Moisture, moisture, moisture. Come wintertime, my skin is
crying out to be smothered in oils, balms and butters. From bitter winds to
blasting central heating and switching between the two, winter can be tough on
skin. Not to mention all those Christmas parties with mulled wine and salty
snacks…
So, here are my top natural solutions to our parched
complexions.
Coconut Oil
This is an all-year-rounder in my vanity essentials and it
packs a punch. It is a heavy oil, so I like to smother this on at night time
before bed and give myself a facial massage while I’m at it. It’s high in
beautiful saturated fats and smells amazing. My skin drinks it up! I recommend
organic, virgin (cold-pressed) coconut oil for the best quality.
Shea Butter
An excellent butter for chapped lips, dry cuticles, even
sore or red nostrils if you have been suffering from a cold or flu. I always
keep a small tub of this stuff on hand for moisture emergencies. I also use it
as an ingredient if I am DIY-ing lip balms, body butters or massage bars. The
whipped stuff is easier to use but plain old shea butter will do the job just
as well!
Carrot Seed Oil
This stuff is just ridiculous. The smell may take some
getting used to, I hated it at first but now I associate it with amazingly soft
skin. I put a few drops into a bottle of argan oil and use as a skin serum. It
would also pair well with any other light face oil such as rosehip. Try it out,
you won’t be disappointed.
Clean Cauldron
If you haven’t yet tried out Viv’s skincare goodies, please
give them a go! Her body moisturisers and lipbalms are heavenly. They smell
delectable and have a wonderful whipped texture. I can’t wait to stock up on
more!
Steam Cream
Sometimes I prefer the texture of a cream product instead of
an oil. Steam cream is one of my favourite moisturisers. It is scented with
lavender and somehow reminds me of the smell of Sudocreme! I love that you can
get loads of limited edition tins and then re-use them for whatever you want.
I’m a sucker for tins. (contains parabens)
Pai Skincare
Pai do an amazing range of skincare products, if your budget
stretches that far.. You can try samples on their website for €6 and they often
have sales, so keep your eyes peeled! Their moisturisers are particularly
top-notch. Personally I love their Macadamia moisturiser at this time of year,
even though it is marketed for aging skin.
How many of you will be gifting skincare items for
Christmas? Let me know what natural goodies you’re selecting for your friends
and family this season!
