We don’t mean to be dramatic, but winter can kind of wreck your skin.
For people with combination skin, the dry areas of your skin can become drier, and the irritation that results can actually cause more breakouts. For people with dry skin, the need for moisture becomes even greater during this chilly season. If you don't tend to your skin's extra needs, it can get flaky, cracked, or generally unhealthy looking.
On top of that, less time in the sun can take a toll on our healthy glow, as can less exercise, which might start to happen as jogging or hiking outside becomes less appealing.
The benefits of winter?
Okay, we’re being a little negative here. The good parts about winter? When it gets dark earlier, we’re more likely to get to bed early and get a good night’s sleep. This benefits the complexion as well as… pretty much everything.
And of course, pumpkin appearing in our favorite dishes is delicious, festive, and the extra vitamin A can add warmth to your complexion.
RECOMMENDED READING:
Exfoliation: What Works and What's Safe?
DIY skincare recipes for dry skin But pie can only distract you from your dry skin for so long. We have a few DIY dry skin remedies to help you get through this winter without giving up on a luminous complexion.
No dryness, no dullness, no cracking! We’re covering everything from your face to your hands.
Let’s start simple with our recommended DIY skincare recipes for dry skin:
1. Apple facial mask recipe
We’ve talked about the health benefits of apples before, both for your skin and your insides. Apples make a great mask ingredient for people with combination skin because they help combat oily skin while also moisturizing. If you ever find yourself with a few wrinkly and unappetizing apples, this is a great use for them!
Ingredients: 1 apple
Directions:
If you have a food processor, you can roughly chop your apple (omitting the core) and process it into a textured paste (not all the way smooth). If you don’t have or want to use a food processor (they’re not known for being quick and easy to clean), peel, core, and steam the apple, then mash it up.
If you have them on hand, add 2 tablespoons of whole milk and a teaspoon of honey to the mixture. You can also use the apple alone for a nice, simple mask.
If you steamed the apple, make sure it cools enough before you apply it to your face. Spread the mask evenly across your face and leave it on for 15-20 minutes (more is fine, too).
Massage the mask into your face as you rinse it off.
Apple is a great ingredient for helping both oily and dry skin.
2. Natural face mask recipe for dry skin We challenge you not to eat any of this! This recipe was a great recipe from rawmazing.com. We swapped the avocado for some bananas because it makes for an even more appetizing smell, and bananas are underutilized as a skin-nourishing ingredient. You can definitely use avocado in here if you’d like.
Cocoa powder contains anti-oxidants that help protect from environmental stressors. Banana is soothing and softening, plus it contains vitamin C for anti-aging benefits. Use a ripe banana that mashes easily. Of course, coconut oil is an amazing moisturizer (and also contributes to the yummy smell of this mask). (Read more about The Benefits of Coconut Oil for Your Face) If you have oily or clogged skin, you can use some hazelnut oil instead, though it will make the consistency of it a little less thick. The last ingredient is honey.
Ingredients:
1 ripe banana
2 tbsp cocoa powder
1 tbsp raw honey
2 tbsp coconut oil
Directions:
Mash banana with a fork in a small-medium size bowl.
Add the rest of the ingredients and blend.
Apply to all areas of your face and leave on for 15-20 minutes.
Rinse off with warm water.
There are many natural ingredients you can use as skincare products.
3. Homemade hand moisturizer recipe for winter
Winter’s toll is often seen first on the hands. They become dull, cracked, and dry, which can be uncomfortable in addition to unflattering. We recommend moisturizing regularly with our Mango & Vanilla Body Butter, but we also found this luxurious, at-home recipe to massage into your hands and bring them back to life.
You could even use this oil to massage a loved one. You’ll get the hand soothing benefits while also extending the gift of massage.
This recipe is from one of our favorite natural beauty books (you’ll notice we reference it often): Natural Skin Care, by Joni Loughran.
Ingredients:
1 tsp wheat germ oil
400 I.U. vitamin E
2 oz. avocado oil
2 oz. apricot kernel oil
4 drops lemon essential oil
Directions: Mix ingredients together and massage into hands. If you have leftover, store them in a sealed container (pro tip: you can reuse the containers from our products)
4. DIY avocado deep hair conditioner recipe Ingredients
½ mashed ripe avocado
½ tsp olive oil
3 drops rosemary or lavender essential oil
Directions:
Combine all ingredients
Massage into hair and scalp, concentrating on the ends
Leave on for 10 minutes, then rinse well
You could also leave this recipe on longer. Personally, if we sacrificed half an avocado, we'd want to make sure we got the full benefits from it! Apply this mask, then do a few sudoku puzzles, go on a vacuuming spree, or knit something.
Avocado is really helpful as an ingredient for hair conditioner.
5. DIY naturally tinted lip balm recipe Ingredients:
⅛ ounce alkanet root
1 cup olive oil
¼ cup beeswax
1 tbsp honey
5 drop essential oil (vanilla, peppermint, or cardamom)
Directions:
Simmer the alkanet root in the olive oil at a low temperature for 15 minutes, or mix them together in a dry glass jar for two weeks.
Strain, pressing the oil out of the root with clean, dry fingers.
Add the beeswax and heat or reheat gently until the beeswax is melted.
Remove from the heat and add the honey and essential oil.
Pour into lip balm containers and allow it to cool before sealing the jar.
Are you thinking of try any of these recipes? Leave a comment below and let us know how they turn out.
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