumer centre in Stuttgart. The hands and face are particularly vulnerable to cold and dryness because they are most likely to be exposed.

Special care products: There are series of products created especially for autumn and winter, but Vedder said consumers don't necessarily need them. Paying attention to a few basics about skin and hair care and having a look at a product's contents is sufficient to properly supplement supplies already in the bathroom.

Ursula Lueders of Germany's consumer products testing organization in Berlin said a product's effectiveness depends on its "total recipe." All the ingredients are listed on the package, but it's often hard to follow. Basically, all creams for dry and ageing skin work well in autumn and winter because they are richer, meaning they have a higher proportion of fat and therefore help the skin maintain more moisture.

A simple trick: Use night creams during the day, said Vedder. This can be conducive to healthy skin in the cold weather months. Aside from day creams with a higher fat content, creams described as water-in-oil are also suitable for the season, said Birgit Huber of Germany's association representing companies that make personal care products and detergents. Facial creams have the advantage of a higher proportion of plant-derived fat - the oils within them. And the ingredient vitamin E gives the skin a greater capacity to maintain moisture.

Demand less of your hair: Hair also appreciates good care. "Conditioning treatments definitely can be good for the hair," said Huber. But cold weather and dry air makes the right skin care more important. Everything in the right measure, however. Too much cleanliness can do damage. "Frequently washing and frequent showering leads to dryness," Huber warned. Thus, people who shower daily must use body lotion, which helps replenish moisture.

Use hand cream regularly: A wide variety of hand creams are available on store shelves in the cold weather months. Not only the contents of the creams vary, but also their price. A higher price does not necessarily mean the cream works better. "In our experience the most expensive product has never come out on top in one of our tests," said Lueders. "Inexpensive products can be just as good."

Protect skin from harmful sun rays: The skin also needs protection from the sun in the winter. The strength of its rays should not be underestimated on clear days and especially by skiers. Huber said people who plan ski holidays shouldn't forget to take along a sun cream with a sufficient UV protection factor.

Ventilate rooms and drink water: In addition to regular use of lotion and moisturising hair care products, it's also important to ventilate the home, said Huber. This increases humidity in the room and helps the skin maintain moisture. Vedder added that people can also maintain moisture in their skin by drinking two litres of water per day. (dpa)