With spring just around the corner, it’s time to bid farewell to icicles, skiing, and long evenings sipping hot cocoa next to the fire. It’s also time to bid farewell to biting winds, subzero temperatures, and the 24/7 blast of oh-so-dry central heating – not to mention all the skin woes that come right along with these “winter wonders.”
They might be wonderful to see and enjoy (if you’re a fan of cold temps), but they’re anything but wonderful for your skin.
Months of winter weather can leave you with skin that’s dry, rough, and chapped – all of which can seriously dull your glow.
And it’s not just your pretty face that’s at stake here. Winter weather can even be bad for the health of your skin. That’s right – skin that’s dry is more prone to redness, itchiness, and irritation. And if that dry skin begins to crack? It can lead to the risk of bacteria getting into the skin, causing further irritation.
All of this can make you long for gentle breezes, soft rain, and the return of dewy, springtime skin. Well … we’re almost there.
But there are things you can do to renew your skin now. How about a rejuvenating homemade facial scrub?
A skin-pampering facial scrub will rid you of dry winter skin, restoring skin’s moisture, so you can gear up for spring. You’ll be left with a complexion that’s soft, supple, radiant, and most importantly – protected – to get you through the waning days of winter.
Moisturizing Facial Scrub For Winter Skin
This recipe is a miracle worker for skin that’s been battered by winter weather. It uses nourishing ingredients to exfoliate, moisturize, and soothe. So, what makes this facial scrub so great?
Coconut Oil:
The oil from the humble coconut has been hailed in recent years as a do-it-all remedy. Not only can you cook with it, you can also use it to condition your hair, shave your legs, and soften your cuticles. And yes – those benefits extend to the skin as well. Studies have found that coconut oil is an effective and safe way to hydrate mild to moderately dry skin.2
Olive Oil:
The Mediterranean diet, which is rich in olive oil, is known to have a myriad of health benefits, including good heart health.3 Well, it turns out olive oil is good for your skin, too. Topical application of olive oil may help reduce redness, irritation, and itchiness.4
Honey:
Since skin is particularly dry in the winter, it’s important to take your hydration game to the next level. That’s where honey comes in. Sure, putting honey on your face may sound sticky, but it’s worth it. Not only will honey deeply moisturize thirsty skin, it also promotes youthfulness, helps slow wrinkle formation, balances skin pH, and it helps prevent pathogens from invading your skin.5 Talk about some sweet benefits!
Oats:
Oats are the all-star of this recipe, because they do so much. Their first task is to gently exfoliate the skin, scrubbing away layers of dry, dead skin cells that may have built up over the winter months.
The second purpose of the oats is to protect and nourish the skin. You see, oats contain something called “polysaccharides” – a type of carbohydrate. And when you combine polysaccharides with liquid – coconut oil and honey, for example – they can work to protect your skin and help reduce moisture loss.6
Oats also contain phenols, which are naturally-occurring, organic compounds. These phenols work to soothe irritated skin.7 So, if your skin is majorly chapped or irritated by winter winds, phenols might just be your best friend.
Essential Oils:
The fun part of this homemade facial scrub? Choosing essential oils! Here are essential oils you can try, based on the benefits you want:
- Energy: lemon, grapefruit, peppermint, basil
- Stress relief: lavender, vetiver, cedarwood, frankincense
- Positive outlook: geranium, sandalwood, bergamot
- Glowing skin: geranium, patchouli, ylang-ylang
- Antioxidant Boost: oregano, rosemary, sage
Got all the ingredients? Let’s get to mixing!
DIY FACIAL SCRUB RECIPE
Ingredients:
¼ cup uncooked oats
⅛ cup honey
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 to 4 drops essential oil
Instructions:
- Pour the oats into a food processor, and pulse until they’re broken down. You don’t want the oats to become too fine a powder – they’ll lose their exfoliating power.
- Pour your oats into a bowl, and combine with honey, coconut oil, olive oil, and essential oils. Mix until well blended.
- After washing your face, apply the mixture, and gently massage for 60 seconds.
- Now, to get the full skin-protecting benefits of the oats, leave on for 5 to 10 minutes. This will ensure your skin gets a good chance to soak in all those good nutrients.
- Rinse with lukewarm water, and pat your face dry.
A DIY Facial Scrub Puts A Spring In Your Step
It’s only a matter of time before winter weather transforms into something a little more … tolerable. But when it comes to refreshing your skin? There’s no time like the present. For a complexion that’s moisturized, soothed, glowing, and protected – give this facial scrub a try. So long, winter skin!
For more health tips, keep reading here:
4 Tips For Improving Your Sleep Quality (Every Night)
Massage: Luxury or Therapy?
10 Ways to Increase Your Good Cholesterol (HDL)
Sources
2.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15724344
3.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4980102/
4.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18429773
5.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24305429
6.https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-3-319-03751-6_64-1
7.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17373175