We can keep ourselves hydrated well on the outside but dryer, cooler temperatures can really wipe out the moisture in our skin. Here are some DYI ideas to keep your skin soft all winter long.
DIY Sugar Hand and Body Scrub
The best way to fend off germs all flu season long is to wash your hands with regular soap and water. However, if you do wash your hands frequently, you can strip natural moisture from them. Leave a jar of this homemade hand scrub by the sink in the kitchen, the bathroom or in your shower and your skin will feel soft again in no time. By using coarse sugar you can exfoliate your hands (or body) and the sugar contains glycolic acid that helps to moisturize and hydrate the skin.
Read Great Skin Care Naturally
Ingredients
Coarse raw sugar
White sugar
Coconut oil
Olive oil
Vanilla bean or an essential oil of your choice
Mix well and scrub, rinse with water. You don't want to wash away the oils as they act as a barrier and hold in the moisture.
Tips:
1. Use a 2:1 ratio of sugar to oil
2. Use mason jars or pretty containers you can get at your local dollar or craft store. You can decorate them and they make for a great hostess or teacher gift any time of the year.
3. If you want to use this as a facial scrub, swap the coarse raw sugar for a finer sugar like brown sugar. The particles are smaller and more gentle for the skin on your face.
DIY Lip Scrub
Make your lips soft and kissable with this easy scrub. Aloe vera contains about 75 active ingredients that help reduce inflammation, heal skin and lips, and it will help moisturize your lips. Store it in a small jar in the fridge for about 10 days to ensure it stays fresh.
Ingredients
2 teaspoons aloe gel
1 teaspoon raw sugar
Mix well. Rub over your dry lips, leave it on for about 5 minutes (and no worries, it's perfectly safe if you swallow some) then simply wipe it off.
Read 16 Reasons Why Aloe Vera Rocks
DIY Oatmeal Facial Mask
If your face is red and irritated by the wind or the sun, try this soothing oatmeal facial. The oats soothe skin irritation, the cucumber adds back needed moisture, and the honey contains vital antioxidants.
Ingredients1 tablespoon ground oats
1 tablespoon cucumber juice (simply squeeze the cucumber in the skin over a strainer to extract the liquid minus the seeds)
1 tablespoon of honey
Mix well and apply to damp skin. Relax for 5-10 minutes and wash off the mask. Follow with your favorite serum, facial oil or moisturizer to lock in the benefits.
Great Moisturizer Ideas
1. Coconut oil. Keep some in the bathroom and apply it whenever you get out of the shower or bath.
2. Black Seed oil. If you have specific problem areas, like dry elbows, knees, and heels, you can mix in one teaspoon of black seed oil into a cup of the coconut oil and massage it into those areas. Black seed oil comes from the Nigella Sativa plant and contains an active ingredient called “thymoquinone” which is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.
Love your beautiful moisturized skin!
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