We’ve all experienced the dry, itchy, flaky skin that is brought on by cold winter weather. Peeling, cracked cuticles, itchy legs, and dry hands don’t stand a chance against some good, natural skin care and a consistent routine! We’re here to share some of our winter skincare essentials and help you build a routine that will keep your skin glowy and healthy all winter long.
Exfoliate
The first step to tackling dry skin is to slough it away and start fresh. Removing that layer of dead skin cells and any buildup left behind by your lotions or SPF will leave you feeling and looking soft and smooth. Regular exfoliation also helps to improve the overall look of your skin by helping to fade scars and discolouration. The method of exfoliation you use is completely up to you!
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Dry Brushing: This season, we’ve loved dry brushing to exfoliate. This method involves using a brush with stiff bristles on dry skin, ideally before you hop in the shower or bath. We recommend to brush in long or circular strokes, always in an upwards motion towards the heart. Dry brushing is also a popular Ayurvedic technique for aiding circulation and lymphatic drainage. Our Dry Skin Brush is made with sisal and compostable materials, and it’s a great addition to a relaxing spa-day ritual.
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Body Scrubs: If you prefer to exfoliate in the shower, a salt or sugar scrub is a great choice. Salt scrubs use coarse crystals to exfoliate the skin, so we recommend these for feet and legs. Sugar scrubs use finer crystals, so these tend to be a bit gentler and great for the whole body. Both are typically formulated with a base of nourishing oils and butters that leave behind a layer of moisture on your skin once you rinse them off. These are also great to use before hair removal for a razor bump and ingrown-free experience.
Regardless of the method you choose, we’d recommend exfoliating about once a week for the best results.
Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize
Arguably the most important step, moisturizing your skin is essential to preventing dryness and premature aging of the skin. Using a body butter or lotion with natural, nourishing oils and butters not only keeps your skin moisturized, but high-quality ingredients also work to deliver much needed healing properties to the skin, improving elasticity and leaving you with a healthy glow.
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Body Butters: We love a good body butter, the rich consistency just feels oh so lovely on dry skin. Our Body Butter Creams are 25% shea butter, so they are deeply nourishing and healing for the skin. Whipped to perfection with other oils like rosehip and raspberry seed, these butters never leave you feeling greasy. These are such a great little treat for your skin at the end of the night or on a self-care day.
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Lotions: For the lotion lovers, we’ve got you covered. Lotions are often a bit more convenient to use, usually being packaged in a pump bottle and being available in small sizes that are great for dry hands on the go. Mango seed butter, jojoba oil, and avocado oil are some of our favourite lotion ingredients for keeping your skin deeply moisturized, without the greasy feeling. Our lotions are great for the hands, body, and feet!
We recommend applying a generous layer of lotion or body butter to your skin daily, especially after a shower or bath to replenish lost moisture.
Body Oils
Body oils have recently gained popularity in the skin care community due to their nourishing properties and the glowy look they leave on your skin. Compared to lotions or creams, body oils better deliver nutrients to the skin and due to their consistency, you don’t always need to use as much. To get the most out of your body oil, we’d recommend applying it straight after your bath or shower, after patting yourself dry and while your skin is still damp. Applying them on damp skin helps to lock in moisture and reduces any oily residue. We love to use our Massage Oils as a body oil, or our Unscented Massage Oil for those who prefer a scent-free option.
Deep Treatments
Sometimes, no matter what you do, a good moisturizer just won’t cut it. This is where our Healing Salves come in! Healing Salves are ideal for treating specific concerns in smaller areas, like dry hands and cuticles, cracked heels, or patches of dermatitis. Our Healing Hands and Organic Foot Balm are both formulated with deeply nourishing butters and oils with antifungal and antibacterial properties to help repair cracked, dry skin. Our Psorganic Ointment is our holy grail for all things dermatitis. It’s great for psoriasis, eczema, bug bites, and topical dermatitis due to its healing tamanu and hemp seed oils, as well as antifungal neem oil.
Consistency Is Key!
Once you find the perfect skin care ritual for your skin type, the best way to see results is to be consistent. Taking the time out of a busy day to take care of yourself is not only so beneficial for your skin but also for your mind and overall wellbeing. Give yourself a little extra TLC this winter and embrace healthy, glowy skin!
