1. Stay hydrated! You've heard the old rule: drink eight x 8 oz glasses of water a day. You may not feel very thirsty while bundling up and running around in the cold, but drinking fluids is one of the keys to retaining moisture and maintaining the elasticity of your skin. Stick to distilled or purified water and herbal teas.
2. Increase your intake of essential fatty acids (EFAs). These play an essential role in the health of your skin, hair, and nails by helping your body form healthy cell membranes that can effectively hold water inside the cells. The more water that's held in your cells, the better hydrated your skin is. To get these, eat more nuts, seeds, and wild Alaskan or Pacific salmon. Take a quality Flaxseed or fish oil supplement to ensure sufficient Omega 3s, and Evening Primrose or Borage for GLA (Gamma Linolenic Acid), a highly beneficial Omega 6 that you can't easily get from food.
3. Increase your intake of antioxidants through food and supplements. Eat more tomatoes or tomato sauce for the Lycopene; eggs for Lutein (which is found in the yolk), and blueberries for other valuable phytonutrients. You can also supplement with Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA), which neutralizes free radicals in the body and promotes healthy cell function, and Beta Carotene whose regular consumption can help protect skin from sun damage.
4. Improve circulation and blood flow to the skin. Get a massage, facial, or do 10-15 minutes of aerobic exercise a day. You can give yourself a mini aromatherapy facial by adding 2 drops each of Rosemary, Lavender, and Geranium essential oils (EOs) to a bowl of steaming hot water. Hold your head directly over the bowl and place a towel over it to hold in the steam.
If you're congested add a drop of Peppermint EO. Both Peppermint and Rosemary stimulate the skin's oil production and increase circulation. Finish by gently massaging your face with our Soothe or Divine Certified Organic Moisturizing Body Oil. Both contain skin balancing essential oils of Lavender and Geranium in a base of certified organic Jojoba oil - the oil that's closest in composition to our own natural sebum. You can also add a couple of drops of Rosemary essential oil to a tablespoon of our Revitalize body oil for an invigorating leg and foot massage to help increase circulation.
5. Use a humidifier indoors to mitigate the drying effect of indoor forced-air heating. Add a drop or two of Rosemary, Peppermint, or Eucalyptus EO to the water to keep sinuses clear and stimulate your circulation.
6. Avoid conventional soaps and body washes whose detergents and synthetic ingredients strip the natural oils from your skin. Our Gentle Cleansing Body Wash is a great alternative made with highly moisturizing and protective organic coconut, olive, and jojoba oils. To create a gentle creamy cleanser for your face, mix a teaspoon of our body wash and a teaspoon of our lotion together and gently massage in a circular motion. Rinse with a washcloth soaked in tepid water. Divine, Soothe, or Revitalize, are all great choices for winter bathing.
7. Use body oils as your primary moisturizer instead of lotion. Since lotions are made of mostly water, winter conditions will evaporate the water from your skin before it can do the job. Body oils contain no water so they are the purest form of moisturizer, but they need to be applied to skin while wet (i.e. immediately after you shower) to enhance absorption.
I recommend applying any of our body oils to your skin and face while in the shower. Massaging it on will increase circulation, and by the time you finish showering it will be completely absorbed into the dermis and subcutaneous fatty layers of the skin, giving it the deep moisture it needs to stay hydrated and supple. Revitalize is a great blend for winter because it includes Rosemary (to increase circulation) and Geranium (balancing and moisturizing to the skin) essential oils not to mention Eucalyptus to help keep your head and sinuses clear. On days the winter blues have you feeling down, try our Inspiration body oil with its uplifting blend of citrus oils!
Copyright 2009 Dropwise Essentials
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Dropwise Essentials is a San Francisco-based manufacturer of pure aromatherapy and organic plant-based personal care products that give people a safe and effective way to relieve stress, increase vitality, improve confidence, or manage their emotional state any time or place without popping a pill. Our products are:
* Free of synthetic chemicals and petroleum ingredients
* Made with high quality certified organic oils and pure essential oils
* Packaged in re-usable or recyclable materials
* Hand-made locally in northern California
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