Do you struggle with dry skin in the winter? I do but it is made worse by the fact that I swim about 4 times a week. Not only does my face dry out but also my arms and lower legs are often dry.

Because I make all my own personal health and beauty products I have experimented with using various oil mixtures and creams on my arms and legs, but I really needed more. I have now found two helpful solutions – both of them were stumbled on by accident!

Moisturising Bars

A few months ago I experimented with shampoo and conditioner bars. There are lots of recipes out there, many requiring complex mixes of chemicals. I gave up on the shampoo bar idea but decided to have a try with a recipe for a conditioner bar. The recipe is below. I should have known that this would not work for hair as it was heavy on the ‘butters’. But I did try it in my hair. It was horrible and took about 3 goes with shampoo to wash out. My hair would have ended up as a grease ball had I not washed out the conditioner straight away. So I thought – epic fail!!! But then I started to wonder whether the conditioner bar might be useful for my skin. Total win! I keep the bar in the soap dish in the shower and I rub it over my dry arms and on the parts of my face that are very dry. For me this is mainly my forehead. I then gently massage the conditioner into the skin. My skin stays soft and moist as a result of this simple technique.

Recipe for Moisturising Bars

You will need:

3 Tablespoons Shea Butter

2 Tablespoons Bees Wax

2 Tablespoons Cocoa Butter

2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil

2 Tablespoons Mango Butter

1 teaspoon Argon Oil

1 Teaspoon Avocado Oil

30 drops Essential Oil (I used Lavender Oil)

Method:

Combine all ingredients, in a pyrex bowl or jug. Heat in microwave for 1 minute then stir. Heat again for a minute or until all ingredients have melted. Allow to cool for about 30 seconds.

Add essential oil and stir.

Quickly pour into silicone moulds or muffin pans. Place in the fridge to cool and set. 

To use, rub over dry skin and then massage in. One bar will last for weeks. I just keep mine in the shower on the soap dish. 

Sugar Scrubs

I love to use sugar scrubs in the shower to exfoliate and to get that rush of essential oils as they are released by the steam and hot water!!! But I discovered an extra bonus with respect to my skin. My recipe for sugar scrub is quite oily and as a result on using the scrub on may arms and face, my skin is left lovely and soft and feeling moisturised.

Recipe for Sugar Scrubs

Click here for my recipe for sugar scrubs.My absolute all time favourite is the Lavender Scrub but you can you use your favourite oil. Geranium, Rose, Frankincence and Myrrh are all lovely for the skin.

Why not try these dry skin busters and let use know how you go?

What Next?

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Until next time,

 

 

 

 

Gillian (and Andrew)