Winter weather; we have a love/hate relationship. The cold, dry air is good for my hair but bad for my skin. In honor of winter dryness, my daily skincare and facial routines have changed drastically – where once (not too long ago) it was sufficient to wash, cleanse and moisturize my skin twice a day, I now find myself standing in front of the mirror for a good twenty minutes to the tune of wash (very delicately), cleanse (very, very delicately), and slather myself in moisturizer (to excess).
Even after applying all of this extra moisturizer it doesn’t take long for my skin to feel dry again. So, rather than bankrupt myself buying overpriced, brand name moisturizers at the department store, I started asking skincare professionals if there were any winter skin remedies I could find in my own kitchen. It turns out there are several effective ingredients you may already have in your refrigerator or pantry that, when combined, work wonders on dry skin.
Dr. Ava Shamban, author of Heal Your Skin, offers a couple of soothing remedies for dry skin that you can easily make at home:
Avocado Refreshing & Soothing Mask:
½ Avocado
1 tbl spn yogurt
½ tea spn honey
½ tea spn olive oil, coconut oil or almond oil
Directions: Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Apply to damp skin and leave on for ten to
fifteen minutes. Rinse off with room-temperature water. Pat dry and follow
with a non-comedogenic moisturizer.
Related: Kick Off Your Stilettos for a High Heel Spa Treatment
Milky Cleanser:
2 tbl spns milk or cream
1 tbl spn almond oil
2 tea spns almond meal
1 tea spn honey
Directions: Mix all ingredients in a glass dish. Dampen your face and dip a cotton pad
in a cleanser. Gently wipe your face, and then rinse off with warm water.
Vanessa Somerset, owner and creator of Sevansa Spa, recommends the following recipe for a Moisturizing Mask.
½ banana
¼ cup oatmeal
¼ cup water
1 tea spn olive oil
Directions: Mash all ingredients together with a potato masher and store unused portion in fridge for later use. Apply to face and leave on for 10-15 minutes, then rinse.
Related: How Often Should I Get a Facial?
Jasmina Aganovic, creator of the all-natural, anti-aging skincare line Stages of Beauty, recommends her Grape & Honey Regenerative Mask:
4-6 ripe grapes, crushed (powerful antioxidant that helps to reduce discoloration brought on by slowed cellular regeneration and tightens pores)
1 tbl spn honey (this helps the skin retain moisture and hydration)
2 tbl spns yogurt (this is a source of lactic acid, a milder form of AHAs which stimulate natural exfoliation)
1 tbl spn lemon (Vitamin C, antioxidants and enzymes brighten the skin)
Directions: Combine all ingredients together in a bowl and using your fingers, spread onto the face. Let the mixture sit on the face for 15-20 minutes. Gently wash off with warm water and pat the face dry.
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