Advice Requested re Weathering Snow Bound Napoleonic Troops

[Sardoo]

I've collected about 50 figures from the excellent Perry and Murawski "Retreat from Moscow" ranges to put together a couple of dioramas set during the retreat. I've also done my research on uniforms - and the very mixed bag of clothing the soldiers wore in their attempts to keep warm/alive.

The advice I am looking for is around how to paint the figures to show the effects of the cold and the conditions on the troops. I want to avoid the uniforms - such as they are - looking as though they are just off the parade ground. I'd be grateful for any advice, therefore, as to how I could tone down the colours of the clothing and how to portray the effects of the cold on the faces/hands of the soldiers.

Any and all tips and advice would be gratefully received!

Thanks in advance for any help folks can give.