Preparing for Winter: Home Remedies to Dry Skin (Including What Not to Do)

We may not want to think about it, but Old Man Winter is getting ready to make his annual appearance. With winter comes all of the things we love: freshly fallen snow, holiday traditions, and much more. Yet, something more sinister and less enjoyable is also waiting to rear its ugly head for the season: dry skin!

Winter skin care can be difficult and a bevy of beauty products flood the market each December. Each one promises fresh, healthy skin during the harsh winter months, yet few deliver what they promise. Even worse, most of these products are filled with parabens, silicone, and a host of other ingredients that can be harmful to your overall health.

Skin Care Products And Treatments You Should Avoid

Here at Wildly Organic, we have a DIY shea butter lotion recipe that we think you’ll love this coming winter. But before we share our natural lotion recipe, here’s a few tips of skin care remedies you should avoid for the coldest months of the year.

AVOID alcohol based products.

So many common beauty products use alcohol that we often don’t even consider it. Skin toner and acne face wash are two of the most typically used skin care products that utilize alcohol. The use of these products can make winter skin care extremely difficult, so use them with caution.

With health concerns, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic or the annual flu season, you should also consider the fact that you’re likely using alcohol-based hand sanitizer on a near constant basis. Although we don’t recommend that you stop using sanitizer, we do tell our customers that they should switch to a non-alcohol based sanitizer, particularly during a virus-stricken winter. Your skin will thank you.

AVOID long showers and baths.

The thought of a warm shower after a long day in the cold weather sounds delightful. Spending an exorbitant amount of time in the shower or tub can cause difficulties for your skin during the winter season. The longer you’re in the hot water, the more of your skin’s natural oils will wash away. The end result is drier skin that will more easily crack and chap in the cold winter months.

AVOID raising the thermostat.

A warm, toasty home may sound like a haven during the harsh winter months, but your epidermis disagrees! During the winter, the warm air inside your home will dry out your skin over time. Most experts agree that setting your thermostat below 70 degrees will help your skin...and your energy bill!

Creating A DIY Shea Butter Lotion For the Winter Months

Have you ever heard of body butter? The name may conjure up some strange ideas, but the final product is amazing! Body butter is a skin care product like lotion, but typically thicker. The thick product more easily hydrates your skin, making it both smooth and soft...even in the harshest of winter months.

There are hundreds of body butter products on the market today, and you can find them at most beauty stores. They often come with interesting names and even more captivating scents. However, they almost all have something else in common that’s not so good: harmful ingredients.

To save money and cut corners, many companies load their body butters with parabens and silicone. Although these products will not be harmful in the short term, studies show that long term exposure to these ingredients are questionable at the very least. One of the ways to avoid these low-quality body butters? Use your own natural lotion recipe!

Using The Right Ingredients

Here at Wildly Organic, we’re all about showing people the most natural ways to nourish their bodies. That’s why we wanted to share our DIY shea butter lotion recipe with you. Although the recipe can be modified in a number of ways, here’s three important ingredients you’ll want.

Coconut oil

Not all coconut oil is created equal. As this oil will be absorbed directly into your skin you’ll want coconut oil of the highest grade. We have several options at Wildly Organic, and each would make an excellent base for your DIY shea butter lotion recipe.

Shea butter

Shea butter has been utilized for generations to help with scarring, stretch marks, and other skin issues. It’s high fat content makes it an excellent moisturizer, and the fact that it melts at body temperature makes it perfect for easy application.

Essential Oil

Although it’s not technically necessary, you’ll likely want to infuse a unique scent into your DIY shea butter lotion. Use a high-grade essential oil from a company that is trustworthy. Although you can now find essential oils at your local big box store, these discount bottles are often so watered down that they’ll do you little good. Once you settle on your supplier, choose your favorite scent (although lavender is always popular, we’re a fan of bergamot!). You can even create your own blend. Be creative!

DIY Shea Butter Natural Lotion Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup shea butter
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 15 drops essential oils
• 1/4 cup almond oil (or other carrier oil of your choice)

Directions:

• Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil
• Take both the coconut oil and shea butter and place them in a bowl. Place this bowl on top of the boiling pot of water to create a double boiler. This will gently melt both ingredients without breaking them down.
• Once melted, take the bowl off of the pot and allow the mixture to cool for 15 minutes.
• After the mixture has cooled, stir in both the almond oil and essential oils.
• When the mixture begins to solidify, place it in a mixer and whip it until it gains a butter-like consistency.
• Once it reaches the desired thickness, transfer your DIY shea butter lotion to a container for storage.

Wildly Organic Can Help You This Winter

Here at Wildly Organic, we firmly believe that everyone should have natural, organic products available at their fingertips. That’s why we’ve been working hard since 2000 to provide the highest quality products to our customers. We can help you make your DIY shea butter lotion, or you can purchase one of our own body butter products that are 100% safe and natural—no shortcuts here!

Protect your skin this winter. Wildly Organic can help! Contact us today if you have questions about your winter skin care regimen.