Winter time is famous for dry skin. Even though I am venting my dryer indoors and the windows are usually all steamy my youngest and I are still having dry skin issues. If you have dry skin, you know that it’s not just annoying and kinda gross looking, it can also be incredibly uncomfortable. Your face feels tight and your lips may get chapped and your body itches. Conventional moisturizers are a waste of time usually, in my experience at least. The reason may be that the moisturizers simply makes your skin oily or irritates the problem even further and they are loaded with unsavory ingredients as well.
The best way to avoid this is by going natural.
Drink plenty of water. This is the area where my son and I are lacking I think. When it is cold we don’t drink as much and we don’t eat as much raw, hydrating food. This remedy is totally simple, and often overlooked. Your skin needs water to stay soft and smooth. While putting water on your skin will dry it out, putting it in your body is essential for keeping it hydrated. Plus, drinking enough water just makes you feel better too!
A really good way to get itchy dry skin quickly is to use soap. Over cleaning your skin is often unnecessary and can really dry it out. In the winter we tend to take long baths and showers, particularly with very hot water and this is extremely drying to the skin. I know I like to do this too, I need to stop. Quick showers are the better option, for our skin and the environment. Use a natural mild soap like Dr. Bronners, sparingly. Dry brushing regularly can help slough off old skin cells and uncover healthier, smoother skin. Another tactic is too use a homemade or store bought sugar scrub. If homemade isn’t your thing than I recommend Organic Fiji Sugar Polish in Pineapple Coconut. Yum!! Follow up with all natural coconut oil to seal in the moisture. You can get a wondrous Organic Virgin Coconut Oil Moisturizing Cream from Tropical Traditions. It is heavenly.
If you have especially dry skin on your face, the best treatment is also probably the simplest and least expensive one around: honey. Honey has been used for centuries to moisturize, and you really don’t need anything else. Just apply honey to your face like a masque, let dry for 30 minutes, then rinse off. Your face will feel fresh, hydrated, clean and healthy. I prefer to use a thick, buttery style of raw honey and not the ooey gooey kind you find in bear shaped bottles.
Good old fashioned oil does the trick to. Coconut oil and extra virgin olive oil are great for moisturizing and treating a variety of skin conditions. You can even mix in some honey and heat it to soften it and make it easier to go on.
If you want a great ready made product I suggest the Rose Ointment from Young Living. It is absolutely essential for my own dry winter skin and I credit it with finally taming my adult acne. It makes my skin feel so luscious, I can;t stop rubbing it!
We have to remember though that natural remedies are about fixing the cause as much as they are about treating the problem. It’s best to protect your skin in the first place. Be sure to protect your skin from dry, cold winter conditions by using scarves, gloves, and avoid long exposures to severe cold when possible. Drink lots of water, humidify your home if you can, and remember that forced air heating systems will only dry skin more so if you can put on a sweater instead of turn on the heat, do it!
I am doing a honey mask myself tonight and I will do a mini-one on my son as he sleeps. I am also going to make sure we drink more water and green smoothies… even if the cold makes me shy away from them. And even though I might look ridiculous picking up my kids in a ski mask… I am seriously considering THAT to!
Also a really cool book that shares time tested beauty practices from days loooong ago is Beauty Secrets of the Bible. Its a very interesting read. Women a long time ago were concerned about this stuff to and they used natural ingredients with great success.
