The humid days of summer are behind us, taking with them our moist, supple and soft skin.

Unlike summer, the winter winds have a tendency to dry out skin, leaving it irritated and chapped. Whacking up the central heating doesn't help either - in fact it only worsens the sorry condition.

Don't despair! As well as using a rich moisturiser and staying out of the cold as much as possible, there are some foods you can eat that could help return your skin to its pre-winter glory.

Get fishy

Foods rich in omega-3 are pretty much unbeatable when it comes to combating dryness.

The oily nature of omega-3 injects moisture back into the skin, as well as repairing any damage caused by the harsh winter weather.

If you're looking to boost your omega-3 levels then you could try eating fish such as salmon, mackerel and tuna.

Go nuts

Anything with vitamin E in it is going to do absolute wonders for your skin.

It improves skin elasticity, which helps to reduce the signs of ageing and will leave you looking radiant throughout the festive period.

Vitamin E is found in nuts and avocados, which are healthy sources of fats, and should not be avoided when trying to lower your calorie intake.

"We live in a 'fat-free world', obsessed with calories. As fat is stripped off our diets, our skin becomes thirsty for fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamin A, D and E," says Miguel Toribio-Mateas, a leading nutritionist. People need the fatty layer which is given from vitamin E for soft, supple and glowing skin, so go get nutty!

Zinc

Zinc is an important mineral to include in your diet, especially during the colder months.

It helps reduce inflammation, speeds up new cell growth and soothes sore skin - making it an all round winter wonder!

To introduce more zinc into your diet, you could chomp down on garlic, dark chocolate, pumpkin seeds, chickpeas and butternut squash (probably not together).

Most of these foods are particularly seasonal, and could form the basis of many of your winter meals.

Posted by Matilda Jones