Ever wonder what those in the relaxation biz swear by to create a tranquil mood? Here, their shopping list.

The Comphy Co. Eye Pillow ($21.95) wins rave reviews from the Spa at Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, for its beautiful design, organic-flaxseed filling, and built-in pockets, perfect for holding healing gemstones or aromatherapy oils.

Nature’s Wash Cloth ($10 for a package of three) from Coulee Organic Knits is a favorite at Green Valley Spa and Resort in St. George, Utah. Use it to gently buff and coddle skin.

Relax: A Liquid Mind Experience CD ($14.99) fills the air at Spa Grande, Grand Wailea Resort Hotel and Spa in Maui, Hawaii, helping guests slow their racing minds and melt away any tension.

Red Flower Petal Topped Candles ($34) lend aroma and ambiance to the Spa at Mount Washington Resort, releasing the restorative scents of French lavender and Icelandic moonflower.

Mighty Leaf Teas ($16–$32), herbal loose-leaf blends rife with antioxidants and free of caffeine, put visitors at the Ritz-Carlton Spa in Orlando, Grande Lakes, Florida, in a mellow mood.

 
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Even if you love the crisp, brisk days of winter, you probably don’t love what they do to your complexion. “Skin gets dry because the wind and cold weather irritate it, and the lack of humidity in the air causes it to lose moisture rapidly,” says Elizabeth McBurney, MD, clinical professor of dermatology at Tulane University. “This causes flakes and scaly patches, which in turn give you a sallow, dull appearance.”

With several weeks of winter weather left, you need to take action now to breathe life into your looks. Here’s what the experts suggest.

Fight back with steam. Soften dry patches by steaming your face over a bowl of boiling water (cover your head with a towel) for several minutes. Follow up with an exfoliating mask or scrub, then slick on a rich moisturizer such as Clinique’s Moisture Surge Extra.

Take tougher measures. For stubborn, flaky areas on your face, Dr. McBurney suggests using a 1% hydrocortizone cream (available over the counter) followed by a moisturizer. When dry flakes begin to disappear, use a lotion with glycolic acid, such as Neutrogena’s Healthy Skin Face Lotion.

Choose double-duty products. Avoid caking with products that provide both color and moisture. Try cream blushes, and check out tinted moisturizers.

Warm up your face with color. Peachy or rosy blushes can give you that “I just ran 3 miles” look. For a richer lip color, use a tinted lip stain, such as Benefit’s Benetint, rather than a lipstick. Top it off with a balm to lock in moisture.

Pay close attention to your eyes. Give eyes a wake-up call by placing a tiny bit of satin white or ivory eye shadow under your brow bone and another very small dab just above your lash line in the middle of your lid. “This will catch the light and give the illusion of brightness,” says Brigitte Reiss-Andersen, a New York–based makeup artist. Also, camouflage dark circles with products such as Christian Dior’s Smoothing Anti-Fatigue Concealer.

Turns out what’s good for your face is definitely good for your feet. Think microdermabrasion, fillers, exfoliation—even purifying masks! Here are our picks for beautiful feet:

1. Perk up tired feet with The Body Shop’s Peppermint Purifying Foot Mask ($17). It contains clay to absorb toxins from your skin and make your feet superclean. Plus, this mask refreshes with peppermint oil.

2. Avon Foot Works’ Watermelon Exfoliating Foot Scrub ($3.99), made from watermelon-seed powder and extract, will leave your feet extrasoft and smelling delicious, too.

3. Soothe cracked heels (which can lead to infections, if not treated) with True Blue Spa’s Heel of Approval ($15; Bath and BodyWorks). It contains glycolic acid, which will help tackle any dead skin cells, and shea butter to provide deep-down moisture.

4. After a long day in heels, treat your feet to Dr. Weil for Origins’ The Way of the Bath Matcha Tea Soak ($45). With antioxidants and Japanese sea salts, it’s sure to refresh your feet. (It won’t hurt your sanity, either.)

5. If your soles snag on the sheets when you slide into bed, buff away calluses and dry skin with the Artemis Woman Pedi-Buffer ($19.99), a pedicure “power tool” that uses a rotating tip made of aluminum oxide crystals.

6. Soak up some sweat (your feet produce about 1 cup of perspiration a day) with Earth Therapeutics’ Portable Clean + Cool Foot Wipes ($5.99 for 15 sheets), made with antibacterial tea tree oil and cooling mint.

Honestly, who really sees your feet until it’s time to slip on a pair of open-toe shoes or sandals? Chances are no one, which explains why we pay so little attention to them in the winter. Follow our heel-to-toe guide for fabulous-looking feet—and we’ll forgive your neglect. Pressed for time? Simply combine steps to turn this into a one-day treatment. Either way, you’ll be ready to show off your tootsies long before Memorial Day.

 
Sunday: Prep for your pedicure

Remove all polish, and leave toenails au naturel for the rest of the week. If nails are discolored, rub them with a lemon wedge for one minute. “Lemons contain oxidizing agents which help brighten nails,” says Robert Cleary, director of product development at the Dashing Diva nail salon in New York. Before bedtime, massage an exfoliating alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) foot cream (we like Revlon’s Overnight Hand and Foot Repair, $10.99) into feet.

 
Monday: Come clean

Deep clean your feet in a tub of water with a few drops of tea tree oil (find it at any health-food store or at drugstore.com), says Suzanne Levine, a New York–based podiatrist: “Tea tree oil acts as an antiseptic.” Then rub feet with a washcloth and mild soap—and don’t overlook the space between your toes, where dirt and lint can linger. Pat feet dry.

 
Tuesday: Scrub your feet smooth

While in the shower or bath, use an exfoliating scrub (one to try: the self-heating Olay Thermal Pedicure, $8.99) to remove any rough patches your AHA may have left behind. Be sure to work on the ankle area. For extra-rough spots—usually the heels and balls of feet—use a pumice stone or foot file to gently smooth and buff skin.

 
Wednesday: Tend to your cuticles

For smoother, more even cuticles, apply a remover (we like Sally Hansen’s Instant Cuticle Remover, $5.95) and then push back the cuticle. “Any hanging skin still left behind can be gently trimmed with cuticle nippers,” says celebrity manicurist Deborah Lippmann.

 
Thursday: Moisturize with a mask

Five days into your foot-revitalizing routine, it’s time for soft and supple skin. Jamie Ahn, owner of the Acqua Beauty Bar and Townhouse spas in New York, recommends treating yourself to this do-it-yourself, 10-minute foot treatment: Mix 4 tablespoons of honey with 2 drops of fresh lemon juice and ¼ cup of sour cream. Sit on the bathtub edge, then spread the mixture on both feet. Relax while honey (a natural humectant) hydrates the skin, and lemon and sour cream (which contain citric and lactic acid, respectively) exfoliate dry patches. Rinse well.

 
Friday: Trim your toenails

It’s easier to clip nails—especially toenails—when they’re damp. After showering, clip your nails straight across, then trim the corners of each nail at a 45-degree angle. Remember, your toenails should be no longer than the edge of your toe. Be sure to file the corners into rounded edges to prevent ingrown toenails. Use a scrub brush to clean underneath the nails, and then gently buff them (our favorite buffer is Creative Nail Design Glossing Buffer Block, $5.50) to prepare the nails for polish.

 
Saturday: Add the finishing touches

Swipe your toenails with polish remover one more time to complete your prep. Apply one layer of a nail base coat (such as OPI Start-to-Finish, $9.95), then brush on two coats of a soft or sheer pink polish. “Dark reds and berries are too harsh for sandal season,” Lippmann says. A perfect application requires just three strokes: one down the middle, then one stroke on either side; repeat. Finish up with a top coat for additional shine and protection.

By Kathy Miller-Kramer